Location 6 – Pozières

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Directions – Turn right at the junction in Pozières onto the D929 in the direction of Albert. Just before the road leaves the village you will note a green CWGC sign to the right indicating the 1st Australian Division Memorial. Leave the car in the car park.

Practical Information – There are a number of interesting places to visit in and around Pozières which rarely see that many visitors. The 1st Australian Memorial site also has a former German blockhouse nearby as well as a "must-see" collection of shell cases in one resident's garden, all within walking distance. For the shell cases take the path leading from the top of the car park past the memorial. This comes back out onto the Thiepval-Pozières road past the church. Turn left and the shell cases can be seen stacked behind a fence to the right.

Another site of interest is the Australian Pozières Mill Memorial. For this, return to the D929 and turn left to Bapaume. Drive through the village and the site of the mill can be seen on the left. This is the highest point of the entire battlefield. A memorial to the Tanks Corps which took part in the 15th September advance is on the opposite side of the road – be careful when crossing though, cars travel very fast along this straight!

The "Tommy Café", which can be seen on the right as you enter the village from the direction of Albert, is also worth a look as it houses an interesting section of recreated trenches, not to mention a good selection of refreshments and drinks for the weary traveller.

Historical Notes – Pozières, at the highest point of the German defences, became the focus of the fighting towards the end of July as British forces, exploiting their successes in the southern sector, tried to gain a stranglehold here to outflank the Thiepval defences. Advancing from the south over the Albert-Bapaume road, the 1st Brigade of the 1st Australian Division, supported by the British 48th Division advancing parallel to the north of the road, captured the area around the 1st Division Memorial during the 23rd July. The observation post was occupied by the 2nd Battalion who found three officers and twenty-three men inside, whom they took prisoner.

Whilst the village was secured by 25th July, however, further advances to break through the German second line defences beyond (where Pozières mill stood) proved fruitless. The Germans, realising the threat to Thiepval should the British and Australians break out of Pozières, did everything in their power to stop them. It was not until 4th August that the Australian infantry, assisted by crushing artillery support fought their way onto what was left of Pozières mill. Even then a German counter-attack swept them off it on the 7th August. In fact it was not until the 15th September offensive, popularly known as the "tank attack", that the German second line at the northern end of Pozières and the mill were finally secured. By then over 20,000 Australian soldiers had fallen.