100th anniversary of the Western Front commemorations

Why we commemorate

More than 295,000 Australian served on the Western Front, which ran across the industrial regions of France and Belgium from March 1916 to November 1918.

During those 33 months, more than 30 battles were fought, including Fromelles, the Somme, Bullecourt, Messines, Passchendaele and Villers-Bretonneux. Australia's losses on the Western Front were staggering, with more casualties in the first six weeks of our involvement than the entire eight-month Gallipoli campaign.

Queensland’s commemorative event

To honour this significant historical event, and commemorate the huge loss of Australian lives during the Western Front campaign, a service was held on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Pozieres, the most well-known battle on the Western Front. At 10am, Saturday 23 July 2016, over 200 members of the public and invited guests gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square, Brisbane to pay tribute and lay a wreath.

The ceremony also included a diary reading from First World War Gunner James Toohey, who served on the Western Front, read by his son David Toohey.

Photos by Tony Phillips.