Description
Australia’s main contribution to the battle of the Somme in mid-1916 was the capture of Pozières, a small village that commanded the high ground towards Thiepval.
After falling to the Australians on 23 July, Pozières was reduced to rubble by a concentrated German bombardment as the fighting continued throughout August at nearby Mouquet Farm.
In just six weeks the Australians had suffered a staggering 26,000 casualties. Charles Bean, the Australian official historian, described Pozières as being “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other spot on earth”.
The Australian Imperial Force suffered the loss of more than 45,000 soldiers in the campaigns in France and Belgium, while fighting some of the bravest battles in our history.
Part of the 2016 – 2018 commemorations for the battles fought on the Western Front
Low uncirculated product mintage of only 15,000