4th Divison Memorial
"In the allied offensive of April 1917 around Arras and Vimy, the German line was broken but in the south it held, particularly around Bullecourt in the main section of the formidable German "Hindenburg Line". To pressure the Germans the British high command ordered an Australian advance here across open, snow-covered ground. In the dark on the morning of 11 April, without artillery or tank support the Australians took the forward German lines. The Germans counter-attacked from three sides and forced a desperate retreat. The 5,000 Australians incurred 3,300 casualties including 1,170 prisoners.
A second better planned assault occurred on 8 may. this time a heavy pre-dawn bombardment preceded the assault and, as before, the Australians captured the Bullecourt trenches and held firm on a narrow front near' where the plaque stands today. In a fierce battle they gradually expanded their perimeter despite courageous German counter-attacks. Both sides fought to a stand-still and finally the Germans abandoned the area on 20 may. These allied gains were lost in the German advances of 1918. The second battle caused 7.000 Australian, 2,700 British and 6,000 German casualties."
Bullecourt in 1920.
"The Hindenberg Line at Bullecourt. Three trench lines and communications are here shown, with acres of wire entanglements in the left foreground protecting first-line positions. Beyond Bullecourt runs the St. Quentin Canal and tunnel, which was taken late in September by the Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth American divisions."
The Literary Digest History of the World War", volume V, p. 384