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  • Fromelles and Pozières

  • In the Trenches of Hell
  • By: Peter FitzSimons
  • Narrated by: Richard Aspel
  • Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (184 ratings)

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Fromelles and Pozières

By: Peter FitzSimons
Narrated by: Richard Aspel
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Publisher's Summary

On 19 July 1916, 7,000 Australian soldiers - in the first major action of the AIF on the Western Front - attacked entrenched German positions at Fromelles, in Northern France. By the next day, no fewer than 5,500 were wounded, and just under 1,900 were dead - a bloodbath that the Australian War Memorial describes as 'the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history'.

Just days later, three Australian divisions attacked German positions at nearby Pozières, and over the next six weeks they suffered another 23,000 casualties.

Of that bitter battle, the great Australian war correspondent Charles Bean would write, 'The field of Pozières is more consecrated by Australian fighting and more hallowed by Australian blood than any field which has ever existed....'

Yet the sad truth is that nearly a century on from those battles, Australians know only a fraction of what occurred. This book brings the battles back to life and puts the listener in the moment, illustrating both the heroism displayed and the insanity of the British plan. With his extraordinary vigour and commitment to research, Peter FitzSimons shows why this is a story about which all Australians can be proud. And angry.

©2015 Peter FitzSimons (P)2015 Bolinda
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Fromelles and Pozières

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Thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Exhaustively researched, well written and brilliantly read. Very moving account of extraordinary courage and folly.

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Great book.

Another well written and researched book from Peter. Well narrated also. Rest in peace diggers.

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Superb!

Left me proud, outraged,and more than once in tears. A worthy tribute. Thankyou Peter FitzSimons.

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A glimpse the horrors faced in the Western Front

Some interesting stories and horrific details of what life at war was like for those fighting in World War 1 with the industrialisation of war

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Amazing ANZAC story

I really loved this book and will tell all around how wonderful the people portrayed in it are!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Australian gallantry defeated by British incompetence

A very moving story of Australians in action in France in WW1, and the terrible cost to human life on both sides of the conflict. While the Germans were only doing their job to ensure the maximum number of Australian casualties were recorded, it also is clear that the British generalship had the same intent.

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Amazing Australian heroes of Ww1

So trajic a waste of Life but amazing stories of commradship. So hard on loved ones back home.

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great book

This is a great book I couldn't stop listening a great account of the battles.

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Incredible history Every Australian should read!

Incredible Australian History, well written and researched. An eye opening and truly heart wrenching book

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incredible account. .. not to be forgotten.

I finished this book last night and, well what can i say. Do i recommend it? I can't say you would enjoy it, but it is a story every Australian should know. You will experience sorrow, anger, disgust, pride with the occasional moment of joy amidst all the misery. It is tale of amazing courage and yet haunting in its detail. Fitzsimon beautifully crafts a historic account full of humanity with characters that bring home the truth of the matter. Particularly coming up to the centenary of these events I do recommend this book. We should remember them. We must remember them. .. lest we forget.

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4 people found this helpful

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