Villers-Bretonneux will forever be associated with Australian forces as it was here, after retaking the French town on 25 April 1918 – the third anniversary of the Australian landings on Gallipoli, known as ANZAC Day, they sealed their reputation as one of the finest formations of soldiers available to any side during the First World War. Tomorrow, 25 April, thousands will travel to Villers-Bretonneux to mark ANZAC Day. Ahead of the commemorations, here are nine things you need to know about Australian forces in the First World War and Villers-Bretonneux.
The CWGC is staging a new display in its Ieper Information Centre, opening tomorrow (25 April 2018). A Century of Caring, will look back on 100 years of tending for the CWGC’s Belgian sites.
HRH The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, Vice Chairman of the CWGC, visited the Commission’s plot at Zeebrugge Churchyard on Saturday, as part of a visit to Belgium to mark the centenary of the Zeebrugge Raid.
Explore History & Archives
Hundreds of items added to the Commission’s new online archive
A second batch of archive material has been digitised and added to the new CWGC Archive Catalogue.
CWGC joins forces with Shrouds of the Somme to launch First World War legacy project
In collaboration with Shrouds of the Somme, the Commission is gathering stories and images for the more than 72,000 casualties commemorated on the CWGC Thiepval Memorial, as part of a major project commemorating Armistice Day in 2018.
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Horticulture & Works
From the start, architects worked closely with the Commission's horticultural staff to produce designs suited to the variety of climates and terrains of our cemeteries.
Public Engagement
Our Community Teams work with schools and local groups to raise the profile of the Commission’s work using innovative ways to involve the public.
Our Apps
The Commission has created helpful resources for all ages such as mobile apps for if you are planning a trip to one of our cemeteries or memorials.