Attractions and Places To See around Lestrem - Top 20

The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was a bloody initiation for Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Soldiers of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, together with the British 61st Division, were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. The attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme where a large Allied offensive had begun on 1 July. The feint was a disastrous failure. Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/fromelles

The Grand'Place de Béthune is the focal point of the city of Buridan. Destroyed in 1918, it was rebuilt and stands as an architectural example. A group of architects led by L.M. Cordonnier gave it its present-day appearance: eclecticism, Art Deco, and neo-regionalism combine to create a diverse ensemble. Town Hall Rebuilt many times, the current Town Hall was designed by architect J. Alleman. Built between 1924 and 1929, the building stands out from the other buildings with its massive form. Its façade embodies the city's titles and glories: the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor, as well as the city's coat of arms. The Town Hall has been listed as a Historic Monument since April 2002. Some of the square's façades, representative of the Art Deco style, are also listed as Historic Monuments. The Cellars of the Grand'Place Vast cellars, boves, and countermine galleries: the underground of Béthune bears witness to the city's intense activity. During the First World War, the cellars served as refuges for the inhabitants of Béthune. Some cellars of private homes are now open to the public. (Notably at No. 42 Grand'Place) (c) https://www.bethune.fr/bethune-brille/patrimoine-historique/la-grand-place-558.html

Near the front line in 1916, a fierce battle was fought between the British (Australians) and the Germans. To commemorate 'la bataille' and the wounded who were brought back from the battlefield, a monument/statue was erected here.

Attacking in a southerly direction, Capt Kennedy was shot while leading 'B' Company in the Battle of Aubers Ridge. He and his men had got well beyond the German line which ran roughly east-west where the preserved bunkers are today. His mother later wrote "He had crossed the road and was on the Fromelles side of it when he was shot by a sniper. His men tried to carry him back but he was terribly wounded and after they had carried him back across the road he told them to put him down..." Capt P A Kennedy, 2/Rifle Brigade Killed in action 9 May 1915. No known grave. Remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Anecdote: During the battle, Sergeant Simon Fraser heard a wounded soldier cry out, "Don't forget me, cobber!" Despite the danger, Fraser returned to the battlefield to save the man, an act of bravery that was later immortalized in the statue. This event emphasizes the sacrifice and strong bond between soldiers during the horrors of war.

The Cobbers Australian Memorial is located in the Australian Memorial Park near Fromelles. This memorial commemorates the Australian soldiers who died during the Battle of Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916. The statue, designed by Peter Corlett, shows Sergeant Simon Fraser carrying a wounded comrade out of no man's land. The name "Cobbers" comes from a letter Fraser wrote, describing the bravery and camaraderie of the soldiers.

Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery was established in October 1914 by British soldiers of the 19th Infantry Brigade during the First Battle of Ypres. The cemetery initially contained 123 graves, but was expanded after the war. It now contains over 350 graves, of which over 200 are unknown. The cemetery commemorates soldiers who died in a number of battles, including Le Maisnil (October 1914), Aubers Ridge (May 1915), Loos (September–October 1915), and Fromelles (July 1916). A special feature of the cemetery is its rural setting, surrounded by a narrow moat and sheltered by a grove of weeping willows. Visitors reach the cemetery via a footbridge and enter through a delicate cottage-style gate.

Amidst the quiet roads of western Lille lies this listed cemetery, which is the final resting place of hundreds of Commonwealth soldiers from the First World War.