The Memorial is a traditional obelisk style within a fenced area. Close by the Memorial is the ‘Gibraltar’ German strongpoint, captured by the 1st Division in July 1916.

The memorial commemorates the 5,285 men of the 1st Division who became casualties at Pozieres.

The 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions had been sent to the centre of the Somme front near Albert to reinforce the British army, which was losing thousands of men each day. Their objective was enemy trenches in Pozieres, a ruined village on the Thiepval-Pozieres ridge.

The village of Pozieres was captured initially by the 1st Division on 23 July 1916. The division clung to its gains despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks. When the Division was relieved by the 2nd Division on 27 July 1916, it had lost 5,285 officers and men in only four days.

The 2nd Division spent 12 days on the ridge, mostly in operations in the Windmill area. On 4 August the Division captured the heights but the men were exhausted and the Division was withdrawn. It had suffered 6,848 casualties.

The 4th Division entered the battle on 6 August to hold the Australian gains against enemy counter-attacks and to press north along the ridge towards Mouquet Farm. By the time it was withdrawn on 10 August the 4th had lost more than 7,000 men.

Each of the Divisions had second but shorter spells at Pozieres and in total suffered 23,000 casualties on a mile long front. In the words of official historian CEW Bean, 'a ridge more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth!'

No information available at this time.

D929 Albert-Bapaume road, France.

Situated some six miles from Albert the memorial sits on the forward slope of Pozieres Ridge.