The June speaker was retired Lieutenant Colonel Peter Sweeney who is a military historian and battlefield guide who spoke about the battle of Fromelles in World War 1. Fromelles is in Northern France, close to the Belgian border. There were several allied divisions comprising Australian, British and Canadian troops. Many of the Australians were Gallipoli veterans. The Germans were well entrenched on high ground, having been there for some time and could clearly see the allied preparations. Our casualties of 5,533 in the first 24 hours of the battle were the heaviest on record for both World War 1 and World War 2. The conflict on the whole of the Western Front continued until Armistice Day on 11thNovember, 1918. Adolph Hitler served in a Bavarian regiment at Fromelles, and we were shown a photograph of him taken during World War 2 when he visited his old World War 1 bunker, with a number of his senior generals to show them where he had served. Reporter: Colin Jarrett
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Sweeney 