On a mission to preserve our history
Battle of Pozieres came at great cost
IT HAS been described as the one place on earth most densely sown in Australian sacrifice, yet Barry Gracey reckons few could tell you what went on at Pozieres, nearly 100 years ago.
Now, he’s on a mission to change that.
The Toowoomba-born president of the Pozieres Remembrance Association returned to the Garden City yesterday seeking support for his project to establish gardens over the 3.5 hectares the association purchased in Pozieres nearly six years ago.
Pozieres was the first major win for Australia in World War I. But it came at great cost.
“In six weeks, 7000 men were killed and 16,000 wounded. Three divisions were destroyed and the artillery was that bad that 4112 men were not found after the battle,” Mr Gracey said.
“So out of the 7000, 65% of the men just vanished.
“They’re still in the fields at Pozieres.”
Among the fields of Pozieres are at least 36 Toowoomba soldiers who never made it home half of whom have no known grave.
Mr Gracey is selling 7000 bricks as a way of raising money for the gardens.
So far, 4000 bricks have been sold.
“It’s a place that people can go and pay respect to the men who lie under their feet,” he said.
For more information on the project or to donate, head to www.pozieresremembered.com.au.