Fromelles and Pozières

In the Trenches of Hell

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Richard Aspel

Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

On 19 July 1916, 7,000 Australian soldiers - in the first major action of the AIF on the Western Front - attacked entrenched German positions at Fromelles, in Northern France. By the next day, no fewer than 5,500 were wounded, and just under 1,900 were dead - a bloodbath that the Australian War Memorial describes as 'the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history'.

Just days later, three Australian divisions attacked German positions at nearby Pozières, and over the next six weeks they suffered another 23,000 casualties.

Of that bitter battle, the great Australian war correspondent Charles Bean would write, 'The field of Pozières is more consecrated by Australian fighting and more hallowed by Australian blood than any field which has ever existed....'

Yet the sad truth is that nearly a century on from those battles, Australians know only a fraction of what occurred. This book brings the battles back to life and puts the listener in the moment, illustrating both the heroism displayed and the insanity of the British plan. With his extraordinary vigour and commitment to research, Peter FitzSimons shows why this is a story about which all Australians can be proud. And angry.

©2015 Peter FitzSimons (P)2015 Bolinda

Tragic yet Powerful

Once again Pete Fitzsimons and his team deliver a gripping narrative that rips at heartstrings as well as it gives you a sense of man's humanity, humility and need for reason when faced with the unexplainable.

Personal stories combined with grand strategy and an ending with a legacy that was only unveiled within the last decade.

Thanks for bringing these "cobbers" and the "criminals" to life!

Peter FitzSimons is no historian

I was given this book for Christmas. I didn't want to read it, so I had it read to me by Richard Aspel who does a good job but is rather thick with the Australian accents at times.
Peter FitzSimons tells a good story and as a journalist has an excellent column in the Sunday newspaper. He tells history like a yarn in the pub. His research at times is a little shallow and other times he finds information to back up his story he is telling.
My biggest gripes about this book is the 'Pommy bashing' that Australians like to do against 'the brass'. I am sure Australians think that the First World War was won by the Anzacs and a regiment of Scots. Mr FitzSimons skims over some of the Australians failings. Fromelle and Poziéres were and extension of the Somme Battle and the Australians were very inexperienced and poorly led at the senior level of their corps. These 'battles' bloodied the Anzacs and as with most battles in the First World War, were costly and for little gain but it did lay the ground work for the reputation that the Anzacs would gain in later exploits of that war. Overall I would say that this book is a story and not to be rated as academically history.