THE MOST TERRIBLE BATTLES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY A British emplacement after a German gas attack at Fromelles, July 19, 1916. Today, 106 years ago, on July 19, 1916, the battle of Fromelles began and would become one of the most terrible battles for the Australian army on the western front which, four days later, on July 23, 1916, will know in Pozieres, one of their most terrible battles on the front of the Somme. The attack on Fromelles on July 19, 1916 was the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. It was a feint designed to prevent the Germans reinforcing their troops on the Somme, where the Allies had launched a major offensive on July 1. The ruse, however, was unsuccessful. Towards the evening of July 19, 1916, the Australian 5th and British 61st Divisions attempted to seize 4000 yards of front line centred on the "Sugar Loaf". However, the British bombardment, which commenced on July 16, had warned the Germans that an attack was likely. A...