Summary
Leaflet detailing the French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau's visit to the 4th Australian Division's operations at Hamel on 7 July 1918 and his speech to the troops. He refers to the successful Hamel operation as 'not such a very great battle' - although Australia suffered 1,062 casualties including 800 killed.
The speech ends: 'I have come here just for the very purpose of seeing the Australians. I am going back to-morrow to see my countrymen and tell them: "I have seen the Australians. I have looked in their eyes. I know that these men who have fought great battles beside us in the cause of freedom will fight alongside us again until the cause of freedom for which we are battling is safe for us and for our children."' The leaflet concludes: 'The Australians who had been listening to this fine speech from the Grand Old Man of France, gave three tremendous cheers for France, which affected him greatly. He then called for three cheers for Australia, and left to go back to Paris.'
Physical Description
Single page with text printed on one side
More Information
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Collection Names
Military Memorabilia Collection, Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Victorian Branch, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL), 24 Feb 1986
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Date of Event
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Organisation Named
44th Battalion, 3rd Division, 1st Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Hamel, France, Jul 1918
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Person Named
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Past Owner
Captain Morris Lewis - 44th Battalion, 3rd Division, 1st A.I.F.
44th Battalion, 3rd Division, 1st A.I.F. -
Individuals Identified
LEWIS, MORRIS (CAPT.)
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Format
Booklet
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Language
English
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Inscriptions
Visit of French Prime Minister to the/Australian Troops [extensive text]. Printer: A. I. F. P. S. 670- 7- 18
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
209 mm (Width), 329 mm (Height)
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References
Information on the battle at Hamel from the Australian War Memorial web site [Link 1] accessed 2/9/2014 Information on casualties: [Link 2]:~:text=of%20the%20Allies.-,Casualties,their%20diversionary%20assault%20around%20Ville, acessed 17/04/2023.
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Keywords
Australian Military Forces, Militaria: Australian, Military Memorabilia, Pamphlets, World War I, 1914-1918