"cobbers" Statue - Tribute To Fromelle Fallen

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19th July 2008, 12:24pm - Views: 705





Government Government Minister For Veteran's Affairs 1 image




Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602 

Telephone 02 6277 7820  Facsimile 02 6273 4140

The Hon Alan Griffin MP

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs


VA069


Saturday, 19 July 2008


“COBBERS” STATUE — TRIBUTE TO FROMELLES FALLEN


On the 92nd anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles a replica of the magnificent “Cobbers” statue

at Fromelles was unveiled at the Shrine of Remembrance today by the Victorian Premier John

Brumby.

Speaking at the reception, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin said the iconic

“Cobbers” statue was a fitting tribute to the men who served on the battlefields along the

Western Front.

“The statue tells the story of Sergeant Simon Fraser who, after the horrific 24-hour battle that

was the Battle of Fromelles, returned to the battlefield with his fellow comrades to rescue

wounded Australians,” Mr Griffin said.

“Under fire they managed to rescue around 300 men.  On one of his trips back to the battlefield

Sergeant Fraser heard a plea from one soldier ‘Don’t forget me cobber’, and he didn’t.”

“The battle was, and remains, the worst 24 hours in Australian wartime history.  5533

Australians were casualties of the Battle of Fromelles including 1917 killed, 3146 wounded, and

470 taken prisoner.” 

Mr Griffin said the original “Cobbers” statue by Australian sculptor Peter Corlett stands in the

Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles in France.

“I am pleased Australia now has a replica of this great statue.  The many thousands of visitors

to the Shrine each year will now be able to see a great tribute to the mateship of Australians on

the Western Front,” he said.

Mr Griffin said honouring Australia’s past and present servicemen and women is a priority of the

Rudd Government.

“Australia suffered its greatest losses on the battlefields across the Western Front.  This year, to

recognise the 90th anniversary of the final battles fought there, the Government held the first

Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux.  This service will now be held every Anzac Day.

“Later this year, the Australian Corps Memorial at Le Hamel will be re-dedicated, and the story

of Australians on the Western Front is now told on my Department’s new website,


“The website takes us on a journey to the places where Australians served and died, and it

provides a vivid picture of our wartime history through the experiences of our servicemen and

women.”

Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109

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