The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux

The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux came during the period of the battle of Lys, 24–27 April 1918, but

was launched against the British lines in front of Amiens. It is the first tank-versus-tank battle.

The Germans only developed a small number of tanks, and used them in this offensive. Thirteen of their

A7V tanks supported the advance, making it one of the biggest uses of German tanks in World War I (the

Germans only built 21 tanks in total during the war).
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...l_1918_2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...16_Westf-1.jpg
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Source Wikipedia.

Battle of Villers- Bretonneux (my words now)
France.....
British, Canadians but a LOT of ANZACs (Australia/NewZealand Army Corps)
Very heavy casualties, Australia chose this date for their national "Day of Remembrance"

ANZAC DAY(April 25th.)

Hey Aussies- ANZACS not forgotten (Even by us callous Canadian Lot.)( Yes we have these in the house)
Villers- Bretonnex (second Battle) April 24-27/1918.

German tanks (A7V) had 57 mm gun,
This is a part of a German tank shell from the battle.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010556-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010555-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010547-1.jpg




Next : This stamp was "Borrowed " from the V-B railroad station.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010553-1.jpg

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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010549-1.jpg


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And of course a Australian short enfield ( Hey any idea what the band is about)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010542-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010543-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010544-1.jpg

NOT FORGOTTEN (Love ya guys... you fought along beside one of my grandfathers.)
Janice.

The band could mean that it was issued to school cadet units maybe?

I saw one of those monstrous German tanks in Brisbane I think it was, back in '77. I just forget where it was located but it looked to have been hit on top by an aircraft bomb. Huge machine...I didn't know it was that scarce!

The red band should indicate non standard ammo, but that's usually at the front...

The sole surviving A7V was, until recently, housed in a special glass case at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane.

For many years before that, it sat under a simple "bus shelter" at the old museum a few miles away.

Some of the original weapons appear to have been "souvenired" after capture, but some were returned at later dates.

I understand that the damage to the roof is from artillery fire.

Walkaround images here: http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/peter_battle/a7v/

"Mephisto" was captured at Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918 by the 26th Battalion of the 7th Brigade (Australian). Most of the troops in 26th Bn came from Brisbane, some from Tasmania. That is probably why it ended up in Brisbane. My grandfather was a member of that battalion, but had been returned to Australia in 1917 and discharged due to injuries and illness resulting from his presence at fun places like Gallipoli and Pozieres.

Several plastic model companies (Tamiya, Tauro and Emhar), have produced models of the A7V.

A German team measured up "Mephisto" up to produce a replica that was completed in 1988.

"Mephisto" suffered water ingress in the 2011 Brisbane floods and is still off-site in an undisclosed location. The Australian War Memorial has been trying to get it moved to Canberra for decades.

Watch this space.