Hangard Wood is a locality south of Villers-Bretonneux northern France. It was the site of Hangard village and a battle in World WarI. The battle of Hangard Wood was part of the German offensive Operation Michael, in the Arras–Saint-Quentin–La Fère sector of the Somme fought in March 1918. The battle of Hangard Wood was more specifically part of the larger Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, fought between the Canadian, British, Australian and French armies on one side and the German army on the other.[1]
The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918 was significant as the first tank-on-tank battle in history, and the Red Baron was shot down on 21 April.
Today the wood lies adjacent to a British cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and known as Hangard Wood British Cemetery.[2] [3] [4] [5] John Croak VC is buried there.
5th Brigade (Australia)18th Battalion (Australia)
20th Battalion (Australia)