Hangard Wood Explained

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 ArrasSaint-QuentinLa 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.

Units involved in the battle

5th Brigade (Australia)18th Battalion (Australia)

20th Battalion (Australia)

Victoria Cross recipients

Military Medal recipients

References

49.8383°N 2.5094°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1918/ Australian Battlefields of WW1
  2. Wikimapia latitude/longitude 49°50'12"N 2°30'28"E
  3. http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/25704/Hangard%20Wood%20British%20Cemetery HANGARD WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY
  4. Web site: HANGARD WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY . 2015-04-28 . 2015-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003924/http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchcemeteries/hangardwood.htm . dead .
  5. Web site: The Australian Remembrance Trail . 2015-04-28 . 2015-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150427020632/http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/australian-remembrance-trail/where-australians-fought.php . dead .