Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to
Fouilloy.
The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an
open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south
walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase
leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This
room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous
with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and
Canberra.
On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who
have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.
Bullet damage to the memorial can be seen where the German Army fired on French soldiers using the tower as an observation post during the Second World War.