Richebourg 1916  A forgotten battle  On the 19th July 1916 the
Battle of Fromelles commenced. For the British participants it
was over that evening; whilst the Australians, in their first
battle in Europe, endured until the following day.  Fromelles
Fromelles : 19 July 1916  The whole thing had been a disaster
and had made little impact on German troop movements heading for
the Battle of the Somme not yet three weeks old and grinding
into a semi-stalemate.  Fromelles had been a diversion to keep
the Germans on their toes and those of us with a general
interest in the battles of the Great War have at least heard the
name: Fromelles - Australian military history's bloodiest
encounter.  Of the calamitous diversion at Richebourg on the
30th June 1916 you will find hardly a mention.  The carnage that
befell so many families from Sussex (in the south of England)
was swept under history's carpet as July 1916 ensured that
curtains were drawn not just across the Kingdom but across the
Empire.   The Boar's Head  The 11