Mont Saint-Quentin Australian war memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian Memorial Park |
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| Australia | |
The original sculpture by Web Gilbert at the memorial at Mont St Quentin in France, following its unveiling on 30 August 1925. The sculpture was destroyed by members of the German military in 1940.
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| For Australian 2nd Division | |
| Unveiled | 1925 (replacement sculpture, 1971) |
| Location | 49°56′50″N 2°55′57″E / 49.94722°N 2.93250°E FRANCE |
The Mont Saint-Quentin Australian war memorial is a special place in Mont Saint-Quentin, Picardy, France. It honors the brave Australian soldiers who fought in the First World War. This memorial helps us remember their courage and sacrifice.
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Remembering Australian Soldiers
This memorial is dedicated to the Australian Second Division. This group of soldiers played an important part in the war. The memorial is located on the road between Bapaume and Péronne. It is unique because the soldiers of the division themselves started the idea for it.
The Original Memorial
The base of the memorial was built in 1925. It featured bronze pictures created by May Butler-George. These pictures showed soldiers working together. One showed them moving a large gun. Another showed them moving forward with rifles and hand-grenades.
On top of the base was a statue. This statue showed an Australian soldier. He was shown pushing his bayonet (a knife attached to a rifle) through a German eagle. The artist who made this powerful statue was Charles Web Gilbert.
What Happened to the Statue?
Sadly, in 1940, during another war, German soldiers damaged the memorial. They broke the original statue. It was a sad loss for the memorial.
A New Statue for Remembrance
Many years later, in 1971, a new statue was put in its place. This new sculpture was made by Stanley Hammond. It shows an Australian soldier looking down thoughtfully. This new statue helps people remember the soldiers and their service. It reminds us of the sacrifices made during the war.
