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The 1st Australian Division Artillery at Pozières; Battle of the Somme
22-23 July 1916: On the night of 22nd July 1916, under cover of an artillery bombardment, 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Raymond Thurnhill of 6th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Field Artillery, was detailed to take an 18-pounder gun forward on the main Albert-Bapaume road to demolish a German barricade at the village of Pozières, which was to be attacked that night by the infantry of the 1st Australian Division. At 0030hrs, having brought the gun up and silently into action, Thurnhill’s detachment engaged the enemy with 115 rounds of highly accurate direct fire, effectively covering the assault in that sector, before withdrawing safely.
Simultaneously, Corporal Frank Oswald Matt of X1A Australian Medium Trench Mortar Battery, 1st Division Trench Mortars, Australian Field Artillery, under terrific fire from the enemy, took his 2-inch trench mortar and detachment forward into No-Man’s-Land beside the Pozières road. Corporal Matt kept the mortar in action in direct view of the enemy, engaging them with effective fire until he was severely wounded and all his men killed. Corporal Matt later died of his wounds.
2nd Lieutenant Thurnhill was awarded the Military Cross. Corporal Matt was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Printed image size(s): B2 only (58 x 38 cm)
Owner: Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
Price(s): £70
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