Vaire-sous-Corbie: On the Front Line Against the Germans

When the Germans advanced towards Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918, the village of Vaire-sous-Corbie found itself on the front line. Although the Australians managed to drive the Germans back towards Le Hamel, the village remained close to the enemy front line. The troops stationed in the village during April played an important role in keeping the command informed of enemy movements. Indeed, patrols and observers were deployed from Vaire-sous-Corbie to monitor troop movements.

In this photograph, we can see an Australian soldier dressed in civilian clothes, whilst the village had been abandoned by its inhabitants. He may have been a man from the 8th Australian Infantry Brigade, which was occupying the sector at the time.