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I recently travelled as part of an Australian Defence Force Cadets contingent to the Centenary of the Battle of Amiens Commemoration in Amiens, France. I was selected as one of 5 Australian Air Force Cadets from around Australia, and one of 15 Australian Defence Force Cadets from around Australia. All facets of the journey were paid by the Australian War Memorial and Department of Defence.

The Battle of Amiens was a key battle during World War 1, one of the last major battles to occur. It was 100 days from the Battle of Amiens that the Armistice to end World War 1 was signed in the Armistice Clearing at Compiègne, France on 11 November 1918.

After our selection, we were tasked as a group to conduct research on;

• The battle
• Previous battles
• A particular person from the battle
• and images that represent our commemoration of World War 1 today.

As a group, we conducted general research on the battles, and then researched an individual named Lieutenant John Gould-Taylor DFC, who was a pilot with the Australian Flying Corps. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for his efforts engaging and later evading a group of five German aircraft in the air. Sadly, LT Gould-Taylor was shot down on the 3rd October 1918 – a little more than a month before the end of hostilities.

While we were in France, we had the privilege of undertaking a battlefield history tour with the University College of London, along with students and cadets from the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the United States of America and Ireland.

Over the three days we visited many sites of interest in the Somme battlefields. On the first day we visited Newfoundland Memorial Park - a Canadian memorial and discovery centre, Fricourt German war cemetery - a German memorial to their war dead and the Thiepval Memorial - an Anglo-French memorial to the unfound bodies of soldiers. That night, we attended the unveiling of our research exhibition at the Chateau de Flixecourt, where General Sir John Monash based himself throughout much of the war. We met with the Hon. Darren Chester MP, Minister for Defence Affairs and other senior ADF personnel in Europe during the event.

On the second day we visited Villers-Bretonneux - the cemetery to deceased Australian soldiers and Sir John Monash Centre - the museum to World War 1 co-located at Villers-Bretonneux. We then had the honour of representing Australia at the Centenary of the Battle of Amiens service held at the Notre-Dame Amiens Cathedral. The service was attended by HRH the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William), Rt. Hon. Theresa May, His Excel. Joachim Gauck, former president of Germany and the Hon. Darren Chester MP, Minister for Defence Affairs in Australia.

On our final day in France, we visited the Armistice Clearing, where the Armistice to end World War 1, and ultimately the surrender to begin World War 2 in Europe were signed.

This was once in a lifetime (perhaps forever) whirlwind trip, but a very educational and insightful journey, with lots of new friends and connections made with people from around the country and world.

Click here to view Breyon's flyer

Breydon Verryt-Reid | Year 11 Student

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