Day 31 (Friday 6Dec19) a trip to Villers-Bretonneux

After huge breakfast we set out for the village of Corbie then onto Villers-Bretonneux. Our trip was in light rain so we could see the beauty of French country side.

 Along the way, we stopped outside Pozieres to visit one of the many cemeteries in the area. Two locals joined us in conversation in the cold and wet. They had no English and we no French. Once again our translation app on the fly translated the conversation. Delightful friendly fellows who wanted to know about us and our visit. Again, the French people were very friendly and we can’t sing their praises enough. 

Outside Villers-Bretonneux is the new Sir John Monash Centre. It is a huge impressive place recently built for 2018 Centenary of the Great War end of which the Australian Corps and Sir John Monash played a significant part. 

The displays are highly interactive and are designed to take person on  a journey on the critical importance of 1918 Villers-Bretonneux battle and Australia’s important part. (One of those critical battles in history where if Germans had have won the town of  Villers-Bretonneux and the nearby hill, what could have happened? World might have been a different place?) 
Memorial and commonwealth graves beneath the Monash centre invoke many emotions too complex to be discussed. We came away changed from the experience. (It is one thing to read about something, it is truly another to see it!) 

After the Monash centre and the memorial, we headed into the town of 

Villers-Bretonneux to see the school that was rebuilt by the Victorian state government in the 1920s. Many Australians following the war assisted in rebuilding the school and the town. The school and community has Museum dedicated to the Australian troops that saved their town (and perhaps their country). Worth a visit. 

After visiting the school and museum we headed back to our accommodation in the twilight and dark. We survived the drive, even passing through the towns of Albert and Pozierres. We considered going Amiens, but that was going to add too time to our trip in the dark on French country roads.