Maitland remembers Passchendaele
The Battle for Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle for Ypres) took place on the Western Front from July to November 1917. The purpose was to break through the heavily fortified German defences around nearby Ypres with the aim of sweeping through and capturing the German submarine bases on the coast to coincide with an amphibious attack. It became apparent that the strategy was not working, but the military command persisted. What resulted was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War with very high Australian - and other - casualties.
‘Maitland’s Own’ - the 34th Battalion - participated.
Flyer advertising Maitland’s commemorative events in 2017
2017 marked the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele.
Committed Maitland resident and local historian the late Peter Bogan lobbied to have the centenary recognised in some way. For him, it marked the tragedy and sacrifice of the 34th Battalion which had formed in Maitland in 1916, and included many local residents as well as Australians from other localities.
Peter’s lobbying, cajoling, inspiring, dreaming, persistence and commitment paid off. He rallied support and, to mark the centenary, Maitland hosted a number of events. There were exhibitions at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery and at Brough House. There were displays at the Visitors’ Centre, the Maitland and District Historical Society and as part of the City Library’s ‘Walls that talk’ series. There were talks. There was publicity. And there were commemorations and marches on Anzac Day.
This story pulls together some of the records kept of these events.
Cover of the booklet that introduces the exhibitions and provides a brief background on ‘Maitland’s Own’ and on the Battle of Passchendaele, including a map of the battlefield. There are also reproductions of a selection of the photographs used in the exhibitions and display.
The exhibition at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery focused on the photographs and film footage taken by Australia’s official photographers, and on the stories and memorabilia about Maitland men who joined the 34th Battalion and who fought at Passchendaele.
The exhibition at Brough House, hosted by Maitland Regional Museum, told the story of ‘Maitland’s Own’ from recruitment to the Battle of Passchendaele, and provided profiles of some of the local residents who volunteered. Text panels with photographs were on the walls, memorabilia and documents shared by the families of local men and women were in display cases.
‘Walls that talk’ on the City Library’s front wall offered a selection of photographs of the battle and of local residents who served as soldiers and nurses.
The Visitors Information Centre had a showcase with photographs and objects that directed visitors to the exhibitions.
The slide show below provides a visual taste of the contents of the exhibitions and displays.
Slide show with images of the exhibitions and displays at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Brough House, Maitland City Library and Maitland Visitor Information Centre
The Maitland and District Historical Society displayed items from its collection relating to the 34th Battalion and to other Maitland residents who served during the First World War. It also created a slide show (below) with photographs and brief details about a number of the local men who served.
Slide show acknowledging local men who served during the First World War
(Maitland and District Historical Society)
Maps of the battlefield and quotes from the War diary of the 34th Battalion
From a talk I presented to the Maitland and District Historical Society in 2017 as part of Maitland Remembers Passchendaele events.
References
34th Infantry Battalion War Diary, Australian War Memorial.
Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres), Australian War Memorial.
Department of Veterans' Affairs, Third Battle of Ypres 31 July to 10 November 1917, DVA Anzac Portal, 2023.
Maitland’s Own, Maitland Regional Museum, 2017. Text and image panels for the exhibition.
Maitland remembers Passchendaele (booklet), Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 2017.
Passchendaele: photography and the moving image in battle (exhibition), Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 14 October 2017 - 28 January 2018.
Third Battle of Ypres 31 July to 10 November 1917, Anzac Portal, Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
‘Walls that Talk - Passchendaele’, Maitland City Library, October - December 2017.
What you need to know about the Third Battle of Ypres, Imperial War Museum (London).