From Melbourne Today

Fromelles has been much in the news here since the recent finding of the previously unknown mass grave there. To commemorate this terrible first Australian action which cost 5000 casualties in one night and because the mostly Victorian troops were led by Brigadier-General Pompey Elliott from the northern Victorian mallee country, the Premier unveiled a copy of the statue in France at the Melbourne Shrine today.

It is a moving depiction of a more than 45 year old farmer (who was too old to be enlisted) a sergeant Simon Fraser, who when scouring the field for wounded heard a man say-"don't forget me cobber!". He didn't and that is why this sculpture is called "Cobbers". A testimony to man's love for man rather than the usual Aussie fighting prowess.

Commentary and images courtesy of Barry Smith