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Mouquet Farm, before its destruction by shellfire. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial.

Mouquet Farm, before its destruction by shellfire. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial.

  • Australian troops launch the first of nine separate attacks on the German stronghold of Mouquet Farm, located on a ridge to the north-west of the village of Pozieres. The buildings of “Moo Cow Farm”, as it became known, are reduced to rubble during the attacks, but the underground stone cellars remain as German defences. The attacks at Mouquet Farm continue until 3 September; they are all unsuccessful. The 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions sustain more than 11,000 casualties, bringing the total number of Australian casualties to 23,000 since the fighting in the Somme began.
  • The Portuguese Government decides to extend military co-operation to Europe
  • Italian troops capture the town of Gorizia in the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo