Australia - Australia Remembers - The 2010 Lost Soldiers of Fromelles 20 Cents Coin

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Australia - Australia Remembers - The 2010 Lost Soldiers of Fromelles 20 Cents Coin - Uncirculated

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The Lost Soldiers of Fromelles, a 2010 uncirculated 20-cents coin from Australia.

The Royal Australian Mint continues its Australia Remembers series by honoring the service and sacrifice shown by the men who fought in the battle of Fromelles. Developed in partnership with the Australian Fromelles Project, this coin acknowledges that these lost soldiers will be laid to rest with dignity and honor.

The battle of Fromelles occurred in France on July 19-20, 1916. Fromelles was a combined operation between British troops and the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It would be the first occasion that the AIF saw action on the Western Front. The Australian War Memorial describes the battle as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history." Known as Australia’s bloodiest day, during the 1916 battle the 5th Division suffered 5533 casualties. There was speculation for many years regarding the existence of an unmarked and forgotten mass grave near Fromelles, containing the remains of Allied soldiers killed during the battle and subsequently buried by the Germans.

The coin design is based on the 'Cobbers Statue' which stands as a reminder to all in the Australian Memorial Park in Fromelles, France. This statue tells the story of Sergeant Simon Fraser who, under enemy fire, returned to the battlefield with his fellow comrades to rescue around 300 wounded Australians. On one of his trips back to the battlefield a plea was heard from a wounded soldier "Don't forget me Cobber" and he didn't. The statue was sculpted by Australian artist Peter Corlett and a replica now stands proudly at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne Australia.

Includes Capsule and Official Illustrated Card.