Australians on the Western Front series. From 1916 to 1918, five divisions totalling some 265,000 Australians served on the Western Front in France and Belgium. The Australians were regarded as an elite force and were prominent in many of the important battles fought during these years. In devastating battles at places such as Pozieres, Fromelles, Monquet Farm, Bullecourt, Messines, Passchendale, Amiens and Ypres, more than 46,000 of them lost their lives in the service of their country and the British Empire. More Australians were killed in action or died of wounds on the Western Front than in all other campaigns and conflicts of the 20th century combined.