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Article: Australian veterans minister honors fallen in World War I battle on Western Front
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- April 25, 2008
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Australia's veterans minister said he hoped commemorations in a northern French village Friday would increase awareness of an often-overlooked battle that blunted the German advance on the Western front during World War I.
Alan Griffin attended a dawn ceremony Friday in Villers-Bretonneux in the Somme region that saw heavy fighting 90 years ago. Forces from Australia and New Zealand recaptured the village on April 25, 1918.
"It was the battle that blunted the German advance and from there provided the springboard that led to the push for the armistice," Griffin told The Associated Press by telephone.
He said many Australians don't realize the importance of ...