The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt and proceeded to France, destined for the Western Front, in June 1916. The 29th Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. The nature of this battle was summed up as:

"the novelty of being a soldier wore off in about five seconds, it was like a bloody butcher's shop".

Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 29th played no major offensive role for the rest of the year.

Source: Australian War Memorial