The 60th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 24 February 1916. The new battalion formed part of the 15th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division led by Brigadier General Harold "Pompey" Elliott . The Battalion was led by Major Geoffrey Gordon McCrae.

Having only arrived in France on 28 June, the 60th became embroiled in its first major battle on the Western Front on 19 July, without the benefit of an introduction to the trenches in a "quiet" sector. At the Battle of Fromelles, they were virtually wiped out, suffering 757 casualties.

The War diary entry for the 20th July states: "Roll call held at 9.30am, 4 officers and 61 other ranks being present"

These losses meant the battalion saw little further offensive action in 1916.

Source: Australian War Memorial

The Battle of Fromelles

On 19 July, they were once again in position in the trenches by 4:20 PM, readying for their attack. Artillery shelling from both sides was constant.

The 60th were given a very difficult position for the battle, with the “Sugar Loaf” salient, a heavily manned position with many machine guns, directly across from them. Fire from here could enfilade any troops advancing towards the front lines, giving the Germans a significant advantage. If the Sugar Loaf could not be taken, the Australian advances would also be

subjected to counterattacks from that direction.

Bill Boyce (3022, 58th) summed the situation up well:

“What have I let myself in for?”

Source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C386815

The first of four waves of Aussies went over the parapet at 6:45 PM, with the last wave going over at 7:00 PM. Casualties were immediate and heavy. The 15th Brigade War Diaries captures the intensity of the early part of the attack – ‘they were

enfiladed by machine guns in the Sugar Loaf and melted away.’ Source: AWM War Diaries – 15th Brigade

It was reported that some got to within 90 yards of the enemy trenches. One soldier said he “believed some few of the battalion entered enemy trenches and that during the night a few stragglers, wounded and unwounded, returned to our trenches.” Source: War Diaries – 60th Battalion

Fighting continued through the night. With known high casualties in the 60th, they wererelieved by the 57th Battalion at 7 AM. Roll call was held at 9:30 AM. In the ‘Official History of the War’, Bean said “of the 60th Battalion, which had gone into the fight with 887 men, only one officer and 106 answered the call”.