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