Hangard Wood is a locality south of Villers-Bretonneux northern France. It was the site of Hangard village and a battle in World War I. The battle of Hangard Wood was part of the German offensive Operation Michael, in the Arras–Saint-Quentin–La Fère sector of the Somme fought in March 1918. The battle of Hangard Wood was more specifically part of the larger Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, fought between the Canadian, British, Australian and French armies on one side and the German army on the other.[1]

The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918 was significant as the first tank-on-tank battle in history, and the Red Baron was shot down on 21 April.

Today the wood lies adjacent to a British cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and known as Hangard Wood British Cemetery.[2][3][4][5] John Croak VC is buried there.

Units involved in the battle

173rd Infantry Brigade (Great Britain)

5th Brigade (Australia) 18th Battalion (Australia)

20th Battalion (Australia)

Victoria Cross recipients

Military Medal recipients

  • John Charles Barnett

References

49°50′18″N 2°30′34″E / 49.83833°N 2.50944°E / 49.83833; 2.50944

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