Pictured during the Civic Reception (L-R): Mr Bede Jordan, Mr Raymond Senechal, Mr Barry Lewis, Mr Claude Durant, Mr Jean Letaille, Associate Professor Eric Andrews and Mr Ian Morrison. This photo appeared in The University of Newcastle Bulletin, No. 14, Sept 5, 1991.

The text was:

"Merci, Messieurs

Two staff members were recently able to say "merci" for support and hospitality given to them in the Northern France.

Assoc Professor Eric Andrews, of the Department of History, and Mr Bede Jordan, of the instructional Media Unit extended their thanks during a civic reception at Newcastle City Hall.

The Town Clerk, Mr Barry Lewis, expressed the City of Newcastle's gratitude to the people of two small farming villages in Picardy located on the Hindenburg Line in the First World War. The villages, Bullecourt and Hendecourt were German Strongholds and suffered intensive bombardment in the war.

Two battles at Bullecourt, fought in April and May, 1917, resulted in approximately 10,000 Australian being killed in nine days.

Some of the victims came from Newcastle, where the 2nd and 17th Battalions have their headquarters.

Professor Andrews and Mr Jordan visited Bullecourt and Hendecourt early this year to make a film on the battles. They hope to have the film ready in time for it to be screened next year on 75th anniversary of the battles.

In France they were moved by the sincere way in which the people of Bullecourt and Hendecourt sincere way in which the people of Bullecourt and Hendecourt honour the memory of the Australian solders who fought on the Western front.

Mr Claude Durand, the schoolmaster at Bullecourt, Mr Jean Letaille, Mayor of Bullecourt, and Mrs Denise Letaille and Mrs Marie Louise Senechal cam to Australia for a holiday and Professor Andrews and Mr Jordan, asked them to come to Newcastle so they could reciprocate the welcome given to them.

"At the instigation of Mr Durand, the citizens of Bullecourt and Hendecourt have for the past 10 years held an annual ceremony in memory of the Australians," Professor Andrews said. "This has become a highlight of the area.

"This year, they were visited by Australian Ambassador to France, the Military Attaché at Australia House in London and his staff, and a 200 member contingent of Australian military officers.

"After mass, and a simple ceremony in the main square, a long procession, led by a tiny French band, marched to a memorial in the fields where the Australian troops fell.

"Small Children from the primary school then laid posies of flowers. The band struck up Advanced Australia Fair and we all returned to the village.

Professor Andrews said that while Mr Jordan and he were in Picardy they were overwhelmed by the kindness shown to them.

"For an Australian, nothing was too much trouble. The village hall was decked out."

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