Hangard Wood
# Hangard Wood

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.

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. John Croak VC is buried there.

## Units involved in the battle

173rd Infantry Brigade (Great Britain)

* 2/2nd Battalion London regiment
* 2/4th Battalion London regiment
* 4th Division (Australia)
* 12th Brigade (Australia)

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

* 19th Battalion (Australia)

20th Battalion (Australia)

* 33rd Battalion (Australia)
* 34th Battalion (Australia)
* 34th Battalion (Australia)
* 35th Battalion (Australia)
* 36th Battalion (Australia)
* 1st Moroccan Infantry Division (France)
* 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF

## Victoria Cross recipients

* John Croak
* Percy Storkey
* Herman James Good

## Military Medal recipients

* John Charles Barnett
