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 WarI. 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) 5th Brigade (Australia) 18th Battalion (Australia) 20th Battalion (Australia)
 * 2/2nd Battalion London regiment
 * 2/4th Battalion London regiment
 * 4th Division (Australia)
 * 12th Brigade (Australia)
 * 19th 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