'By diggers defended, by Victorians mended': mateship at Villers-Bretonneux

The term mateship is often used to describe the trust, friendship, and support shared by Australian men in times of war, a bond supposedly specific to groups of Australians. This paper challenges the nationlist and gendered interpretations given to these bonds through and examination of the relationship Australian soldiers formed with the residents of the French town of Villers-Bretonneux during World War 1.