Australians first read of this battle in newspapers. Here is how it was initially reported to the civilian population here in Australia
OTHER WESTERN LINES AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS.LONDON July 20. General Haig, in his report this morning, announces raids in which Australian troops played a part, as folows : -
Yesterday evening (Wednesday), to the south of Armentieres, and the north-west of Lille, we carried out some important raids along a front of two miles. The Australians took part in the raids. About 140 Germans were made prisoner.
EXCELLENT RESULTS.LONDON, July 20. The newspapers give prominence to the excellent results which attended the raids by the Australians in the Armentieres-Lille region. The raids were on a more extensive front than any General Haig had previously reported.
GERMAN VERSION. AMSTERDAM. July 20.
To-day's German communique states : The English yesterday attacked with considerable force our positions west and north of Fromelles, but were thrown back by our counter-attacks from the points which they penetrated. We took 300 prisoners.
This cutting is from the Tasmanian newspaper The Mercury, published in Hobart 22 July 1916.
http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1023956?searchTerm=%22fromelles%22