THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
THE HON. ALAN GRIFFIN MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Sunday, 31 January 2010
012/2010
BURIAL OF FROMELLES SOLDIERS BEGINS
Ninety-three years after they fell in the Battle of Fromelles, the first of 250
Australian and British soldiers have finally been buried with full military honours at
a ceremony in France.
On the first day of burials for the Australian and British soldiers recovered last
year from Fromelles, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, and Minister
for Defence Personnel, Material and Science, Greg Combet, encouraged the
Australian public to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who serve in the
Armed Forces.
“These men have not been forgotten and today marks the start of the solemn
duty of finally laying them to rest”, said Mr Griffin.
“The discovery of these men, so long after World War One, provides new
generations of Australians with an opportunity to honour their service.”
The soldiers are being buried in individual graves in the purpose-built Fromelles
(Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. Mr Griffin said the new cemetery is the first
full cemetery the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has constructed in
more than 50 years.
The burials will occur throughout February and be conducted by members of both
the British and Australian Armies.
A commemorative event to open the cemetery is scheduled for the 94th
anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.
Mr Combet said the Government was hopeful that anthropological,
archaeological, historical and DNA information will lead to the identification of
some of the men.
“While identification of the remains is an extremely complex process I remain
hopeful that we will be able to identify a number of those that we have found,”
said Mr Combet.
The battle on 19 July 1916 was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history with
5,533 Australian soldiers killed, wounded or missing.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Darren Loasby (Alan Griffin)
0421 246 246
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
