Fromelles Diggers To Be Given Individual Burials

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31st July 2008, 02:48pm - Views: 774





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THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel




Thursday, 31 Jul 2008

101/2008


FROMELLES DIGGERS TO BE GIVEN INDIVIDUAL BURIALS



UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL 4.30PM


Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, today

announced that the Australian and British Governments will seek to have the remains

of their World War I soldiers – buried in mass graves near Fromelles in 1916 –

exhumed and given individual burials with military honours.


Mr Snowdon today made the joint announcement with Mr Derek Twigg, British

Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans.  It follows the limited

excavation of the Pheasant Wood site in May this year, when the Glasgow University

Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) confirmed that human remains were

present and assessed their condition, number and nationality.


“The Australian and British Governments have agreed that individual military burial is

the most fitting way to commemorate our brave soldiers, and will ensure the heroism

they showed in the terrible battle of Fromelles will be remembered and revered,” said

Mr Snowdon.


“Should these remains have been discovered by post-war battlefield clearance teams

in 1919, the war dead would have been re-interred with individual headstones; our

men are no less deserving of that honour and dignity today.”


Planning work will begin immediately, and subject to the approval of French

authorities and with the support of the people of Fromelles, a timeframe for the

recovery of remains will be announced later this year.  Future work, including the

significant task of preparing a war cemetery, will be undertaken under the auspices of

Commonwealth War Graves Commission.


“Whilst acquisition of the land near Pheasant Wood for a permanent war cemetery is

a Commonwealth War Graves Commission responsibility, we acknowledge the

generous offer of land by the owner of the mass burial site, Madame Demassiet, and

will consider the needs of all parties including the tenant farmer in this process.”


Work is underway to confirm the names of those believed buried at the Pheasant

Wood site, and the Australian and British Governments have agreed to equally share

the costs of research, exhumation and reburial.


Details on the Fromelles research and limited excavation are available online at

www.defence.gov.au/fromelles. Members of the public who believe their relative may

be buried at Fromelles are encouraged to register their details at the website or via

the Fromelles Public Inquiries line: 1800 019 090.


Media contacts:

Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):


02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689

Defence Media Liaison:



02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664






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