THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
THE HON. ALAN GRIFFIN MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
002/2009
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
LGC FORENSICS WINS FROMELLES DNA CONTRACT
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, and Alan
Griffin, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, today announced that LGC Forensics has
been awarded the contract to analyse viable DNA from the remains of up to 400
World War One British and Australian soldiers found in Fromelles, France.
“The awarding of this contract marks the next step in the process in identifying
those Australian and British soldiers who fought and died on 19 and 20 July 1916
at the battle of Fromelles,” said Mr Combet.
“The United Kingdom and Australian Governments are jointly committed to
honouring the service of these World War One British and Australian soldiers. The
Australian Government will take every reasonable measure towards identifying
these brave soldiers.”
“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is overseeing the project on behalf
of the UK and Australian Governments and has engaged LGC Forensics to
undertake the DNA analysis. LGC Forensics provided the best solution to the
specific project requirements.”
LGC Forensics commenced a pilot study in early May to determine viability of the
DNA in the remains. It is anticipated that the results of this pilot study will be
available by the end of June 2009.
All descendants who have registered their details with the Fromelles Project will be
contacted soon by the Australian Government. This will occur regardless of
whether the pilot study finds viable DNA or not.
“Due to the complex nature of the identification and cemetery construction process,
none of the remains will be identified prior to reburial. As such all soldiers will be
initially reinterred as ‘unknown’,” said Mr Griffin.
“The scientific process will run concurrently with the reinterment of the remains in
the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission Fromelles (Pheasant Wood)
Military Cemetery. The reinterment is expected to commence on 30 January
2010.”
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
“The cemetery will be the first of its kind constructed in over 50 years with the
intention that a military funeral will be held on the 2010 anniversary of the Battle of
Fromelles. Wherever it is possible to identify the remains, named graves will be
provided.”
Background:
The group burial at Pheasant Wood was confirmed during a limited excavation in
May 2008 which was contracted by the Australian Government. It is believed up to
400 Australian and British soldiers were buried there by German forces following
the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.
The Battle of Fromelles began on 19 July, 19 days after the opening of the Somme
campaign, and was the first battle fought by Australians on the Western Front. It is
known as Australia’s bloodiest 24 hours with 5533 Fifth Australian Division
casualties.
Archaeological excavation of the site was contracted to Oxford Archaeology and
commenced in May 2009. Individual reinterment of remains at the new
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military
Cemetery is expected to be commenced early in 2010. The Commonwealth War
Graves Commission is overseeing the excavation on behalf of both the Australian
and United Kingdom Governments.
For ongoing project updates or to register your details if you believe you may be
or call 1800 019 090.
Media contact:
Rod Hilton: (Greg Combet) 02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Belinda Cole: (Alan Griffin) 02 6277 7820
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
