More Defence news: 04 May 2009 - 10 May 2009
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05 May 2009 - Work to recover the remains of up to 400 WWI British and Australian soldiers will begin today (5 May 2009) at Pheasant Wood, in the village of Fromelles in France. Expected to be in attendance at the start of the excavation the Australian Ambassador to France, Mr David Ritchie; Australia’s Vice Chief of the Defence Force; Lieutenant General David Hurley; and Vice Chairman Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The recovery operation is planned to be completed in September 2009. DNA will be taken initially from a cross-section of remains to establish viability. Wherever it is possible to identify the remains, named graves will be provided. More: Media Release | Fromelles website |