Fromelles
Background
Australia and Britain have agreed to exhume the First World War soldiers who are presently interred in a group burial site at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France and re-inter them in individual graves
The decision was made following a limited excavation at the site during May and June 2008, which was carried out by the Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) under the auspices of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and with cooperation of the British and French Governments. The excavation confirmed that the remains of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers had been temporarily buried at the site in 1916, and have remained there to the present day.
Previous non-invasive surveys and archival research had suggested the soldiers were buried at the site by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916. However, a limited excavation was needed to confirm the existence of any human remains.
The Australian Government together with the French and British Governments, as well as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is currently discussing the details of the planned recovery and re-burial operation. A dedicated team has been appointed within Army to manage the Fromelles project from an Australian perspective, and is working on a detailed project plan and timeline.
Army has established a register for those who believe that a relative of theirs may be buried at Fromelles. These members of the public are encouraged to enter their details online or via the public inquiry line 1800 019 090. This register will form a base from which links to current living relatives may be made if identification of the remains is found to be possible. Army will also use this register to communicate with people who may have a relative buried at the site and keep them informed regarding the progress of the project, including when the re-interment and associated ceremonies will occur.
Army will carefully manage the information it gathers so that the privacy of individuals is protected. Details will not be released to non-government persons or bodies, or used for purposes other than the identification of soldiers at Fromelles, unless express permission is granted by individuals.
This website, along with Ministerial and Departmental press releases, will continue to provide information about the progress of the recovery and re-interment of these soldiers at Fromelles.
Additional readings:
Bean, C.E.W., The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. III The AIF in France (Angus and Robertson, 1942)
Corfield, R., Don’t Forget Me Cobber (Corfield and Co, 2000)
Edmonds,J.E., Military Operations: France and Belgium, 1915.11 Battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos (Macmillan, 1928)
Lindsay,P., Fromelles, (Hardy Grant Books, 2007)
McMullin, R., Pompey Elliot (Scribe, 2002)
Pederson, P., Fromelles (Pen and Swords Books Ltd, 2004)