Our People in QLD
Andrew Couchman - Roma Soldier’s Belgium Pilgrimage
Andrew will be in Belgium, along with 20 other soldiers from 51st Battalion The Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR), for the military funeral of five Diggers killed 90 years ago during the Battle of Passchendaele, whose bodies were recently discovered during pipeline excavations.
Due to road relocation shortly after World War I, their bodies had been missed when the remains of other soldiers were removed to permanent war graves nearby.
DNA testing has confirmed the names of two of the five soldiers, and one, a Sergeant Calder was from 51st Battalion AIF. Family members of the two identified soldiers will also be at the funeral.
The 51st Battalion was raised in 1915 to fight overseas but, over the years, its role has changed. Now its soldiers are mostly Reserves who use their local knowledge to patrol the remote coastlines and interiors of the far north.
“It’s an honour to take part in laying to rest our World War One comrades who were killed in battle 90 years ago,” Andrew said.
“It has been a lifelong dream to visit the battlefields of Belgium and France – and to do so in such circumstance is very significant for me.
“When I get back it’s back to work after a short break! I’ll soon be away for another month, instructing on a course with the unit.
“I joined the Army locally with 25th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment, but now I’m in the 51st.
“I’ve done numerous patrols into Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria, which brings great diversity and challenge. I’ve also been overseas with the Army a couple of times – to Hawaii and the Kokoda Track.
On October 4 Andrew will be at the Buttes Military Cemetery, Polygon Wood for the funeral of the five Australian soldiers. He and fellow Diggers from 51st Battalion will be providing the honour guard. After the funeral, the detachment will take part in local 90th anniversary of the battle of Ypres events.
The next day, Andrew and his mates will represent the Australian Army at the evening ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ieper (Ypres), by the road which led from this ancient regional town to the battlefield. The citizens of Ypres hold this ceremony at 8pm every evening, every day of the year.
Some 60,000 Australians — all volunteers — were killed in World War I.