Tag: artifacts
Giving the Credit Deserved
by admin on Aug.10, 2009, under Historical Heroes
A mass grave from the Battle of Fromelles during World War I provides an insight into the lives of the brave soldiers who died there. Among the remains are found small keepsakes that bring their humanity home. DNA testing will also be used in an effort to identify the men buried in the anonymous mass grave. Finally these soldiers will have the honor they deserved.
‘DNA is just one part of the identity puzzle. Our experts will be examining all available evidence in their attempts to confirm the identities of these men.
‘Each one of these soldiers will be laid to rest with the dignity they deserve and we owe it to them to do all we can to identify them.’
The land at Pheasant Wood, near the village of Fromelles, was confirmed as a group burial site in May last year after a limited excavation revealed pits which had lain untouched since the battle more than 90 years earlier.
Work to excavate the grave got under way three months ago and a full archaeological excavation of the site is expected to be completed by the end of September.
An identification board will convene in March next year to consider the evidence available.
The hope is to use casualty records, DNA tests and artefacts – such as kit parts – found in the ground to assign identities to as many of the bodies as possible.
The Battle of Fromelles, which began on July 19 1916, was the first major battle on the Western Front involving both British and Australian troops.
It proved disastrous for Allied forces – records suggest that the Australians lost 1,780 troops and the British 503 between July 19 and 21.
