The Federal Government Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, visited Fromelles and Pheasant Wood, for the first time on Monday. Pheasant Wood is the burial site of approximately 400 Australian and British World War I soldiers. Mr Snowdon announced that work on a new cemetery for the ‘missing of Fromelles’ would commence in May 2009 at a new location close to Fromelles.
Photo: Minister Snowdon laying wreath at Pheasant Wood [Dept. of Defence]
The Melbourne Age reported Mr Snowdon saying :
“This site (at Fromelles) is not appropriate for a new cemetery.
We will be looking at another location and we will be in a position to make a decision about that very soon.
Our plan here is to exhume these bodies, bury them individually with the appropriate honours and we will do that.”
For more details click here.
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Press Release from Ministers Office
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
036/2008
PREPARING TO LAY THE PHEASANT WOOD FALLEN TO REST
Minister for Defence Science Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, today met with Fromelles residents and dignitaries, and thanked them for their ongoing support in honouring the remains of up to 400 Australian and British First World War soldiers.
The Minister paid his first visit to the Pheasant Wood site where the soldiers lie buried together after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.
“It is a humbling experience to walk these fields, knowing this is where thousands of Australians lost their lives fighting in the First World War over 90 years ago,” Minister Snowdon said.
“These men are Australian heroes and I know we have made the right decision in agreeing with the British to recover the remains of these soldiers, and to re-inter them in individual graves near where they have lain for so many decades.”
A preliminary excavation at Pheasant Wood in June this year confirmed the presence of Australian soldiers and today Minister Snowdon was able to personally thank many locals for their individual contribution to the search.
“I am grateful to the residents of Fromelles for their care and respect for the land where our soldiers lie; in particular to Madame Demassiet who kindly offered to donate this parcel of land to the Commonwealth earlier this year.”
The Minister laid a wreath at the temporary slate which marks the spot where these soldiers lie.
He was joined by the Mayor of Fromelles Monsieur Hubert Huchette and local War museum owner Monsieur Martial Delebarre, as well as Dr Tony Pollard, Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, and Dr Peter Barton, historian, who worked on the limited excavation of the site earlier this year.
“This is a site of national significance for Australians, and while we still have much work to do, it is wonderful to have the assistance of the people of Fromelles in ensuring that the sacrifice of these soldiers is properly commemorated.”
Photo: Dr Tony Pollard (GUARD) and Minister Snowdon [Dept. of Defence]
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The Sydney Morning Herald: New diggers cemetery to be announced – “We are waiting for the minister (Snowdon) to meet the minister (Twigg) in London on Wednesday and after that I think we’ll know exactly where it’s going to be,” Commonwealth War Graves Commission horticulture manager David Richardson, who has been consulted over possible locations, told AAP. To read more click here.
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Photo: Minister Snowdon, Martial Delebarre & Mayor Hubert Hutchette [Dept. of Defence]
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