An informal but moving ceremony at 11a.m. Friday 13 June 2008 heralded the close of activity at the archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood Fromelles.
The photos sent by Carole Laignel, Secretary F.W.T.M 14-18 (Fromelles Museum) capture details of the service. Read Carole’s account of the proceedings:
Dear friends,
It was a sunny day, not very hot, around 15°C, but not as so rainy as yesterday when 26mm fell!!! So I took round 200 photos and others members of the association too ! Here are some of the photos ….
In the first photo you can see that they began yesterday evening to put all in order and to return the soil over the dig!
In the second one: the girl is Tim Whitford’s daughter in front of the new memorial
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IN MEMORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AND LEST WE FORGET |
and behind you can see Martial Delebarre at work !
The 3rd is the arrival of some dignitaries: porte-drapeaux (flag bearers) & Mr Claude Durand AM [Mayor] from Bullecourt … you see the mud at the front … that was very emotional!
At the back Fromelles’ church and Martial Delebarre pushing his wheel-barrow!
In the next one, you’ll see Claude Durand AM Mayor of Bullecourt & Tim Whitford !
Tim’s family under the sun just by the memorial with the church at the back!
The pastor (Chaplain) is arriving & General O’Brien is looking for the others dignitaries!
This photo with Hubert Huchette, our mayor and the pastor & our priest from Weppes’s area, l’abbé (Father) Duprez who recited a prayer after the pastor!
Photo of the soil or mud from Fromelles now!
A very nice photo of 4 archaeologists, under a beautiful sky!
One part of the assembled people. I don’t know how many we were but that was great to see so many people interested: sitting is Mme Demassiet, the owner of the field! See the sky !!
On the right is Sam Rossato, our friend our friend from the Australian Embassy in Paris
I think it’s a very nice photo with the flowers just at the front! Général O’Brien is speaking and at the back our french flag bearers!
Our french priest is saying the prayer!
The last one is when our mayor Hubert Huchette is speaking, he thanks all the persons who organised these researchers, especially Lambis Englezos, our friend from Melbourne and everybody who was part of the digging!
You can see all the gerbs (tributes) put by all the dignitarities! I put one with Hubert Huchette & Francis Delattre but of course I couldn’t take the photo !
Hope you’ll be happy with all these photos ?
Around 5.00pm, a journalist from our local newspaper : ” La Voix du Nord” will phone me to ask some questions about the tourism in Fromelles! May be there will be more & more tourists now after this discovery !!!
Tonight we’ll see on French Local TV on FR3 at 7.00pm something about the ceremony , but it’ll be longer on Monday at noon & at 7.00pm !
I’ll stop now ! my computer seams to be tired !! hope you will accept all the photos !*
Lest we forget
There has been significant coverage in the media:
ABC News: Search for diggers in Fromelles completed by ABC correspondent Stephanie Kennedy with VIDEO of service. To view click here.
Fromelles excavation ends . Click here.
news.com.au: Service held for Australian soldiers. Click here.
adelaide now: Fromelles Click here.
The Herald Sun: Diggers’ Fromelles graves offer by French. Click here.
Patrick Lindsay’s blog: Pheasant Wood land now belongs to our Missing Diggers. Click here.
The Sydney Morning Herald: Give diggers the dignity of reburial . Click here.
The Daily Telegraph: Should the Fromelles Diggers be left to rest in peace. Click here.
BBC News: WWI ‘mass grave’ to be sealed . Click here to read article and view video.
Call back tomorrow for more news.
FROMELLES is NOT honoured on The Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney. FFFAIF supports the recognition of FROMELLES on all state memorials.