Pheasant Wood Ceremony
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Chris Munro in Fromelles
A small crowd of about 70 people gathered at Pheasant Wood under cloudy skies to witness the turning of the first sod of earth which marked the commencement of the exhumation of the missing from the Battle of Fromelles.
The following photos record some of the events at the Service to mark the commencement of the exhumation process at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles.
Mayor of Fromelles, Hubert Huchette, accompanies Dinitaries to Pheasant Wood (Photo credit Philippe Pauchet for La Voix Du Nord)
French Veterans (Francaise de Anciens Combattants) formed a guard of honour
French flag bearers (porte-drapeaux) at Pheasant Wood (Carole Laignel)
Cuckoos softly called from within the wood as official speeches were made as members of Oxford Archaeology looked on.
The Mayor of Fromelles welcomed the Dignitaries to Fromelles. School children from the Fromelles village school were on hand to witness this historic eve
Mayor, Hubert Huchette, welcomes Dignitaries to Fromelles (Photo credit Philippe Pauchet for La Voix Du Nord)
The welcome address was given by Air Commodore Steve Martin, Head of the Australian Staff and Defence Adviser at the Australian High Commission, London, in which he acknowledged the important contribution of the work done by Lambis Engelzos. Lambis’ work was also acknowledged by the Australian Ambassador to France, His Excellency Mr David Ritchie and the British Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies in the addresses during the ceremony.
Air Commodore Steve Martin gives the Welcome Address (Carole Laignel)
The speakers also expressed the importance of providing the military honours that were owed to the men buried at Pheasant Wood. This would include a military funeral as they are laid to rest in the new CWGC at Fromelles in individual graves with individual headstones. They also expressed the importance of returning the identity to as many of the soldiers as possible – a process which could take many years to achieve – but one which would commence almost immediately. The reburial of the soldiers is due to commence in February 2010 & the new cemetery will be completed in time for its dedication on 19 July 2010.
Some of the Dignitaries including Roger Lee, Head, Australian Army History Unit, Rev Raymond Jones, St Georges Memorial Church, Father Roger Duprez, Col Peter Singh, Army Adviser, Australian Defence Staff, Australian High Commission (Carole Laignel)
The Site, The Project and all who would work on it were then blessed by The Reverend Ray Jones of St George’s Memorial Church in Ieper and Fromelles Parish Priest, Father Roger Duprez.
Father Roger Duprez and Rev Raymond Jones, St Georges Memorial Church leading the Service (Photo credit Chris Munro)
Father Roger Duprez blessing the site and all who would work on it. (Photo credit Chris Munro)
The handover of the site to Oxford Archaeology was signalled by the starting of an excavator. Under the supervision of the staff from Oxford Archaeology the mechanical digger carefully skimmed the grass and the first layer of soil from the top of pit 4.
The first scrape (Chris Munro and Carole Laignel)
Major General Mike O’Brien discusses aspects of the exhumation process with Lt General David Hurley, Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force and Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB, Vice Chairman, CWGC (Photo credit Philippe Pauchet for La Voix Du Nord)
Major General Mike O’Brien (ADF), Major General Matthew Sykes (MoD) and Lt General David Hurley, Vice Chief ADF (Photo credit Philippe Pauchet for La Voix Du Nord)
Chris Munro, FFFAIF Secretary, talks with Col Peter Singh in the background as Major General Matthew Sykes (MoD), Lt General David Hurley (ADF) and Major General Mike O’Brien (ADF) reflect on the commencement of the exhumation process. (Oxford Archaeology / CWGC / MoD)
The archaeological site is now a ‘closed compound’ as the specialists commence the delicate task of the removal of the remains for possible identification and reburial.
There has been extensive media coverage of the Fromelles excavation, exhumation and identification process, much of which is referenced in other postings on this web-site.
So some caution is required in relying on the media reports, especially relating to casualties. For example, the headline graphic in the article in the Independent.com.au The Big Question: What was the Battle of Fromelles, and why are they digging up the bodies?
whereas the narrative has :
More than 5,500 soldiers of the Australian Fifth Division – many recently arrived from the failed Gallipoli campaign in Turkey – were killed, wounded or captured in less than 24 hours. Over 1,700 Australians died and many of their bodies were never found. The British 61st (South Midland) Division, mostly untried volunteers from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, suffered 1,500 casualties, including 500 deaths.*
*During the period from midday 19 July to 8pm 20 July the Official History of Australia in The War 1914-1918 in Australian Medical Service Vol. II Western Front Chapter 3, pp35-48 – The Battle of Fromelles’ re4cords that in the period from noon on 19 July to 8pm on 21 July, 1,917 Australian soldiers killed with total Australian casualties of 5,533.