The tranquil surroundings of Pheasant Wood has changed with the commencement of the archaeological dig for the exhumation of the remains of possibly 400 allied soldiers who fought during the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 and fell within the German lines and were subsequently buried by Bavarian troops after the battle.
Photo: Pheasant Wood, Fromelles. 9 May 2009 [Chris Munro]
The burial area has once again been fenced off to ensure that the archaeological dig site is secure and a compound has been established at the eastern end of the area.
Photo: ‘The Compound’ at Pheasant Wood. 9 May 2009 [Chris Munro]
Within this compound is located the morgue, archaeological and DNA laboratories which will be used by the Oxford Archaeology team. On Monday 4 May the facility was open to the press to allow the Oxford Archeological team to explain the processes which they will undertake to enable each of the fallen soldiers to be given an individual burial and ultimately, where possible, be given back their identity.
The BBC has posted on its website a number of video clips which explain the work of the archaeologists on site this year:
In Caring for the remains of Fromelles fallen Louise Loe from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission explains how the remains will be treated and taken care of in future. Click here to view.
Photo: Oxford Archaeology team members: Richard Wright (Senior Forensic Advisor) and Ambika Flavel (Forensic Archaeologist) outside the morgue building. [Chris Munro]
In The tools of an archaeological dig forensic archaeologist Roland Wessling describes the skills required to exhume the remains of the fallen soldiers. Click here to view.
The BBC site also has archival videos from the original archaeological dig in 2008 carried out by the Glasgow University Archaeological Research Department (GUARD). These clips provide background information on the preliminary archaeological investigations:
In How soldiers were buried in WW1 historian Peter Barton explains how soldiers were buried at Pheasant Wood Fromelles. Click here to view.
remembering Fromelles is the theme the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has selected for the exhumation process and reburial of the soldiers in a new CWGC Cemetery. The CWGC has provided information panels about the project which are on display in the Town Hall in Fromelles and on the fencing surrounding the burial site.
Photo: CWGC Information Panels on screening fence at Pheasant Wood. 5 May 2009. [Chris Munro]
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has also established a website dedicated to the project. To view the site click here.
Photo: Information Panel No.1 [Chris Munro]
Photo: Information Panel No. 2. [Chris Munro]
Photo: Information Panel No. 3 [Chris Munro]
Photo: Information Panel No. 4 [Chirs Munro]
As the project progresses the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will place additional information panels on public display.
The FFFAIF website will be updated regularly on the activities at Fromelles as information and photos are obtained.
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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.