The completion of the archaeological dig at Fromelles has precipitated widespread discussion on the fate of the soldiers whose remains were buried by the German army nearly 92 years ago. While the governments of Australia, Britain and France await the official report from the Glasgow University Archaeological Division (GUARD), public debate on future options has begun.
The Herald Sun on 16 June reported that the National President of the RSL Major-General Bill Crews stated: the RSL’s view is that, having confirmed the presence of a mass grave containing Australians, the site should not be further disturbed and should now be designated a war grave.
Others directly involved in locating the burial site of the missing Australian Diggers and British soldiers of the Battle of Fromelles have a different opinion. The following article by Chris Bryett Families and Friends of the First AIF member and founder and president of Recovering Overseas Australian Missing Inc. (ROAM Inc) presents a different point of view.
Recovery And Reburial Of Our Diggers
The finding of the missing Diggers of Fromelles reminds us all of their supreme sacrifice and our duty toward them.
Since they paid the ultimate price it’s inappropriate to weigh up what might be done in today’s dollars and cents.
Luckily, procedure dealing with this outcome has already been provided for in the Army Instruction 54-4 “Missing in Action Presumed Killed: Recovery of Human Remains of Defence Force Members”
The aim of this Army Instruction is to state Australian Defence Force policy on the recovery and burial of human remains and to provide guidelines for authorities receiving information on the location of possible human remains of ADF members.
The Australian Government, acting in conjunction with other British Commonwealth Nations, instituted a policy which prohibited the repatriation of the remains of WWI Commonwealth military members to their homeland. It was further agreed by the Commonwealth Nations that military personnel killed in war would be buried in the nearest War Graves Commission Cemetery to the place of death. Following World War II, the Commonwealth Nations, including the Australian Government, reaffirmed the policy which remains extant.
The Instruction requires that service authorities are to liaise with the Surgeon General ADF for the provision of medical/dental records and for the provision of forensic experts to examine the remains.
It is the responsibility of the Office of Australian War Graves acting in conjunction with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to:
a. assign a burial plot for the remains in the appropriate Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery,
b. erect a suitable headstone at the grave site, and
c. maintain the grave in perpetuity.
The instruction requires that where remains are identified as belonging to an ADF member (keeping in mind the unique circumstances of Pheasant Wood where the names of the dead are known), funeral arrangements are to be in accordance with normal military procedures.
This is not part of the Instruction, but the standard technique to determine where people were born, and their subsequent mobility – including whether or not they moved to Australia, is to analyse their tooth enamel for stable isotopes of strontium. This can be done for a low cost of around $200 – $250 per person. By this technique Diggers can be found and respectfully treated in accordance with the Instruction. The Brits can determine what should be done for their Tommies.
DNA can then be obtained to identify them either against the known relatives, or perhaps those found in the future, therefore each Digger should be separately buried.
The instruction provides that in the event that remains are identified with an ADF member and Next Of Kin can be contacted, Service authorities are to notify the NOK of the circumstances surrounding the finding of the remains and the funeral arrangements being undertaken. The Approving Authority for the investigation may authorise at public expense the travel of the NOK to attend the funeral. Where the NOK is aged or infirm, approval may be given for travel at public expense of an accompanying escort, usually a family member. Where travel overseas is involved, economy class air is authorised and accommodation costs are limited to three nights accommodation. Cost of meals, passports, inoculations and other incidental expenses remain the responsibility of the NOK.
Minister Snowdon was reported on 28 May as saying to AAP:
“everything possible would now be done to identify the remains found near Fromelles, including DNA testing.”
“If it’s possible to do the DNA tests we’ll then seek to contact family members,” he said.
“We’re already inviting family members to register (with defence).”
We can all remember that when the 5 Diggers were found in Zonnebeke that DNA testing was used for the first time on our recovered WWI Diggers. Two were identified by using DNA provided by NOK and work continues to identify the other 3 who were all given separate graves at the closest open CWGC cemetery. What we do for 5 we must do for 170 or is there some cut off number when it gets too expensive or too hard? What fight will we put up for these Diggers to be appropriately identified and remembered?
Pheasant Wood is a unique situation. There we actually know the names of the sons, husbands or fathers who fought and died. As Tim Whitford and Lambis Englezos said the ‘boys’ are not at peace. According to the Instruction they should be moved to the closest open CWGC cemetery and given their military funeral with an individual headstone just as their mates at Zonnebeke were. That provides them with a wonderful opportunity for DNA testing. Moving them to an extension at VC Corner, Ration Farm (where the balance of the Diggers are likely to be) or the new Pheasant Wood Cemetery would be good outcomes.
Army should follow the ADF instruction and give these deserving Diggers their rightful and ceremonial burial or as Patrick Lindsay put it…their final salute.
This appeared on the BBC on Friday 13 June 2008:
“On Friday the investigation team stood silently, with representatives from the British and Australian army, as a bugler sounded the Last Post.
This phase of the operation is now complete. The graves will be sealed once more to await a decision on how and where the soldiers should be commemorated.
Many are now calling for the exhumation and individual reburial of every man – a costly exercise that would probably be undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Britain’s Veterans’ Minister Derek Twigg told the BBC that governments would help meet the cost. But that decision would not be made until the excavation team had handed over their full report.
Relatives on both sides of the world will have to wait a while longer before they can close this chapter of their family history. “
The video coverage at the BBC website talks of Australian and British soldiers being buried 3 times. Once by the Germans, a second time by the investigation team and hopefully a third time to their final resting place.
Let’s hope third time lucky!
The question is, are we going to lead or be lead in this final Battle of Fromelles?
June 15, 2008 Chris Bryett – President – ROAM Inc
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FROMELLES is NOT honoured on The Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney. FFFAIF supports the recognition of FROMELLES on all state memorials.