To secure the construction site of the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Cemetery at Fromelles a fence has been constructed around the site. School children from France, Australian and United Kingdom were invited produce artwork to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the Australian and the British soldiers involved in the Battle of Fromelles.
To view the artwork of the French and UK school children click on the ‘screen’ below:
[slideshare id=1691049&doc=fromellescemeteryfrenchkids-090707062147-phpapp01]
To view the artwork of the Australian school children click on the ‘screen’ below:
[slideshare id=1691046&doc=fromellescemeteryaussiekids-090707062046-phpapp01]
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Construction is well underway at the site of the new CWGC Cemetery at Fromelles. This is the first new cemetery built by the CWGC built in northern France in more than 50 years.
Photo: Foundations being dug on cemetery site [Carole Laignel]
The work is being carried out by the Belgium contractors. The cemetery site must first be stabilized by drilling down into the soil so that concrete piers can be poured. These piers will act as the foundations of the cemetery. The Cross of Sacrifice which will be 7m tall will be placed on a foundation which goes 9m into the ground.
Photo: Concrete foundations [Carole Laignel]
A large fence has been erected along the roadside boundary of the site. British, Australian and French schoolchildren were asked to produce artwork to decorate the hoardings which surrounds the cemetery construction site using the theme of Remembrance.
Photo: The fence surrounding the cemetery construction site [Carole Laignel]
Children from the local Fromelles village school and Stonyhurst School in Lancashire, UK were on hand on Monday 8 June to see their artwork on display.
Photo: FFFAIF Members Carole Laignel and Lambis Englezos (left) chat with the school children [Carole Laignel]
The artwork of Australian school children from the Camberwell Primary School in Victoria is also included on the display panels in Fromelles.
The CWGC gave the children the opportunity to adorn the hoardings. ‘Each Nation was briefed to use images that represented their own country in the design – in the case of Australia and the UK, to bring a little piece of home to a distant field of battle.’
Photo: Samples of some of the art work drawn by French and English school children [Carole Laignel]
Amongst the children gathered to see the display for the first time were several 12-year-olds from Stonyhurst School in Lancashire, England.
Genevieve Turner said: “All the soldiers had families like us and they were not much older than we are. When I saw my drawing I was happy because those soldiers who died in the war will never be forgotten.”
Favour Maduka, who also attends Stonyhurst said: “Today was one of the proudest days of my life. Seeing our artwork displayed and being given the privilege to enter the excavation site has made me feel proud of the school, of my friends and of myself.”
Fellow pupil Jessica Moyle added: “The artwork was magnificent especially when it had been put up on the boards. All the men who died at Fromelles will finally be put to rest.”
The children’s teacher, Paul Garlington, said: “We were proud and deeply honoured to be asked to do this. It was both moving and humbling to be here today. Perhaps now these men can rest in peace.”
The artwork of the Australian school children from Camberwell Primary School has been incorporated into a large information panel featuring the ‘masthead’ of the Australian Army Fromelles Project .
Photo: Information Panel at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery featuring the words Don’t forget me Cobber
Photo: Detail of some of the artwork from Australian school children [Carole Laignel]
Since the artwork went on display the fence has been given a coat of paint.
Photo: Fence around cemetery construction site being painted, July 2009 [Carole Laignel]
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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 buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916 dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.