Fromelles Claims Response

Photo: Oxford Archaeology Team at work. [CWGC]

Chris Bryett, President of Recovering Overseas Australia’s Missing Inc (ROAM) and FFFAIF Member, who was one of the key people supporting Lambis Englezos in his efforts to convince the Australian Army to investigate the claim that following the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 the German Army had buried up to 400 British and Australian soldiers in pits “before Pheasant Wood”, near Fromelles, has responded to the issues raised in the article Reburial project in crisis by Fairfax Press journalist Paolo Totaro. His detailed response comments that:

• in evaluating the tenders for the exhumation, which was awarded to Oxford Archaeology, lower cost “does not of itself warrant the inference that cheaper is also of lower quality”;
• the assertion that “the lack of a contingency plan for drainage and toxic groundwater dispersal have derailed the dig at Fromelles, silting soldiers’ remains and graves and potentially lifting vital artefacts from their original resting place” is not supported by evidence and that the evidence is to the contrary i.e. the graves were kept dry and cites the information on the Oxford Archaeology website as evidence of a the comprehensive approach taken to drainage and ground water treatment;
• the approach to forensic work and the need to prevent contamination of DNA during the exhumation requires special protective measures;  and
• assertions that the preparations for the exhumation process had not been completed when the media was invited to an open day when Oxford Archaeology officially began work in May does not mean that they were not ready when needed.

In his response Fromelles crisis. Support for Oxford Archaeology as recovery continues that is posted on the website Australia. TO News , Chris also responds to comments made by the Convenor/Administrator of the Fromelles Discussion Group, Grant Triffett.
 
The Fairfax Press article has drawn a number of other responses, most notably an assurance from the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Kevin Rudd, committing his Government to making “doubly certain” that the exhumation, identification and reinterment of the Australian soldiers at Fromelles is being handled properly, and a joint supporting statement by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and a project update from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that are detailed in the RECENT NEWS item PM Reaffirms Fromelles.

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.