Remembering Fromelles in France
Commemorations at Fromelles
93rd Anniversary The Battle of Fromelles
Sunday 19th July 2008
The village of Fromelles in northern France once again commemorated the anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles. Separate commemorations were held at VC Corner Military Cemetery, the Australian Memorial Park and at Pheasant Wood with villagers, dignitaries, guests and visitors gathering for wreath laying ceremonies.
Photo: Some of the dignitaries at the Australian Memorial Park Commemoration
Mr Chris Perrin, State Secretary of The Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch), who represented the State Government of New South Wales, Captain Philip Stoner, UK Assistant Defence Attaché, Sam Rossato from the Australian Embassy, Colonel Elmut Frietzche, German Air Force attaché and Colonel Skowronski, Australian Military Attaché .
Photo: Dignitaries welcomed at the Australian Memorial Park Commemoration by the Mayor of Fromelles, Hubert Huchette
From left to right: Captain Philip Stoner, UK Assistant Defence Attaché, Colonel Elmut Frietzche, German Air Force attaché and Colonel Skowronski, Australian Military Attaché, not identified, not identified, Mr. Harry Jenkins, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament, His Excellency David Ritchie Australian Ambassador and other dignitaries.
Photo: Wreath laying at the Australian Memorial Park Commemoration
Carole Laignel lays a wreath on behalf of the Families and Friends of the First AIF.
Photo: French flag bearers stand behind the Cross of Sacrifice at VC Corner Military Cemetery during the wreath laying by representatives of British and Australian families of the fallen in the Battle of Fromelles. Master of Ceremonies, Martial Delbarre AO is to the left of FFFAIF member Carole Laignel, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Families and Friends of the First AIF.
Photo: At Pheasant Wood, in front of the marque covering the burial pits, Victoria Burbidge lays a wreath on behalf of British families and FFFAIF member Carole Laignel, lays a wreath on behalf of the Families and Friends of the First AIF, watched by the French flag bearers.
Photo: FFFAIF member & Secretary FWTM14-18 Carole Laignel with Mr Chris Perrin, State Secretary of The Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch), who represented the State Government of New South Wales.
The official party members present at the service were:
Mr. Harry Jenkins, MP, Président de la Chambre Australienne des Représentants (Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament)
His Excellence David Ritchie – ambassadeur d’Australie en France (Australian Ambassador)
Mr Chris Perrin, Le Secrétaire de la Ligue des services de retour et de l’Australie (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud), en représentant le gouvernement de l’Etat de Nouvelle-Galles du Sud (Secretary of The Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch), representing the State Government of New South Wales)
Captain Philip Stoner, Attaché de Defense Adjoint de l’ambassade d’u Royaume Uni (Assistant Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Unitied Kingdom)
Le Colonel Skowronski – Attaché militaire à l’ambassade d’Australie (military attaché at the Embassy of Australia)
Le Colonel Elmut Frietzche – Attaché de l’Armee de l’air de à l’ambassade d’Allemagne (Air Force attaché at the German Embassy)
M. Marc Chappuis – Director de Cabinet Représentant Morriscare le Prefect de la Region Nord Pas de Calais Prefect du Nord (Director of Cabinet, representing the North Prefect of the Nord Pas de Calais Region)
M. Hubert Huchette –Maire de Fromelles (Mayor of Fromelles)
M. Francis Delattre – Président de l’ UNC (de l’Union nationale des combatants)
M. Tim Reeves – Director General Adjoint de la CWGC (Deputy Director General, Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
Madame Liz Milward – Royal British Legion, Secteur de Ypres (Ypres Branch)
M. Rod Bedford – Royal British Legion, Secteur de la Somme (Chairman, Somme Branch)
Mme Victoria Burbidge – Déléguée de FWTM en Grande Bretagne (UK representative on FWTM)
Mme Carole Laignel – Secrétaire de la FWTM14-18 and Member FFFAIF representing the Families and Friends of the First AIF
M. Mike Bemrose – Représentant les familles britanniques (representing the Families of Britain)
Mme Louise Loe representing Oxford Archaeology, accompanied by Georgina Slater, Victoria Wilkinson and Zoe vi Chilieain
M. Jean Marie Bailleul – Vice Président de FWTM14-18
M. Frank Fremaux – Vice Président de FWTM14-18
[Photos for this posting were supplied by Carole Laignel – thanks Carole]
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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.