The Australian Army Fromelles Project continues to post updates on the archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood Fromelles.
The latest update on the project was issued on 25 September and stated:
Another milestone was achieved this week with the completion of all primary processing of the 250 sets of remains and many hundreds of artefacts. There are 17 sets of remains left to undergo full anthropological analysis, and 60 artefact assemblages left to record and catalogue. Anthropology will be completed by mid October. This week, work on the finds from Grave Three was completed (conservation, identifying, photographing and cataloguing) and work on the finds from Graves Four and Grave Five are well under-way. Of particular interest this week is a ‘pair’ of boots in brown leather, worn by an individual in Grave Four. One of the boots is notably distorted and they both have a different number of eyelets (one seven and the other one, eight) – it appears that the soldier was actually wearing two right boots. One may have been salvaged to replace a worn out, or missing, boot.
A ‘cross and wreath’ badge, found in the upper chest region of an individual, was also found in Grave Three. 
This is not a military badge and may be a school or club badge from home. The back is marked ‘mexican silver’. This may be a helpful lead for research into identity and will be investigated further. Also of interest are the leather ends from a pair of ‘police and firemans’ braces, marked as such on the large leather piece from the back.
A remarkably well preserved pipe with a bent mouthpiece was also seen this week. It is not clear if the mouthpiece was bent as a result of being buried, or if the pipe was used like this. If the latter, it would suggest that the individual was left handed and may have adjusted the pipe so that the glow of the lit bowl would not alert snipers to his whereabouts. Analysis of the dentition, for pipe notches, may clarify.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has recently issued it’s 6th Remembering Fromelles Newsletter also containing up to date information on the archaeological dig as well as progress reports on the new cemetery being built in Fromelles; DNA for identification; and upcoming exhibitions to coincide with the opening of the new cemetery in 2010. Subsrcibe to the newsletter by clicking here.
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The Families and Friends of the First AIF applauds the joint Australian–UK decision, announced by The Hon Greg Combet AM MP and the Hon Kevan Jones MP, to conduct a full DNA testing program on the remains of Australian and British soldiers found in mass graves at Pheasant Wood (Fromelles), and for their continuing commitment to identify as many of the fallen as is possible. We also thank the Australian, UK and French governments for affording dignified individual reburials for these soldiers, buried by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916, in the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery presently under construction at Fromelles.