*DNA kits in the Post

The Australian Army Fromelles Project Team announced on Tuesday 27 October that:
Work on site at Pheasant Wood is complete with over 6000 artefacts recovered and analysed. The work to try and identify some of the 250 soldiers recovered from the site is well underway.

Photo: One of the 6000 artefacts recovered at Pheasant Wood. [CWGC/OA]

The identification process includes DNA testing of selected family members of Australian soldiers believed to be amongst those whose bodies have been recovered during the recent archaeological excavation of the World War 1 burial pits at Pheasant Wood.

The Fromelles Project team stated:
Family members who have registered with Army and have been chosen for DNA testing will receive kits in the post in the coming weeks. The team is also sending out letters to all registered relatives with an update.

To read the latest update from The Australian Army Fromelles Project Team click here.

*****

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.