*11/11/09 in France

Under cold grey autumn skies the people of Fromelles commemorated le 91^eme aniversaire de l’Armistice.

Commemorations commenced at 10am at VC Corner Cemetery with the laying of wreaths at the base of the Cross of Sacrifice.

The commemorations continued under grey skies at the Australian Memorial Park.

At the Cobbers Statue wreaths were laid by members of the community including local school children.

The remembrance procession then moved to the Kennedy Memorial to once again lay wreaths.

At 11 am villagers gathered in the church yard at the Monument aux Morts where they listened to an address by the mayor of Fromelles, Hubert Huchette before attending a service in the church.

These photos have been supplied by FFFAIF member and Secretary FWTM (Fromelles Museum) Carole Laignel. Many thanks Carole.

Next week: Remembrance Day in Belgium.

*****

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.