VC winner at Fromelles

Trooper Mark Donaldson who was award the Australian Victoria Cross for most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in a circumstance of great peril in Afghanistan as part of the Special Operations Task Group during Operation SLIPPER, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan visited Fromelles in northern France last week.

Photo: Trooper Mark Donaldson VC, wife Emma Donaldson and daughter Kaylee after the award ceremony at Government House Canberra on 16 January 2009. [Australian Department of Defence]

His visit to the battlefields of the Great War followed his recent audience with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and participation in the Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey.

While in Fromelles, Trooper Donaldson and his family visited the Fromelles museum (FWTM14-18) with one of its founding members, Martial Delebarre AM and FFFAIF member & FWTM Secretary, Carole Laignel.

Photo: Trooper Donaldson and family visit the Fromelles Town Hall which houses the CWGC model of the new cemetery under construction at Fromelles [Carole Laignel].

*****

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.