*Cemetery Update

Once again the local villagers of Fromelles are keeping us up to date with the progress of the new cemetery being built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. This new cemetery will be the final resting place of those soldiers whose bodies were exhumed during the recent archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood.

The following photos of the cemetery construction were taken by members of the Fromelles Museum (Fromelles Weppes Terre de Mémoire 1914-1918), Carole Laignel (Secretary) and Régine Houvenaghel-Duretz (Treasurer).

Photo: Panorama of new cemetery looking towards Pheasant Wood. The base of the Cross of Sacrifice can be seen to the left of the photograph. [Régine]

Photo: Individual burial plots can be seen in the foreground. [Carole]

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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website remembering Fromelles has posted a report by Oxford Archaeology’s Finds Manager Kate Brady. Kate described her role as a varied and incredibly interesting one, involving artefact identification, photography, conservation and research. In this project, the artefacts will form part of the suite of information that will contribute to the identification process for the individuals recovered from the Pheasant Wood graves. To read her report click 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.