Tickets are still available see below:
You are invited to attend the
Fromelles Retrospective
in Sydney
proudly presented by the Families and Friends of the First AIF
9:00 am Sunday 28th November 2010
The King’s School
Pennant Hills Road
North Parramatta.
A series of presentations by key people involved in the story behind the ‘missing of Fromelles” addressing the following questions:
- Why was there a battle at Fromelles?
- What happened in the battle?
- Why is the Battle of Fromelles not well known?
- How did Australian soldiers become “missing”?
- Who were the “missing” soldiers?
- How were the “missing” located?
- How were the “missing” identified?
- How have the “missing” been commemorated?
Tickets are available by emailing: fffaif@yahoo.com.au
Members: $40 including morning tea and lunch
Non-members: $60 including morning tea, lunch, 2010-11 subscription to DIGGER magazine and 7 months complementary FFFAIF membership
Students’ special: $40 including morning tea, lunch, 2010-11 subscription to DIGGER magazine and 7 months complementary FFFAIF membership
Please book early as there are a limited number of places available
RSVPs no later than close of business Tuesday 23rd November 2010.
TICKET SALES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED:
CALL
0448 266 634
to book a seat for Sunday
PROGRAM
9:00-9:30 Registration
9:30 Welcome – Mr Russell Curley, President FFFAIF
9:35 Opening Remarks
9:45 The Battle of Fromelles: why it happened – MAJGEN Paul Stevens AO Ret’d, Director, Office of Australian War Graves
10:30 MORNING TEA
10:45 The Battle of Fromelles: Mr Roger Lee, Head of the Army History Unit
11:15 The quest for the missing: research and advocacy that led to the archaeological digs: Mr. Lambis Englezos AM and Mr. Tim Whitford
12:00 The Investigation and Recovery Project: The Australian Army Fromelles Project Group and the Fromelles Management Board: MAJGEN Mike O’Brien CSC Ret’d, Senior Australian Army Representative, Australian Fromelles Project Group
12:30 LUNCH
1:30 The archaeology, anthropology and forensics: Richard Wright, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Senior Forensic Adviser to Oxford Archaeology
2:15 The Military Funerals and Dedication of the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery: MAJGEN Mike O’Brien CSC Ret’d
3:00 Where to from here: – The continuing search for descendants: (MAJGEN Mike O’Brien),
– The Fromelles Museum MAJGEN Paul Stevens AO Ret’d, Director, Office of Australian War Graves, and
– Other possible Western Front sites: Mr Tim Whitford & Mr Brian Manns, Manager, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army
3:45 Closing remarks: Mr Russell Curley, President FFFAIF
*****
The Families and Friends of the First AIF applauds the joint Australian–UK decision, 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.