A further fourteen World War One ‘Diggers’ who died in the Battle of Fromelles have been identified by the joint Australian-British Identification Board that met in London on 4th April. This brings the number of soldiers to 110 who have regained their identity since being reburied in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
Photo: Private Matthew Hepple, No 2056, 30th Battalion was amongst those soldiers recently identified. (AWM P0975.001)
FROMELLES PROJECT
LIST OF 14 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS
[Service No.; Rank; Given Names; Surname; Unit; Enlisted]
4744 Private Albert Clive Bromley, 53rd Battalion, Brewarrina, NSW
4420 Lance Corporal William Andrew Craigie, 54th Battalion, Nyngan, NSW
3310 Corporal Frederick Fletcher, 55th Battalion, Oatley Bay, NSW
4811 Private Percy Geason, 55th Battalion, Merewether, NSW
1390 Private Herbert James Haslam, 29th Battalion, North Carlton, VIC
2056 Private Matthew Hepple, 30th Battalion, Cessnock, NSW
3327 Private George Hungerford, 53rd Battalion, Toowoomba, QLD
1168 Corporal David Frederick Livingston, 29th Battalion, East Melbourne, VIC
1590 Corporal Charles William Murray, 30th Battalion, Auburn, NSW
3256 Private Maurice Leslie Reid, 32nd Battalion, Woods, SA
4299 Private Arthur Russell, 54th Battalion, Kellyville, NSW
743 Private Daniel Bernard Ryan, 30th Battalion, Goulburn, NSW
Captain Thomas Francis Sheridan, 9th Battalion, Prahan, VIC
311 Private Leslie Gordon Walsh, 31st Battalion, Casino, NSW
Cpl. Frederick Fletcher, honoured on the Oatley War Memorial
The Hon. Warren Snowdon, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel made the announcement today stating:
…The soldiers were originally from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia and were among 250 Australian and British WW1 soldiers recovered from Pheasant Wood in France in 2009.
“I am pleased to announce today that a Joint Identification Board held on 4 April 2011, has identified these 14 soldiers by name.
“This is very significant. These latest 14 soldiers bring the total number of Australians identified by name at Fromelles to 110. Of the 250 Australian and British WWI soldiers, 100 Australians remain unnamed along with 2 unidentified British soldiers. Another 38 graves are marked “Known unto God”.
“We are determined to identify as many of these brave Australians as possible. We are encouraged by the success, made possible by the large number of extended family members, both in Australia and Britain, who have provided DNA samples to assist with identification,” Mr Snowdon said.
“The Battle of Fromelles is recognised as one of the worst days in Australia’s military history and was the first major battle fought by the AIF in France. The 5th Australian Division suffered over 5500 casualties (dead and wounded) and many of those killed remain unaccounted for almost a century after the battle,” he said.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will now erect new headstones with the identified men’s details and they will be dedicated on 19 July this year during the annual commemoration of the Battle of Fromelles.
The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie praised the efforts of the Fromelles Project team, who have made contact with the relatives of the newly identified soldiers this week.
“The additional identifications demonstrates the tenacity and dedication of a wonderful team and also demonstrates how the latest scientific methods and great research can produce outstanding results.
“While identification of remains is an extremely complex process, we are hopeful that we will identify more soldiers in coming years. It is important that we are able to identify these soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and assist in giving closure to the families,” Lieutenant General Gillespie said.
“The involvement of the families of those diggers that remain unaccounted for has been vital to this process. We currently have almost 3000 family members’ details in our records but we still need more. If you think you might be related to a soldier who remains unaccounted for from the Battle of Fromelles, please get in contact with the Army,” he said.
The Army’s Fromelles Project team can be contacted by phoning 1800 019 090 or by accessing their website at www.army.gov.au/Fromelles.
For more details see:
Fairfax: Sydney Morning Herald, April 8, 2011: DNA detective work uncovers names of Fromelles fallen by Rachel Olding, Bridie Smith
The Courier Mail, April 8, 2011: Relative joy as war grave riddle solved, by Ian McPhedran
The Courier Mail, April 8, 2011: Remains of Queensland soldiers among 14 more Fromelles Diggers identified, by Max Blenkin, from: AAP
The Telegraph.com, April 8, 2011: Dignity at last – spirits of missing Diggers can now rest, by Ian McPhedran