ANZAC Day 2011: France

Posted on 04/05/2011 by FFFAIF

The following report comes from FFFAIF French member Yves Fohlen who attended the Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux. Yves has been present at each of the official services held at Villers Bretonneux. Although long before these services were conducted, Yves had been commemorating ANZAC Day amongst the graves of the fallen Diggers from the Great War.

Yves describes his experiences on ANZAC Day 2011:
On ANZAC Day I awoke at 1.45am and left home at 2.15am …arriving at V-B at 3.25am.

Photo: Australian National Memorial
[Yves Fohlen]

There were about 5,000 persons attending the service. I counted 28 coaches!! It was the first time also to see so many Australian school children at the service.
I attended the ceremony with Mike and Roz Goodwin. Mike laid a wreath on behalf of FFFAIF association and was seen on Aussie TV!! 

Photo: FFFAIF members Mike and Roz Goodwin (Mackay North) and Bruce Skates (Melbourne)
after Villers Bretonneux service

The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd gave a long and great speech.
After the service I met the Bullecourt Delegation and I headed up North to Bullecourt.

Photo: Village church at Bullecourt [Carole Laignel]

I arrived at Bullecourt at 8.30 am. I had a coffee with Roselyn the wife of the Major Jules Laude as Bullecourt Museum owner Jean Letaille was attending VB village ceremonies I decided to go for a walk…..
I decided to walk on the old railway embankment….very peaceful  & calm  moment….weather perfect….”a moment of paradise”. It is hard to imagine the horrors of 1917.

Photo: Railway embankment on Bullecourt battlefield

Walking alone was a way for me to remember…it was my special private ANZAC Day ceremony.

At 1.30 pm at the Little Cross began that short and always moving and private ceremony.

Photo: Yves Fohlen at the Little Cross, Bullecourt [FFFAIF 2010 Tour]

The photo below shows from left to right with his hat is Hon Mr Bruce Scott.  Mr David Ritchie, Australian Ambassador in France; the Hon Minister Mr Kevin Rudd, Jules Laude Mayor of Bullecourt, Colonel Mark Green, attaché de Défense, Jean Letaille AM….you can also see on the far right also Mike & Roz Goodwin.

Photo: Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd
laying a wreath at the Little Cross, Bullecourt

Photo: Monsieur Jean Letaille AM

Then after this we walked to the centre of Bullecourt village to attend the official ANZAC Day ceremony. They were about 1,500 persons attending.

Amongst the crowd I met Carole Laignel from Fromelles Association and also a FFFAIF member. Very smart!!!

Photo: FFFAIF members Mike Goodwin and Carole Laignel
 at Bullecourt service

We had several French politicians and VIPs from the county attending. British and Canadian CWGC representatives… the director of US Bony cemetery also laid a wreath. We had French & British & Australian Anthems…always moving for me to sing the 3 anthems in Bullecourt.
Then we marched to the Bullecourt Park memorial for the last part of the ceremonies. Here are the photos I took at the young Digger Memorial

…2 flags which mean a lot for me.

2011 ANZAC Day was indeed another great moving day in my life. Back home at 7.15 pm I went straight to bed…but felt very happy.

*****

If you have a photo or story of an ANZAC Day commemoration you would like to share please email to enquiries@fffaif.org.au. The FFFAIF would like to hear from you.

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ANZAC Day 2011: Belgium

Posted on 04/05/2011 by FFFAIF

ANZAC Day in Belgium commenced with a Dawn Service at British New Buttes Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke.

Photo: Dawn Service New Buttes Cemetery
Polygon Wood Zonnebeke Belgium
[Johan Durnez]

Read about this service as seen through the eyes of FFFAIF member Johan Durnez in his special Waragem Report by clicking here.

For more photos taken at Polygon Wood click here and here .

The crowds had commenced gathering in Menin Gate, Ieper, long before the start of the 11 o’clock service.

Photo: Menin Gate before the arrival of the crowds on ANZAC Day
[Anny DeDecker]

FFFAIF members Anny DeDecker and Johan Durnez were amongst those in the crowd. The following photo report of Menin Gate on ANZAC Day was supplied by Anny.

Photo: VIP guests
Photo: Some of the floral tributes
Photo: The Ode was recited
Photo: Individual tributes laid.
Photo: Last Post Association Buglers
Photo: Pudgy meets visitors from Australia
Photo: Marie-Claire Sinnaeve meets the Australian Ambassador Dr Brendan Nelson after the service

Read about this service as seen through the eyes of FFFAIF member Johan Durnez in his special Waragem Report by clicking here.

For more photos of the Menin Gate service click here and more can be seen here.

ANZAC Day commemorations continued in Belgium throughout the day. There was a service held at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele. For photos of the service click here.  

The ANZAC Service at Messines commenced at the New Zealand Memorial. For photos of this service click here.

The final service of the day was held at Toronto Ave Cemetery, Ploegsteert. Click here  for photos of this service.

*****

If you have a photo or story of an ANZAC Day commemoration you would like to share please email to enquiries@fffaif.org.au. The FFFAIF would like to hear from you.

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Fromelles TV Special

Posted on 23/04/2011 by FFFAIF

Lost diggers of Fromelles

April 25th 2011
7:30pm – 8:30pm
Channel 7

Australian TV special Lost Diggers of Fromelles will be televised on Anzac Day:

This is the exclusive, behind-the-scenes story of the largest excavation of World War I dead in modern times.

The Battle of Fromelles on July 19, 1916, is the worst 24 hours in Australian military history. In just one night, over 5000 Australian soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing – a disaster which should have never happened. In an astonishing recent discovery, 250 soldiers from the battle – mostly Australian – were found in unmarked mass graves in northern France. Nearly a century after the diggers sacrificed their lives, families wait in hope for their missing dead to be found and identified. A thrilling detective trail across Australia and Europe reveals in forensic detail the truth behind the Battle of Fromelles, one of the most controversial actions of World War I. 

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14 more Fromelles IDs

Posted on 07/04/2011 by FFFAIF

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, NSW4420   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, QLD1168   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

 

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ID BOARD RECONVENES

Posted on 04/04/2011 by FFFAIF

The joint Australian-British identification board for the unknown soldiers recovered from the World War One graves at Pheasant Wood reconvenes in London for three days from today. It is anticipated that an announcement that more Australian diggers will have their identity returned will by made by Anzac Day.

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

The  Australian, April 8, 2011: 14 more Fromelles diggers named, From: AAP

 The Canberra Times article, April 7, 2011: Fromelles casualties: more may be named

Additional media reports:
Wednesday 6th April: The West Australian: More Diggers From Fromelles identified

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Lost in Flanders

Posted on 04/04/2011 by FFFAIF

The SMSA (Sydney Mechanics School of Arts) is hosting a series of lunchtime presentations prior to Anzac Day on Tuesdays at 12:30 – 1:30pm  at 280 Pitt Street Sydney.

Tuesday 5th April: a free screening of the film Lost in Flanders

 

Tuesday 12th April: ‘Talkabout’ – Life in Australia during the First World War

Tuesday 19th April: ‘Talkabout’ – Art and War – Australia’s War Artists

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NEW LOOK WEBSITE

Posted on 16/03/2011 by FFFAIF

Welcome to the new look website of the Families and Friends of the First AIF Inc. The FFFAIF Inc first website appeared on the internet on 26 January 2008 since that time the website has recorded over 178,298 hits and 414 postings. All of these postings continue to be available on-line. It is easy to search this resource by using the Search Field located at the top right of each screen. Alternatively use the PAST NEWS or TOPICS drop down menu to select a news item.
However we are experiencing a few teething difficulties which we hope will be sorted out in the upcoming days.
Thanks for your support and understanding. We look forward to continuing Keeping The Memory Alive and Preserving Digger Heritage.

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Victoria Barracks

Posted on 16/03/2011 by FFFAIF

FFFAIF members are invited to attend a special FFFAIF Gathering in Sydney next weekend. The gathering is a welcome for visiting UK member Peter Richardson and an opportunity to tour Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney.

Peter was one of the standard bearers at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery funerals in early 2010. To read more about Peter’s role click here.

We hope that you will be able to join us in welcoming Peter and take the opportunity to have a look around this historic venue.

KTMA
Committee
Families and Friends of the First AIF

Invitation

Venue: Victoria Barracks, Oxford Street Paddington, Sydney
When: Sunday 20th March 2011
10:00-10:15am Assemble at Barrack’s Main Gates. Admission to Barracks from FFFAIF RSVP list*
10:30am Morning Tea and Welcome in the Officers’ Mess
11:00am Tour of Victoria Barracks escorted by the Corps of Guides
11:45am Presentation by FFFAIF member Peter Richardson, a member of the Royal British Legion Rheindahien Branch in Germany and one of the standard bearers at the Fromelles reburials in early 2010.
12:30pm Buffet lunch in the Officers’s Mess
1:30pm Guided Tour of the Army Museum of NSW
3:00pm Departure

Cost: Cash payment on the day, approx $30, to be confirmed on RSVP

RSVP: * fffaif@yahoo.com.au  Thursday 17th March 2011

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Bapaume Honour Roll

Posted on 21/02/2011 by FFFAIF

A Roll of Honour Plaque will be dedicated on 26 March 2011 in Bapaume to the men of the AIF who were killed on March 25/26 1917 in an explosion in Bapaume Town Hall.

Photo: Privates Charles Neild and Alexander Gunn [AWM E00051]

Organisers are looking for the families of the Diggers including the descendants of Light Horse Troopers Frederick Adams, George Alexander, Phillip Taylor and Joseph Colmo;  men of 20th Infantry Battalion: Lance Corporals Herbert Akhurst, John McCall and Jules Schuller; Corporal Andrew Caldwell; Privates Albert Beattie, William Greenland, Rufus Lansdown and Ralph Smith; 5th Battalion Private Albert Scott; 6th Battalion Private Alexander Gunn; 7th Battalion Private William Lewis; 8th Battalion Private Charles Neild; 16th Battalion Private Alexander McKay; 23rd Battalion Privates Arthur May and William Sturrock.

Contact Lisa colingillard@orange.fr or call Linda Downey 0411 462 287

*****

Read more about the bombing of the Bapaume Mairie at:
Australian War Memorial Bapaume to Bullecourt
Australian on the Western Front Bapaume Mairie-An uncanny feeling of an evil spirit

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Sydney Opportunity

Posted on 17/12/2010 by FFFAIF

Brothers in Arms –
The Story of the Zonnebeke Five

There is a unique opportunity for Sydneysiders to meet and hear Belgian amateur historian, Johan Vanderwalle speak about the part he played in the discovery of five Australian soldiers in 2007, lost under the mud of the Western Front since 1917 at Zonnebeke, Belgium. Johan’s incredible journey with the five long dead Diggers is compelling, and his quest to honour them has become a grand obsession.


Photo: Private George Storey,
one of the identified ‘Zonnebeke Five’ Diggers
[David Storey http://www.polygonwood.com/]

Johan will present his story at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park Sydney on Monday 20th December. As the The Shrine in Melbourne stated: His heartfelt presentation is not to be missed.  Come along at 10:30am entering through the Eastern or College Street doors of the Memorial.

Following the Presentation wreaths will be laid in commemoration of the Fallen.

For further details contact fffaif@yahoo.com.au or 0448 266 634.

*****

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 Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.

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