Families and Friends of the First AIF

The joint announcement by the Australian and British Government on 3 September 2009 that Oxford Archaeology had completed the archaeological excavation of Pheasant Wood with the recovery of a total of 250 soldiers brings to a close the second stage of the Fromelles Project. 

Photo: Pheasant Wood excavation completed
[Australian Army Fromelles Project]

The Fromelles Management Board has released a Report of Proceedings to September 2009. This comprehensive report outlines the project management approach taken and the use of subject matter experts, the tender arrangements, details of the types of DNA techniques used and the conclusions drawn from the pilot stage and the standards of work.  The report is posted on the Australian Army Fromelles Project website and can be read by clicking here. 
The website also reports on the activities which will take place on the site until the end of October when the Oxford Archaeology team will leave the site and contains photographs of some of the last artefacts recovered from the site. To read this report click here.  

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has also updated its website remembering Fromelles and now features a video report on DNA testing of samples collected from the soldiers exhumed from Pheasant Wood. To view the video click here.  The update also includes a posting entitled  A DNA refresher. To read the posting click here. 
Another recent posting contrasts the modern techniques used at Pheasant Wood to detect and exhume the remains of the soldiers buried by the Germans in 1916 and those used by the Graves Recovery Teams after the Armistice. To read this posting 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.

FROMELLES EXCAVATION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

Photo: Members of Oxford Archaeology Team including Australian Archaelogists Richard Wright (4th from left) and Ambika Flavel(rhs). [OA]

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science announced, on 10 September 2009, that the archaeological excavation at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France had been successfully concluded.
“A total of 250 sets of remains and 1200 artefacts have been excavated from six graves. This is lower than the previous estimate of 300 remains,” said Mr Combet.
“An early analysis of the remains and the artefacts indicates that a large number of those recovered appear to be Australian.”
The focus of the project will now fall upon the identification of the remains and their reinterment at the purpose-built Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military cemetery.
“As part of the identification of the remains LGC Forensics is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of DNA samples taken from the remains to assist in DNA matching against living relatives,” Mr Combet said
“In conjunction with this process further analysis of artefacts and remains will continue throughout September and October at Oxford Archaeology’s on site laboratory to see if any evidence can assist with the identification process.
“This information will be presented to the Joint Identification Board in March 2010 where the British and Australian Governments will consider the results and determine any appropriate further action that should be taken.
“While identification of the remains is an extremely complex process I remain hopeful that we will be able to identify a number of those that we have found.
“As the formal identification is a complex process that may take many months, and in some cases years, every soldier will be buried initially without a permanent headstone.
“The burials will commence on 30 January 2010 and continue through February until every soldier is laid to rest with full military honours. Members of the public are welcome to visit the site during reburials and view the proceedings from outside the cemetery.” 
A commemorative event to open the cemetery is scheduled for the 94^th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Oxford Archaeology, and all of their staff, for their hard work and dedication throughout this excavation. Both the Australian and British Governments have been very pleased with their performance,” said Mr Combet.

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Media coverage of the announcement of the completion of the excavation at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles included:

The Australian: Fromelles excavation ends after 250 bodies found
The Melbourne Age: Search for Fromelles soldiers wraps up 
BBC News: Fromelles grave excavation ends
The Sydney Morning Herald: Search for Fromelles soldiers ends
ABC News: Search ends for Australia’s Fromelles fallen
UK National News: MOD Announces End Of Excavation At Fromelles 
EDP24.co.uk: Soldiers to be reburied with military honours
Walesonline.co.uk: The Welshmen who paid the ultimate price at Fromelles, ‘Prisoner of war’ may be buried at Fromelles
Herald, Ireland: DNA test hope to name victims of WWI battle 
 

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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.