Any relatives of the Australian soldiers missing at the Battle of Fromelles are invited to contact Families and Friends of the First AIF at projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au if they wish to be added to a data base being compiled for use in ongoing research into the FROMELLES MISSING.
Temporary closure of the Australian Corps Memorial, Le Hamel.
The Australian Department of Veterans Affairs has announced:
The Australian Corps Memorial Park at Le Hamel, France, will be closed to visitors from February 2008 for a period of approximately 6 months.Due to unsatisfactory methods used in the original construction, as well as the harsh climatic conditions of northern France and acts of vandalism, it has become necessary to redevelop the Park.Construction works are scheduled to commence in February 2008 and it is anticipated that the redevelopment will be completed in mid-2008. In the interests of safety, the site will remain closed to the public throughout this time. The works being undertaken are essential to ensure the Memorial Park once again befits its important commemorative role. Thank you for your patience while this work is completed. If you have any queries regarding the closure please email wargraves@dva.gov.au.
A word from Yves Fohlen in France:
….. on 21st April 2008 at 10h 45 am 90 years after I shall be nearby the field where on 21st April 1918 the Red Baron Fokker Dr1 triplane crashed .
‘We will remember them’
FFFAIF Western Front Representative, Yves Fohlen, has recently announced a new project at Bullecourt in co-operation with the Jean & Denise Letaille Museum Association.
Yves says about the new project called “THEIR FACES”: The goal of that new project is to gather as many as possible faces of Diggers who died in the Bullecourt sector from 17 March 1917 to 30 June 1917…….firstly to make a file which could be seen by the visitors in the Bullecourt museum and also the Town Hall. Then to create a wall of Remembrance showing their faces.
So if FFFAIF members[and others] want join us in the creation of “THEIR FACES” and to freely send us by email or by Snail mail copies of photos of Diggers who never came back alive from Bullecourt sector….please get in contact with me. Thanks.
If you have a photo of an Australian soldier who made the supreme sacrifice at Bullecourt during the Great War and would like them to become part of the Bullecourt Wall of Remembrance please contact Yves at: enquiries@fffaif.org.au
“Lest We Forget” Project
FFFAIF member, Mike Goodwin, a History teacher at Mackay North State High School, is currently organising his school’s 5th overseas commemorative tour to Thailand, Gallipoli, France / Belgium and Singapore.
This tour, the Remembrance 2008 Commemorative Tour, is part of the school’s very successful “Lest We Forget” Project, which has been featured on the ABC’s “Australian Story”.
The main focus of the tour is for students to research and commemorate individual soldiers who died and who are buried or commemorated in the areas to be visited.
At each grave or memorial the students deliver a eulogy, place a poppy, recite the Ode and the group observes a minute silence in honour of the soldier and his sacrifice. The grave / memorial name is then photographed and these photos are presented to the families on the group’s return.
The students are happy to hear from people who may like to have their relative honoured in this way.
Any interested people can contact project co-ordinator, Mike Goodwin – 07 49631729 or mickg@mackay.net.au
The first editions of the All-Australia Memorial were published in 1917. These books have been dificult to access in the past as there are very few copies in the public domain, e.g. The Mitchell Library in Sydney has one copy and The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has three copies.
The Victorian edition of the All-Australia Memorial is now available on CD from Archive CD Books Australia.
The book is described by Archive CD Books Australia as:”A wonderful record, with a detail historical outline of the war from an Australian perspective, plus an extensive reference section and hundreds of biographies. All complemented by thousands of photos, many of Victorians who served. ”
These books are well worth a look if you are trying to find a photo of a member of the AIF.
The Committee is proud to announce the listing today, Australia Day, of the new website for The Families and Friends of The First AIF Inc. on the internet.
During January 2008 the Australian War Memorial Canberra provided the opportunity on three occasions to visit the Memorial at twilight. On each of these evenings the Memorial closed with a special Choir performance by Sing Australia, followed by the playing of either a piper’s Lament or The Last Post.
The choir’s performance and closing ceremony were held in the Commemorative Area which was illuminated with special lighting in the Honour Roll cloisters and behind the stained glass windows of the Hall of Memory while the Eternal Flame flickered solemnly in the Pool of Reflection.
Author Patrick Lindsay gave an insight into his most recent book FROMELLES at Mosman library on Wednesday 5th December 2007. As part of his research and background for the book Patrick Lindsay interviewed FFFAIF members Neville Kidd and Chris Bryett. Both Neville and Chris were present on the evening.
l to r: Patrick Lindsay, Chris Bryett & Neville Kidd
l to r: Neville Kidd & Chris Bryett
FROMELLES
by
Patrick Lindsay
Published by: Hardie Grant Books
ISBN 978-1-74066-511-7
RRP $39.95
Remembrance Day Canberra 2007
89th Anniversary of the silencing of the guns on the Western Front 11am, 11/11/1918
FFFAIF members Russell Curley, Brad Jones and Alan Kitchen were amongst the 2,700 people who attended the Remembrance Day service in the national capital Canberra where Prime Minister John Howard delivered the commemorative address.
