Remains of five Australian First World War soldiers killed at Fromelles in 1916 identified

The Australian Minister for Defence Science and Personnel has announced that the remains of five Australian soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Fromelles in France in 1916 have been identified.

The Australian Army website stated that the five soldiers “were among 250 Australian and British WW1 soldiers who were recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France”.

The soldiers had originally been recovered by a joint Australian Army and UK Ministry of Defence project team in 2009.

The Australian servicemen were reburied in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery in 2010.

Minister Snowdon stated that the research project was “encouraged by these latest successful identifications which were made possible by the large number of extended family members, both in Australia and overseas, who provided DNA samples”.

The Minister highlighted the “dedication of a great team” and “how the latest scientific methods and extensive research can produce outstanding results”.

Minister Snowdon continued that it is “important that we are able to identify these soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and to provide an opportunity for closure to their families”.

To read the full press release, visit the Australian Army website here.

Images courtesy of the Australian Army website.

Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News