THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
05/2008
LIMITED EXCAVATION OF SUSPECTED WORLD WAR ONE BURIAL
SITE NEAR FROMELLES
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, today
announced that a limited excavation of a suspected World War One group burial site
will take place near Fromelles, France in April this year.
It is believed that the remains of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers who fought
in the battle of Fromelles during July 1916 were not recovered by battlefield clearance
teams at the conclusion of World War One and may still be buried at the site.
Mr Snowdon said the limited excavation will be carried out by the Glasgow
University Archaeological Division (GUARD), the same team who undertook a noninvasive survey of the site in May 2007.
“GUARD was appointed by the Department of Defence following a recommendation
from Nigel Steele, the Co-Secretary to the British All Party Parliamentary War Graves
and Battlefield Heritage Group," Mr Snowdon said.
“The limited excavation work GUARD undertakes will determine, beyond doubt, the
presence or otherwise of remains at the site as well as provide information on the
quantity and condition of any remains.
“The work is being planned under the auspices of the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission with approval of French authorities and the local land owner, and
assistance is being sought from the British Government.”
Mr Snowdon commended the work of the Friends of the Fifteenth Brigade
Association, a Melbourne group led by Mr Lambis Englezos, who first located the
possible burial site.
“I also commend the cooperation of the French authorities which have been sensitive
to Australian efforts to fully investigate the site,” Mr Snowdon said.
Should the presence of remains be confirmed, any decision to proceed with a recovery
operation will be subject to agreement from French and British authorities.
Media contact:
Minister Snowdon – Kate Sieper,
Defence Media Liaison:
0488 484 689
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
www.defence.gov.au