MINISTERS DISCUSS FROMELLES: RECOVERY OF SOLDIERS

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, today met with his French counterpart, Secretary of State attached to Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, Monsieur Jean- Marie Bockel, to discuss the recovery and re-interment of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers at Fromelles, France.

The work at Pheasant Wood requires joint agreement between Australia, Britain and France for the exhumation.

“Currently, all three countries are negotiating a suitable agreement on the timeframe and process for the recovery and re-interment of these Commonwealth soldiers,” Minister Snowdon said.

“Monsieur Bockel and I discussed a number of aspects today, including the exhumation of the remains and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the selection of land for the new Commonwealth War Cemetery.”

French Government support was crucial for the limited excavation at the site earlier this year, which determined beyond doubt that the soldiers’ remains had laid in-situ for over 90 years.

“We are grateful for the support already provided by the French authorities and welcome their involvement in the next phase of this sensitive project,” Minister Snowdon said.

“This is a large project with a number of complicating factors, including the high water table in the Fromelles region.

“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is considering the implication of this, along with other concerns, in their selection of a site to construct the first War Cemetery of its kind in more than 50 years.”

Images from the meeting will be available via the Defence website after 8am Wednesday 1 October 2008: www.defence.gov.au/media/download

Media contacts:

Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):           02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689

Defence Media Liaison:                         02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664