COMMENCEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AT PHEASANT WOOD, FROMELLES

Work to recover the remains of up to 400 WWI British and Australian soldiers will begin today at Pheasant Wood, in the village of Fromelles in France.

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, said the excavation marks the next step in seeing those who courageously sacrificed their lives on 19 and 20 July 1916 at the battle of Fromelles, buried with honour and dignity.

“The United Kingdom and Australian Governments are jointly committed to commemorating the bravery and service of these World War One British and Australian soldiers,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is overseeing the project on behalf of the UK and Australian governments and has engaged Oxford Archaeology to undertake the recovery operation. “

Expected to be in attendance at the start of the excavation the Australian Ambassador to France, Mr David Ritchie; Australia’s Vice Chief of the Defence Force; Lieutenant General David Hurley; and Vice Chairman Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The recovery operation is planned to be completed in September 2009.  DNA will be taken initially from a cross-section of remains to establish viability.  Wherever it is possible to identify the remains, named graves will be provided.

“The remains will be reinterred in individual graves at the new Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, to be known as the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery,” Mr Snowdon said.

“This will be the first such cemetery to be constructed in 50 years, and it is intended that the military funeral will be held at the site in July 2010, on the anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.”

For more information about the project, including the working list of names, or to register your details, go to www.defence.gov.au/fromelles or call 1800 019 090.

Media contacts:

Chloe Wootten (Australian Fromelles Project Group): 0417 496 401

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

Defence Media Liaison:                     02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664