Eleven Australian soldiers identified more than a century after the First World War

Eleven Australian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War have been formally identified, restoring their names to the historical record more than a century after their deaths. 

Previously commemorated as unknown soldiers, the eleven men will now be remembered by name, ensuring their service and sacrifice are recognised by future generations. 

The identifications followed extensive archaeological, historical and DNA investigations conducted by the Australian Army’s Unrecovered War Casualties - Army (UWC-A) team in partnership with the Office of Australian War Graves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, French authorities, independent researchers and descendants of the identified soldiers.

The following soldiers have now been formally identified:

1. Private Roy Hawkins, 3rd Battalion AIF, of Armidale, New South Wales, killed in action on 9 August 1918 and buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières, France. 

2. Sergeant Charles Henry Nicholls, 46th Battalion AIF, of Ballarat, Victoria, killed in action on 30 August 1916 and buried at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, France. 

3. Lieutenant Howard Victor Morey, 58th Battalion AIF, of Lilydale, Victoria, killed in action on 2 September 1918 and buried at Assevillers New British Cemetery, France. 

4. Lieutenant John Maher Lyons MC, MM, MSM, 17th Battalion AIF, of Randwick, New South Wales, killed in action on 9 October 1917 and buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. 

5. Lieutenant Andrew Anderson, 7th Australian Machine Gun Company AIF, of Bundaberg, Queensland, killed in action on 20 September 1917 and buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium. 

6. Second Lieutenant James Albert McMichael, 37th Battalion AIF, of Melbourne, Victoria, killed in action on 12 October 1917 and buried at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium. 

7. Private Thomas Easton, 30th Battalion AIF, of Adamstown, New South Wales, killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916 and buried at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. 

Additionally, four soldiers from the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance AIF, all killed in action on 5 May 1917 during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, have now been identified:

• Corporal Harry Maitland Whiteoak, of Preston, Victoria; 

• Private George Laban Lupson, of Fremantle, Western Australia; 

• Private James Campbell, of Queenstown, Tasmania; 

• Lance Corporal Alexander Joseph Jack, of Brunswick, Victoria.

The four members of the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance were recovered by UWC-A during an archaeological excavation at Riencourt-lès-Cagnicourt, France, in April 2025. 

The men were killed when an artillery shell struck a Regimental Aid Post established in a railway cutting during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. 

Quotes attributable to Acting Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“As we pause on Remembrance Day to honour all Australians who have served, we also remember these eleven soldiers who gave their lives during the First World War and whose identities have remained unresolved for more than a century.

“These men died at Fromelles, the Somme, Bullecourt, Menin Road, Passchendaele, Amiens and during the Advance to the Hindenburg Line. 

“They served in infantry battalions, machine-gun units and field ambulance formations, and each made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Australia.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Matt Keogh MP:

“Today, on Remembrance Day, we honour the service and sacrifice of eleven Australian soldiers of the First World War who, for more than a century, were known only as unknown Australian soldiers.

“Through the dedication of military historians, archaeologists, researchers, forensic specialists and family members, these soldiers have now been identified and will be commemorated by name for the first time in more than a century. 

“The identification of these soldiers who were killed in action across France and Belgium will provide long awaited answers for families who have experienced generations of uncertainty. Our commitment to this ongoing work is the ultimate expression of the timeless adage – ‘Lest we forget’.”

MEDIA NOTE:

Media can access imagery/vision at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20263503.