Fromelles Claims Response

Photo: Oxford Archaeology Team at work. [CWGC]

Chris Bryett, President of Recovering Overseas Australia’s Missing Inc (ROAM) and FFFAIF Member, who was one of the key people supporting Lambis Englezos in his efforts to convince the Australian Army to investigate the claim that following the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 the German Army had buried up to 400 British and Australian soldiers in pits “before Pheasant Wood”, near Fromelles, has responded to the issues raised in the article Reburial project in crisis by Fairfax Press journalist Paolo Totaro. His detailed response comments that:

• in evaluating the tenders for the exhumation, which was awarded to Oxford Archaeology, lower cost “does not of itself warrant the inference that cheaper is also of lower quality”;
• the assertion that “the lack of a contingency plan for drainage and toxic groundwater dispersal have derailed the dig at Fromelles, silting soldiers’ remains and graves and potentially lifting vital artefacts from their original resting place” is not supported by evidence and that the evidence is to the contrary i.e. the graves were kept dry and cites the information on the Oxford Archaeology website as evidence of a the comprehensive approach taken to drainage and ground water treatment;
• the approach to forensic work and the need to prevent contamination of DNA during the exhumation requires special protective measures;  and
• assertions that the preparations for the exhumation process had not been completed when the media was invited to an open day when Oxford Archaeology officially began work in May does not mean that they were not ready when needed.

In his response Fromelles crisis. Support for Oxford Archaeology as recovery continues that is posted on the website Australia. TO News , Chris also responds to comments made by the Convenor/Administrator of the Fromelles Discussion Group, Grant Triffett.
 
The Fairfax Press article has drawn a number of other responses, most notably an assurance from the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Kevin Rudd, committing his Government to making “doubly certain” that the exhumation, identification and reinterment of the Australian soldiers at Fromelles is being handled properly, and a joint supporting statement by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and a project update from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that are detailed in the RECENT NEWS item PM Reaffirms Fromelles.

 

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916 dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

Don’t forget me, cobber

Don’t forget me, cobber – Book launch

The much anticipated updated edition of Robin Corfield’s book, Don’t forget me, cobber, is the extraordinary story of the lead-up to the battle, the battle itself, as well as the successful search for the ‘missing of Fromelles’. Lost in mass grave pits since 1916, the remains of Australian and British soldiers have been discovered after seven years of campaigning by Lambis Englezos, who also writes of his experience here. The book also includes a complete Roll of Honour of the British and Australians killed, as well as some of the Germans.

On the evening of 19 July 1916 on a strip of farmland north of Fromelles, the AIF fought its first battle in France. Outnumbered two to one, a well-organised German division faced two divisions, one Australian and the other British, and yet inflicted a costly defeat. By dusk the following day there were 2436 Allies dead and 4123 wounded, no territory gained and only 501 Germans killed and 943 injured.

Major General Mike O’Brien, the senior Australian Army officer responsible for the Fromelles Project, will launch Don’t forget me, cobber at The Shrine, Melbourne on 19 July 2009 at 2:15pm. The launch will follow the 1:30pm commemorative service for The Battle of Fromelles. 

Scroll down for details of special book offer for FFFAIF members and visitors to this website.

Melbourne University Publishing (MUP) is offering members of the Families and Friends of the First AIF and visitors to this www.fffaif.org.au website a special discount on exclusive signed copies of Don’t forget me, cobber.
RRP$59.99, Special price for FFFAIF Members $49.99 (including postage anywhere in Australia)

Click here to download the special discount price order form or email profectfffaif@yahoo.com.au to obtain an order form.

 

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916 dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

Fromelles in France

BATTLE OF FROMELLES
COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES

FROMELLES

Sunday 19 July 2009

at
10:30am

The famous Cobbers Statue at the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles has recently undergone a refurbishment in preparation for the 93^rd Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles. A commemorative service will be held on Sunday 19 July at Fromelles at Australian Memorial Park.

Photo: Cobbers Statue under ‘wraps’ as it underwent refurbishment in June 2009

Photo: The Cobbers Statue after refurbishment, July 2009

 

Photo: Cobbers Statue July 2009

The photos of The Cobbers Statue, during and after refurbishment, were taken by FFFAIF member and Secretary of Fromelles Weppes Terre de Mémoire 1914-1918 (Fromelles Museum) Carole Laignel.

The Fromelles Weppes Terre de Mémoire 1914-1918  (Fromelles Musem) is situated on the second floor of the Fromelles Town Hall.

 

Photo: Fromelles Town Hall [Chris Munro]

 The museum was founded in 1990 and houses a comprehensive collection of World War 1 and World War 2 memorabilia and is under the care of a dedicated committee of volunteers. A visit to the museum can be arranged by contacting Mairie de Fromelles on: 00 33 (0)3 20 50 20 43

 

Photo: ‘Museum Guide’ Lambis Englezos [Carole Laignel]

 To take a virtual tour of the museum click on the ’screen’ below:

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916 dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.