The remains of five Australian World War One soldiers who fell during the Battle of Passchendale in 1917, will be laid to rest permanently in a ceremony in Zonnebeke, Belgium later today. Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mr Bruce Billson, said the re-interment will acknowledge these soldiers and honour their lives with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“Members of the Australian Army’s 51st Battalion, The Far North Queensland Regiment, as well as members of the Royal Military College Band have travelled to Belgium to support the reinterment of these five fallen soldiers,” said Mr Billson. The Belgium authorities, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Office of Australian War Graves have all worked very hard to allow the re-interment to proceed. I would also like to thank the Belgium Armed Forces for their tireless assistance and support”.

“I am extremely pleased with the effort of all involved to ensure this important ceremony is able to take place today,” Mr Billson said. The reinterment will take place at 3pm Belgium time where the Governor-General of Australia and Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force will lay commemorative wreaths. There will also be a ceremony at 11am Belgium time that will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the third battle of Ypres.

The remains of the five diggers were discovered late last year and DNA enabled two soldiers, Sergeant George Calder and Private John Hunter, to be positively identified in September 2007. Relatives of both soldiers have been escorted to Belgium and will be in attendance at the re-interment.