Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that the project to recover and re-inter Australian and British World War One soldiers discovered in France remains on track. Over 100 sets of remains have now been retrieved and the original estimate that the site held up to 400 soldiers has now been revised to approximately 300. The archaeological excavation operation at Pheasant Wood in Fromelles began in May 2009 and is due to be completed in September 2009. Four of the eight burial pits have been fully excavated and the team from Oxford Archaeology have commenced work on two of the remaining four.

“These soldiers are being treated with the utmost care so that we ensure that their sacrifice is being honoured in the process,” said Mr Combet. “In addition to the recovery of remains, methodical and thorough analysis of artefacts buried with them will assist in the possibility of identification of the soldiers who died 93 years ago. Many items are being found with the soldiers that indicate the force in which they served but identification of individuals will rely on a combination of anthropological, archaeological, historical and other scientific data.”

Mr Combet is anticipating results of a pilot study to sample DNA from the remains by the end of July. “I am hopeful that a successful result will be returned and DNA matching with living descendants can assist in the identification process.” If people believe that they are relatives of a soldier who died at the Battle of Fromelles, they are encouraged to contact the Australian Army on (free call) 1800 019 090, or visit www.army.gov.au/fromelles to register their interest.