Ninety-four years after they fell in the Battle of Fromelles, the last of 250 Australian and British soldiers has been buried with full military honours at a ceremony in France. Of these 250 men recovered from Pheasant Wood, 205 have been identified as Australians (96 by name), three are British and 42 are ‘Known unto God’. The identity of the soldier buried today remains “Known unto God”.

Her Excellency, the Governor-General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC attended the event, along with Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AO. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin reflected on the importance of the occasion. Mr Griffin said, “These men paid the ultimate sacrifice and today’s ceremony has given families an opportunity to pay their last respects at a known grave”.

“Ninety-six Australians have now been named through a combination of anthropological, archaeological, historical and DNA information and there is a very good chance that further soldiers will be identified if more families come forward to assist.”

The purpose-built Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery was also opened in a fitting tribute to the Australian and British soldiers recovered last year. The new cemetery is the first full cemetery the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has constructed in more than 50 years. Mr Griffin said, “The discovery of these men in mass graves in May 2008, so long after World War One, provides new generations of Australians with an opportunity to honour their service”.

Families of identified soldiers were invited to pay tribute to the fallen at their gravesides in a reflection service after the cemetery was opened. The battle took place on 19 and 20 July 1916 and was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history with 5,533 Australian soldiers killed, wounded, taken prisoner or missing.