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The 2019 Fromelles Identification Board has formally identified seven Australian soldiers who fought and died in the attack at Fromelles in France during World War One.
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Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester announced that new headstones would be installed at the soldiers' final resting places to recognise their correct identities.
“These soldiers were recovered in 2009 and were among 250 Australian soldiers buried as ‘unknown soldiers’ in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery,” Minister Chester said.
”This is the 10th year the Fromelles Identification Board has met to consider evidence, including new DNA donors, to try to determine the identity of soldiers yet to be named.
“The board examines artefacts and historical records, as well as evidence gathered by anthropologists, archaeologists and DNA specialists to make its decision.
“Over this period, the Fromelles Project has successfully identified 166 Australian soldiers, while 84 soldiers’ identities still remain undetermined.”
The soldiers have been identified as:
- 352 Private Arthur George BATT 32nd Bn. A.I.F. age 32 of Hilton, SA
- 4188 Private Edward James HOPE 54th Bn. A.I.F. age 28 of Penrith, NSW
- 641 Private Leslie Clark DUNN 31st Bn. A.I.F. age 28 of West Melbourne, Victoria
- 1291 Private George HONEY 32nd Bn. A.I.F. age 31 of West Guilford, WA
- 715 Lance Corporal Ralph JOHNSON 31st Bn. A.I.F. age 19 of Middle Brighton, Victoria
- 77 Lance Corporal John Alexander CRAWFORD 32nd Bn. A.I.F. age 32 of Hindmarsh, SA
- 3433 Private Peter Paul SHANNON 53rd Bn. A.I.F. age 35 of Merriwa, NSW
Minister Chester confirmed the soldiers' identification would be formally acknowledged during the annual commemoration ceremony in Fromelles in July.
“This outcome represents the culmination of a powerful collaboration between Defence, other agencies, contracted specialists, volunteer researchers and, most importantly, families of the missing who have recently supplied DNA for comparison to the soldiers," Minister Chester said.
“I’m proud of the efforts of the Australian Army and all those involved in researching, finding and identifying these Australians. I hope that the remaining 84 soldiers can also be identified in the near future.”
More information on the identified soldiers can be found here.
