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New Fromelles cemetery begins to take shape
Construction of the first new cemetery to be built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 50 years has begun in northern France. Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery will provide a final individual resting place for up to 400 British and Australian soldiers who died at the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. Their recently discovered remains are now being recovered by a team of archaeological specialists from several mass graves nearby.
British, Australian and French schoolchildren were asked to produce artwork to decorate the hoardings which will surround the cemetery construction site. Using the theme of "Remembrance", they provided a superb array of pictures. Yesterday (Monday 8 June 2009) some of the children visited the site to see their work go up.
Among them were several 12-year-old children from Stonyhurst School in Lancashire, England. Genevieve Turner said: "All the soldiers had families like us and they were not much older than we are. When I saw my drawing I was happy because those soldiers who died in the war will never be forgotten."
Favour Maduka, who also attends Stonyhurst said: "Today was one of the proudest days of my life. Seeing our artwork displayed and being given the privilege to enter the excavation site has made me feel proud of the school, of my friends and of myself."
Fellow pupil Jessica Moyle added: "The artwork was magnificent especially when it had been put up on the boards. All the men who died at Fromelles will finally be put to rest."
The children's teacher, Paul Garlington, said: "We were proud and deeply honoured to be asked to do this. It was both moving and humbling to be here today. Perhaps now these men can rest in peace."
In addition to the primary aim of providing a fitting and final resting place for each soldier, it is hoped that DNA techniques may be able to identify some of those buried at Fromelles. Families who believe their relatives may have lost their lives at Fromelles are urged to check the lists of casualties at http://www.fromelles.org
Work on the new cemetery will be completed by December 2009. It will be built to the same high standards as the Commission's existing First World War memorials and cemeteries in France, using similar materials and horticulture, but taking account of modern construction methods and accessibility requirements. An interactive map and virtual image of how the new cemetery will look upon completion can be found at http://www.fromelles.org
For further information and more images, please contact Ranald Leask, Public Relations & Media Manager on 01628 507204 or ranald.leask@cwgc.org
Ends.
Notes for Editors
1. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth
War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and maintaining
the graves of those members of the Commonwealth forces who died
during the two world wars, for building and maintaining memorials
to the dead whose graves are unknown and for providing records and
registers of these 1.7 million burials and commemorations found in
most countries throughout the world. For more information visit http://www.cwgc.org
2. The children who visited Fromelles attend Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall School in Lancashire, UK. They are in year seven.
3. The Battle of Fromelles began on 19 July 1916 and was the first major battle on the Western Front involving Australian troops. Within a 24 hour period, the 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties, of which 1,780 were killed and the 61st British Division suffered 1,547 casualties, including 503 killed. It is believed up to 400 British and Australian soldiers lie in the burial pits dug by the Germans.
