This event is being reported by various media outlets throughout the world but more especially in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Here is an excellent background brief by the BBC.

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News Update.

Buttons Prove British Soldiers Buried With Australian Diggers

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Although history and time has dimmed the memories of the tragic events associated with this war, this is a very emotional task for those involved in the recovery of these remains.

Australia was a young nation at the time of this war and many bush towns lost most of their able bodied young men; feelings still run strong at the memory.

Debate is now gathering momentum as to what should happen to the discovered remains - allow them to remain undisturbed and declare the field a memorial - remove and identify the remains, and rebury them in the same location under a head stone with a proper military funeral - remove and identify the remains and return them to their country of origin for burial with military honours.

A difficult one - particularly as there is more than one country involved and each government is going to have to make a unanimous decision on behalf of all the people.

Not keen on the idea of repatriation, even 90 years afterwards. The idea that the dead should lie equal in death even if they were not in life was as sound then as it is now because if you repatriate one person's loved ones then you must repatriate everyone's or it would be unfair.
This is why the CWGC was set up.

quote:

Originally posted by Bladensburg:
Not keen on the idea of repatriation, even 90 years afterwards. The idea that the dead should lie equal in death even if they were not in life was as sound then as it is now because if you repatriate one person's loved ones then you must repatriate everyone's or it would be unfair.
This is why the CWGC was set up.

Yes, I fully agree with you.

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The decision,

A NEW commonwealth war cemetery costing up to $20million will be constructed at Fromelles in northern France, the site of the greatest single loss suffered by Australian Diggers in World War I.

The remains of up to 170 Diggers believed to be buried in a mass grave at Pheasant Wood on the outskirts of Fromelles will be exhumed and given individual burials with full military honours......


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Click Here For British Report