August 10th, 2009 | Posted by CWGC Last week was our thirteenth since excavation began and we are still well on target to complete fieldwork by the end of September.
In the field
Hand excavation of Grave Four was completed last Thursday with a total of 50 individuals recovered from this grave, 25 in each layer. The base of the grave, natural clay, is 1.57 metres below ground level
Work continues in Grave Three with a total of seven sets of remains recovered last week, two from the uppermost layer and five from the second layer. Eighteen further sets have been exposed in the second layer and will be recovered over the course of this week making a total of 51 individuals from this grave to date.
On Friday, a team moved into Grave Five and started to hand excavate the over-burden. It is anticipated that each layer of remains in this grave will take approximately two weeks to hand excavate, record and recover. As there may be three layers of remains present, the grave should therefore be completed in four to six weeks.
Almost 190 individuals have now been recovered from Graves One, Two, Three, Four and Six.
Finds
Preliminary recording and conservation has been undertaken for the vast majority of finds from all graves so far excavated, with priority given to fragile finds, and finds that will help with identification. This includes two rings and a New Testament, with a very well preserved leather cover, recovered from Graves Three and Four.
A ring, recovered from the grave at Fromelles
In addition, finds associated with around 50 sets of remains from Graves One and Two have now been fully recorded, examined, researched, catalogued and given appropriate treatments for their short term conservation.
Textiles have survived very well in these graves, with particularly good preservation in Grave Four where a whole sleeve of a jacket was found, as well as a large part of a cardigan.
Finds from Graves One and Two are of predominantly Australian origin and rising sun badges and Australian belt buckles continue to be recovered from Graves Three and Four. British items seem to be fewer in number but on Friday a Fusiliers badge was recovered from Grave Three, possibly from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment which served at Fromelles.
August 10th, 2009 - 9:40 am
To have all these brave men re-buried with honour is a fantastic effort to all those people involved with recovering them…well done.
August 12th, 2009 - 6:39 am
Please now they have been recovered, give us the relatives that never had the chance to meet them the Chance to say Thank you Digger, I now enjoy the peace you died for, Lest We Forget.
August 17th, 2009 - 9:51 am
Spot on Charles,Lest We Forget.
August 18th, 2009 - 10:00 am
This is a truly remarkable story and feat of painstacking application of science.
it is also worth saying in the spirit of reconciliation that the germans deserve some credit for the way in which they buried the fallen who had been left behind by the military commanders responsible for this appalling loss of life
To all those who have been a part of this, a huge thank you from the living and the dead relatives of those brave soldiers from across the ocean who sacrificed everything
August 20th, 2009 - 5:20 am
Fromelles story has been too long waiting to be told. This will be a true pilgrimage in 2010. I am sure there are many who will be there on the anniversary.
August 26th, 2009 - 1:00 am
Well done to all involved in this operation, which is surely one of the most amazing feats of our age. We were there in the first weeks of excavation, and will be back for the anniversary in 2010. These men and the heartbroken families they represented deserve this honour.
August 26th, 2009 - 1:19 am
I was recently at Fromelle and can say that all involved are doing a fantastic job. It is a pity the English commanders {a very loose term for them} didn’t take up the German offer to collect our dead for if they had done so they would have all being resting in peace for the last ninety years.
The new cemetary is practically opposite where they are being recovered and will be a fine resting place.
As anyone who has visited Northern France can testify Australians are welcome, particularly in places like Villers Bretonneux
August 27th, 2009 - 5:22 pm
I visited the site having read the reports on the website.
Like so many places on the battlefields of WW1, Fromelles is a small village which has become so well known as a result of this project. The school children who have produced the murals are to be congratulated on their work and the villagers too for their support and patience and their tributes to the fallen made every year. 2010 is going to be an amazing experience for all though I cannot see how all the people, me included, who wish to see the final act of remembrance for these men, will be able to be accommodated in this small piece of France.
September 3rd, 2009 - 11:11 am
Only a few people will be at the Ceremony when these brave soldiers are re-buried with the honour they deserve,but many,many more will see it on the media,may they soon rest in peace with the thanks and gratitude of us all for their ultimate sacrifice,for without them where would we be.