Newly Identified

[Martin Brown]

Dear All

In October 2008, archaeologists from the group No Man’s Land – The European Group for Great War archaeology – recovered the body of an unknown Australian soldier missing since the Battle of Messines in 1917. Extensive detective work and close cooperation between the Group, professional partners and the Australian Army over the past 20 months has now revealed the soldier's identity as 1983 Private Alan James Mather.

The Australian soldier's remains were discovered during work on The Plugstreet Project, an archaeological investigation of part of the Belgian battlefields of the First World War. Archaeological excavation was able to recover the skeleton, as well as associated objects, including rifle, ammunition, Corps badges and the contents of his pockets and haversack. Although a corroded identification disc was also recovered, forensic investigation failed to provide identification details.

Project co-Director Martin Brown said:

“Using archaeological techniques to lift and study the remains we were able to build up quite a picture of the man, and this led us a long way to his identity. The badges gave us his nationality. His location in the field gave us his unit – 33 Battalion – and that tells us when he was killed because they didn’t spend long there. The fact he was wearing all his ammunition and grenades showed that he was in the main attacking force and gave us his Company.

Excavation was only the first part of the story. Experts from Bradford University cleaned and conserved the objects which helped us to tell something about the soldier himself. He wasn’t wearing his helmet when he died, probably preferring his Australian Slouch Hat as a symbol of unit identity. Equally intriguing were the remains of a German Pickelhaube (spiked helmet) in his knapsack. This appears to have been a trophy of war captured on a trench raid. He should have left it with his heavy kit in the rear but preferred to carry it into action: he probably didn’t trust some of his “mates” in the rear echelon! If he’s survived the war it might now be a treasured family heirloom”

Project co-Director Richard Osgood said:

“The scientific input from our academic and scientific partners was astounding. Work by Universities of Leuven and Oxford studying the chemical composition of his bones enabled us to narrow down the place of birth of the skeleton to a few locations in New South Wales. Comparing that data to the casualty lists further reduced the number of possible identities for this man to five possibles.

Forensic analysis of the bones had given us height, age and likely body type from muscle attachments. Even before we knew it was Mather we knew he had lived a fairly physical life, developing heavy muscle attachments on his bones and showing wear on his spine.

With such a low number of candidates the Australian Army commissioned DNA testing of the surviving relatives of all the casualties fitting the profile, which resulted in a positive match with one of the Next of Kin donors. This match provided the final proof in identifying Private Mather.

This result shows how integration of the fieldwork, use of historical documents and cutting edge science can produce very satisfying outcomes.”

1983 Private Alan James Mather joined the Army in 1916. He was a grazier from Inverell in New South Wales, where his father had been mayor. He was survived by his parents, older twin sisters, Flora and Marion, a younger sister, Elsie, a half brother Doug and a half sister, Jessie. Following his death his Company Commander wrote that he was “one of my best and most trusted men”. He was 37 years old at the time of his death, which was caused by shell-fire during on the 8th June 1917 at St Yvon, Belgium.

He had no known place of burial and so was commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the names of missing are listed.

Thanks to archaeology and science Private Mather will now be formally buried by the Australian Army on July 22nd at Prowse Point Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. His name will be removed from the panel at the Menin Gate in due course.

Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin said:

“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to restore the identity of this Australian soldier who was missing for almost a century”.

We are proud to have been part of this process.

RIP Private Mather

[larney]

Great News Martin,

Well done to all concerned!

SteveJ.

[Martin Bennitt]

Very well done all. Having listened to your masterly analysis at the GWF conference, I'm delighted there has been a successful conclusion.

cheers another Martin B

[Michelle Young]

Excellent news hope to see you at Prowse Point!

Michelle

[Martin Brown]

Very well done all. Having listened to your masterly analysis at the GWF conference, I'm delighted there has been a successful conclusion.

cheers another Martin B

Hello Martin

Now you know what I was being circumspect about. We're so pleased to be able to make this announcement.

There is another thread on this topic here:

Thread in Cemeteries and Memorials

I look forward to meeting some of you at the funeral. Please do come and say hello.

MB!

[(nzef)]

Fantastic result

Well done to all involved

Cheers

[Pighills]

So pleased to hear the end of your talk Martin!

Well done all concerned, an excellent job all round. I know from your talk at the conference how much care will have been taken.

RIP Pte Mather.

[Roger H]

What a great result Martin. Your talk has reached a fitting conclusion.

Roger

[ianw]

This is a terrific result for a multi-disciplined approach to securing an ID. An object lesson in how to do this.

I can picture Private Mather being amazed at all the technology dedicated to bringing him in from the cold. All those involved should take immense pride from his burial.

Unfortunately, I can't be at Cement House. Martin, are you intending to be at Fromelles?

[ulsterlad2]

Great news. Well done to all involved.

[Kate-s]

Further information on the discovery of Pte. Mather can be found on the Plugstreet Project website plugstreet-archaeology.com

[Chris Noble]

Well done Martin to all involved in the identification of Private Mather.

Best wishes to all.

Chris.

[John_Hartley]

Congratulations, Martin (and to the other members of the team).

Your talk at the Forum conference was fascinating. Been waiting to hear an announcement.

John

[Tony Ring]

Most impressed with research taken to ID the Aussie.

Well done !!!!

Tony

[Andrew P]

Well done to Martin, Richard & the team who uncovered Pte Mather

[frev]

Brilliant news & congratulations to all involved.

I only wish I could be there to pay my respects.....I'll be so near (yet so far)

Rest peacefully Pte Mather

[J Banning]

Congratulations from me. A terrific result and one that you should be very proud of. Well done.

[kerind]

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/06/29/2940029.htm

I hope this link works.

[bluedog]

Well done Martin and the team.

Peter

[Martin Brown]

Than you all for your kind words.

There are so many people who contributed their time and expertise to make this happen, usually for free, including people from:

Bradford University (Conservation)

Oxford University (Isotope work)

Leuven University (Isotope work)

Cranfield University (Isotope work, geophysics, osteology)

Birmingham University (Forensic archaeology, site supervison)

Cambridge University (social anthropology)

Bournemouth University (Forensic anthropology)

IX Regt RLC

as well as all our other volunteers and our Belgian friends, but most especially Australian Army, without their commitment our efforts wouldn't have got the last clincher that confirmed Pte Mather's identity.