WWI Passchendaele casualties identified by DNA !

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International scoop for Zonnebeke:

Remains of WWI soldiers for the first time identified by DNA, 90 years after the Battle of Passchendaele

At the beginning of September 2006, the remains of five Australian soldiers were found at Zonnebeke.They were found by a team of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 and the archeological service Archeo7, during excavations for a new gas main at the hamlet of Westhoek in Zonnebeke. Four of the five skeletons were enfolded in blankets, tied up with copper-wire. The human remains of the fifth one were exceptionally well kept, covered with a ‘ground sheet’. Parts of their clothes, footgear and some badges told us their nationality.

On one of the bodies, a two part colour patch from the 4th Australian Division was found. The location where the human remains were found is situated in the no man’s land of that division from 22 to 30 September 1917. The battalions 45 until 52 counted 136 missing soldiers during that period, all mentioned on the Ypres Menin Gate. Most of the victims fell at 26 September during the Battle of Polygon Wood and during artillery shelling the following days. A medical evacuation track passed not far from that location.

At least 30 of the missing soldiers were found buried in a small cemetery close by. The burial ground was evacuated after the war, whereby most of the casualties were laid to rest as unknown. The reason for this being that their personal belongings were sent back to Australia after all and that the crosses which marked their graves had disappeared, most during the subsequent fighting. Somehow the remains of the 5 Australians were overlooked during the post-war clearance, probably because there was already a road covering their remains.

Thanks to the intervention of the Belgian War Graves Department, a DNA sample of each of the five remains was taken. Meanwhile from four of the five casualties, age and cause of death were discovered after forensic research. After intensive investigation by the Australian authorities and with the help of the Australian media, relatives of three possible casualties were found. Their genetic data was posted to Belgium where for two of the three parties involved unmistakable resemblances were found.

Skeleton no. 5 has been identified as Private 3504 John Hunter of the 49th Battalion AIF from Nanago, Queensland. Hunter was a labourer and enlisted on 25 October 1916, but only arrived in mid August 1917 on the Western Front. On 26 September 1917 the 4th Division attacked in the direction of Zonnebeke village, east of Polygon Wood. His baptism of fire was also his death. It is believed in the family that John’s younger brother Jim, serving in the same battalion, helped to bury him.

A few days after the Battle of Polygon Wood, George Calder of the 51st Battalion AIF died on 30 September 1917. This miner from Boulder, Western Australia joined the army on 12 January 1916 and was finally promoted to Sergeant. A year after his death, George’s brother John received a golden ring, scissors, a handkerchief and a fountain pen, all removed from his body. The medals were sent to his mother Janet. George Calder has now been identified as casualty n° 3.

This is the very first time that remains of the First World War are being identified, without material finding, by a combination of skilled historical research and DNA. Crucial to the actual determination was the professional excavation carried out by a team of the archaeological service Archeo7 and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. The museum, specializing in the history and archaeology of the Battle of Passchendaele, is also responsible for the historical research, in close collaboration with the Australian Army History Unit. The DNA-research on the remains and all processing was done in Belgium by the National Institute for Criminology. This interdisciplinary and professional approach is opening important perspectives for the future discovery of WWI remains.

The ‘Zonnebeke Five’ will be reburied on 4 October 2007 at Buttes New British Cemetery. From 2.00 p.m. on free shuttle coaches will depart from Zonnebeke Chateau as parking near the cemetery is almost impossible. The service itself starts at 3.00 p.m. and will be conducted by a detachment of the 51st Battalion, to which one of the casualties belonged. The reburial will be attended by many international authorities and by the relatives of the known. A lot of media attention is expected as the interest in World War One is increasing.

After the reburial service, Belgian Army coaches will bring the public back to Zonnebeke Chateau grounds, where there is a free remembrance concert of the famous New Zealand classic singer Hayley Westenra, entitled ‘Songs for Passchendaele’. In the morning of the 4th, one can also attend ceremonies at 9.30 a.m. for the fallen New Zealanders at Gravenstafel and at 11.00 a.m.

for all ANZACS at Tyne Cot Cemetery. With these commemorations, the Memorial Museum of Zonnebeke is opening its ANZAC-weekend as a third part of Passchendaele, 90 Years After.

More info:

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Franky Bostyn (Curator) or Debbie Manhaeve (Media & PR) Ieperstraat 5 Zonnebeke 8980 Belgium Tel 0032 51 77 04 41 – info@passchendaele.be