Anzac Weekend Zonnebeke

[bencasto]

Thank you for charing your pics, we had a very emotional day all together.

On a few photos you were just next to me or you were on my back,we do not know each other but we have shared the same emotion.

[Regulus 1]

See also this topic :

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=83415

[Andrew P]

Thanks to all those that attended this and for the great photographs.

Regards

Andrew

[Rob Bulloch]

Regulus 1.

Thanks for the link to the other photographs. A nice photographic memory.

At Rest. Rob.

[scarkey57]

Michael and Regulus 1,

Thank you for sharing your superb pictures of the ceremony.

5 more at rest

Best Wishes

[Andrew P]

Media Release from Defence about the ongoing process of identification

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Media Mail List

------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEDIA RELEASE

053/2007 Wednesday, 17 October 2007

NEW DEVELOPMENT IN IDENTIFICATION OF AUSTRALIAN WW1 SOLDIERS

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mr Bruce Billson, today

announced renewed hope for identifying the remains of three WW1 soldiers

re-interred in Belgium earlier this month.

The remains of five Australian WW1 soldiers were discovered in Zonnebeke

last year during a road excavation and two, Sergeant George Calder and

Private John Hunter, have already been successfully identified using DNA

matching from surviving female descendents.

Mr Billson said a Belgian laboratory has now been successful in extracting

Y chromosome materials from the remaining three unidentified soldiers,

meaning it is possible for scientists to attempt matches with male

descendents of the missing soldiers.

"It is my hope that all of these soldiers will be positively identified,

and the availability of this additional DNA testing has increased the

likelihood that this will occur," Mr Billson said.

"Historical research has identified several possible soldiers and we will

continue collecting DNA samples from surviving relatives of those

soldiers, now widening the search to include male descendents."

All five soldiers were re-interred in Belgium on the 4 October 2007 in a

moving ceremony attended by the Governor General of Australia, Major

General Michael Jeffrey and Vice Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant

General Ken Gillespie.

Initial research revealed seven possible matches for the remains, and DNA

testing successfully identified SGT Calder and PTE Hunter, whilst

discounting a further two candidates. Army will re-establish contact with

descendents of the three remaining possible candidates; 4931 Private

William Williams, 2488 Private George Richard Storey and 3233 Private T.

A. Gibbens.

People who may have a connection to one of these unidentified individuals

should contact Mr Roger Lee of the Army History Unit on 02 6266 2204.

[frev]

Thanks for this update Drew - wow, the things they can do these days - wouldn't be amazing if they're all identified...............

[TGWW]

When identities are established are the names removed from elsewhere where they may be remembered or are "unknown soldier" or "believed to be buried here" memorials removed or updated? So at Thiepval for example could your name be on the monument and on a headstone somewhere too?