The Federal Government has announced that more than 100 Australian World War I soldiers buried in France will be exhumed and reburied individually with full military honours.
The soldiers were among 1,917 Australians killed in the 1916 Battle of Fromelles, one of the most devastating in Australia’s history.
Another 3,146 were wounded, all in the space of 24 hours. The British also suffered catastrophic losses; nearly 2,000 men killed or injured.
British soldiers buried at the site, perhaps as many as 400 of them, will also be reinterred.
The soldiers’ whereabouts had been debated for many years, but the previous month excavations at the site, known as Pheasant Wood, confirmed that the soldiers were interred in group burial pits.
Minister for Defence Personnel Warren Snowden has confirmed that the British and Australian governments have jointly agreed to exhume the soldiers buried at Pheasant Wood and reinter them.
“That will mean that we will seek the agreement of the French authorities and on the basis that we get that agreement, we would hope next summer to be exhuming the remains of those brave soldiers from that fateful day in July of 1916 and have the bodies then reburied in separate graves,” he said.
“We will now have conversation between the British authorities ourselves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the French to work out the way ahead. But that’s our objective.”
Mr Snowden says the families of the soldiers had indirect input in the decision.
“We were very aware of what the Friends of the 15th and others with an interest in this wanted. They wanted us to treat these soldiers with the respect that was their due. They wanted us to make sure that we commemorated them appropriately and we think that by doing this, we’re doing just that,” he said.
“I think this is a good story for all of us but there’s a long way to go before we have the first ceremony to commemorate the first burial and that’ll happen hopefully if not next northern summer, the summer after. That again will depend upon our discussions with the French and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”
The soldiers’ burial site may never have been discovered had it not been for the years of detective work and campaigning by Melbourne amateur historian Lambis Englezos.
He couldn’t be at the announcement at the Shrine of Remembrance this week but he was represented by his colleague from the Friends of the 15th Brigade Garry Hutchinson, who was thrilled with the Government’s decision.
“I haven’t been there and haven’t seen; I mean I’ve been to the site but I haven’t seen the excavation but Lambis did and he said to me, well he said to everybody, that once you’d seen the way that they were buried you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“And I think the little we owe them is to have them individually re-buried and maybe sometime down the track perhaps we can identify who they are but even without that their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Based on a report by Samantha Donovan for PM.
The Federal Government has announced that more than 100 Australian World War I soldiers buried in France will be exhumed and reburied individually with full military honours.
The soldiers were among 1,917 Australians killed in the 1916 Battle of Fromelles, one of the most devastating in Australia’s history.
Another 3,146 were wounded, all in the space of 24 hours. The British also suffered catastrophic losses; nearly 2,000 men killed or injured.
British soldiers buried at the site, perhaps as many as 400 of them, will also be reinterred.
The soldiers’ whereabouts had been debated for many years, but the previous month excavations at the site, known as Pheasant Wood, confirmed that the soldiers were interred in group burial pits.
Minister for Defence Personnel Warren Snowden has confirmed that the British and Australian governments have jointly agreed to exhume the soldiers buried at Pheasant Wood and reinter them.
“That will mean that we will seek the agreement of the French authorities and on the basis that we get that agreement, we would hope next summer to be exhuming the remains of those brave soldiers from that fateful day in July of 1916 and have the bodies then reburied in separate graves,” he said.
“We will now have conversation between the British authorities ourselves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the French to work out the way ahead. But that’s our objective.”
Mr Snowden says the families of the soldiers had indirect input in the decision.
“We were very aware of what the Friends of the 15th and others with an interest in this wanted. They wanted us to treat these soldiers with the respect that was their due. They wanted us to make sure that we commemorated them appropriately and we think that by doing this, we’re doing just that,” he said.
“I think this is a good story for all of us but there’s a long way to go before we have the first ceremony to commemorate the first burial and that’ll happen hopefully if not next northern summer, the summer after. That again will depend upon our discussions with the French and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”
The soldiers’ burial site may never have been discovered had it not been for the years of detective work and campaigning by Melbourne amateur historian Lambis Englezos.
He couldn’t be at the announcement at the Shrine of Remembrance this week but he was represented by his colleague from the Friends of the 15th Brigade Garry Hutchinson, who was thrilled with the Government’s decision.
“I haven’t been there and haven’t seen; I mean I’ve been to the site but I haven’t seen the excavation but Lambis did and he said to me, well he said to everybody, that once you’d seen the way that they were buried you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“And I think the little we owe them is to have them individually re-buried and maybe sometime down the track perhaps we can identify who they are but even without that their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Based on a report by Samantha Donovan for PM.
The Federal Government has announced that more than 100 Australian World War I soldiers buried in France will be exhumed and reburied individually with full military honours.
The soldiers were among 1,917 Australians killed in the 1916 Battle of Fromelles, one of the most devastating in Australia’s history.
Another 3,146 were wounded, all in the space of 24 hours. The British also suffered catastrophic losses; close toly 2,000 men killed or injured.
British soldiers buried at the site, perhaps as many as 400 of them, will also be reinterred.
The soldiers’ whereabouts had been debated for many years, but last month excavations at the site, known as Pheasant Wood, confirmed that the soldiers were interred in group burial pits.
Minister for Defence Personnel Warren Snowden has confirmed that the British and Australian governments have jointly agreed to exhume the soldiers buried at Pheasant Wood and reinter them.
“That will mean that we will seek the agreement of the French authorities and on the basis that we get that agreement, we would hope next summer to be exhuming the remains of those brave soldiers from that fateful day in July of 1916 and have the bodies then reburied in separate graves,” he said.
“We will now have conversation between the British authorities ourselves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the French to work out the way ahead. But that’s our objective.”
Mr Snowden says the families of the soldiers had indirect input in the decision.
“We were very aware of what the Friends of the 15th and others with an interest in this wanted. They wanted us to treat these soldiers with the respect that was their due. They wanted us to make sure that we commemorated them appropriately and we think that by doing this, we’re doing just that,” he said.
“I think this is a good story for all of us but there’s a long way to go before we have the first ceremony to commemorate the first burial and that’ll happen hopefully if not next northern summer, the summer after. That again will depend upon our discussions with the French and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”
The soldiers’ burial site may never have been discovered had it not been for the years of detective work and campaigning by Melbourne amateur historian Lambis Englezos.
He couldn’t be at the announcement at the Shrine of Remembrance this week but he was represented by his colleague from the Friends of the 15th Brigade Garry Hutchinson, who was thrilled with the Government’s decision.
“I haven’t been there and haven’t seen; I mean I’ve been to the site but I haven’t seen the excavation but Lambis did and he said to me, well he said to everybody, that once you’d seen the way that they were buried you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“And I think the little we owe them is to have them individually re-buried and maybe sometime down the track perhaps we can identify who they are but even without that their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Based on a report by Samantha Donovan for PM.
Soldier group Friends of the 15th Brigade are supporting the plan to rebury the remains of 400 soldiers found in a mass grave near Fromelles in France.
The remains of Australian and British World War I soldiers will be exhumed and reburied with military honours. It is believed about 170 of the bodies are Australian.
Limited excavation of the site at Pheasant Wood by Glasgow University in May confirmed the presence of human remains and assessed their condition, number and nationality.
Spokesperson Gary Hutchison says he understands some people want the remains left where they are, but he believes the soldiers deserve better.
“Once you’d seen the way that they were buried, you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“I think we owe them, well the little we owe them is to have them individually reburied, and maybe some time down the track perhaps we can identify who they are.
“But even without that, their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Land near the Pheasant Wood mass burial site has been donated for a permanent war cemetery.
Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon says the operation will be jointly funded by the Australian and British Governments.
Work is underway to confirm the names of those believed to be buried at the site.
“Part of that will be some research that we’re undertaking in Germany, to see if we can get more comprehensive information and records about who exactly may be at this site,” he said.
Mr Snowdon says planning work will start immediately, subject to the approval of French authorities.
A timeframe for the recovery of the remains will be announced later this year.
People who believe their relatives may be buried at Fromelles are encouraged to contact the the Department of Defence.
Soldier group Friends of the 15th Brigade are supporting the plan to rebury the remains of 400 soldiers found in a mass grave near Fromelles in France.
The remains of Australian and British World War I soldiers will be exhumed and reburied with military honours. It is believed about 170 of the bodies are Australian.
Limited excavation of the site at Pheasant Wood by Glasgow University in May confirmed the presence of human remains and assessed their condition, number and nationality.
Spokesperson Gary Hutchison says he understands some people want the remains left where they are, but he believes the soldiers deserve better.
“Once you’d seen the way that they were buried, you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“I think we owe them, well the little we owe them is to have them individually reburied, and maybe some time down the track perhaps we can identify who they are.
“But even without that, their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Land near the Pheasant Wood mass burial site has been donated for a permanent war cemetery.
Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon says the operation will be jointly funded by the Australian and British Governments.
Work is underway to confirm the names of those believed to be buried at the site.
“Part of that will be some research that we’re undertaking in Germany, to see if we can get more comprehensive information and records about who exactly may be at this site,” he said.
Mr Snowdon says planning work will start immediately, subject to the approval of French authorities.
A timeframe for the recovery of the remains will be announced later this year.
People who believe their relatives may be buried at Fromelles are encouraged to contact the the Department of Defence.
Soldier group Friends of the 15th Brigade are supporting the plan to rebury the remains of 400 soldiers found in a mass grave close to Fromelles in France.
The remains of Australian and British World War I soldiers will be exhumed and reburied with military honours. It is believed about 170 of the bodies are Australian.
Limited excavation of the site at Pheasant Wood by Glasgow University in May confirmed the presence of human remains and assessed their condition, number and nationality.
Spokesperson Gary Hutchison says he understands some people want the remains left where they are, but he believes the soldiers deserve better.
“Once you’d seen the way that they were buried, you couldn’t possibly leave them that way,” he said.
“I think we owe them, well the little we owe them is to have them individually reburied, and maybe some time down the track perhaps we can identify who they are.
“But even without that, their names will be up there and they’ll have their own graves and that’s what we’ve always wanted.”
Land close to the Pheasant Wood mass burial site has been donated for a permanent war cemetery.
Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon says the operation will be jointly funded by the Australian and British Governments.
Work is underway to confirm the names of those believed to be buried at the site.
“Part of that will be some research that we’re undertaking in Germany, to see if we can get more detailed information and records about who exactly may be at this site,” he said.
Mr Snowdon says planning work will start immediately, subject to the approval of French authorities.
A timeframe for the recovery of the remains will be announced later this year.
People who believe their relatives may be buried at Fromelles are encouraged to contact the the Department of Defence.
The Australian and British Governments want World War I soldiers buried in mass graves near Fromelles in France to be exhumed, and given individual burials with military honours.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personel, Warren Snowdon made the announcement at the Shrine of Remembrance this afternoon.
Mr Snowdon says the soldiers will be buried at a site near the current mass grave.
“It is fitting that these brave men will remain together, close to where they fell,” he said.
The soldiers were buried in mass graves in 1916. It is estimated the graves contain the remains of several hundred soldiers, including 170 Australians.
Limited excavation of the site at Pheasant Wood by Glasgow University in May confirmed the presence of human remains and assessed their condition, number and nationality.
Planning work will start immediately, and subject to the approval of French authorities, a timeframe for the recovery of the remains will be announced later this year.
Work is underway to confirm the names of those believed to be buried at the site.
The Australian and British Governments have agreed to share the costs of research, exhumation and reburial equally.
People who believe their relatives may be buried at Fromelles are encouraged to contact the the Department of Defence.
There will be an announcement later today about what will happen to the recently-discovered remains of hundreds of Australian and British soldiers killed at the Battle of Fromelles in France in 1916.
An excavation in May and June found the bodies in mass burial pits.
It is estimated the graves contain the remains of several hundred soldiers, including 170 Australians.
The Australian and British governments will this afternoon reveal whether the soldiers’ bodies will be left where they are or reburied in individual graves.
The announcement will be made in Melbourne this afternoon.
Expected to fetch at least 300 million euros ($495 million), an art collection amassed over four decades by late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his companion Pierre Berge goes up for sale next February.
Neither Christie’s nor Berge’s own auction house, Pierre Berge et Associes, would provide information on the sale, saying only details would be released in September.
But art market sources describe the auction as “the sale of the century” and estimate value at up to 500 million euros.
Among some 600 masterpieces likely to go on sale will be works by Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse and Leger that graced the pair’s separate Paris homes, including a Mondrian that once belonged to Otto Preminger.
“I don’t have confidence in the after world,” Berge told Le Figaro newspaper.
“I prefer to organise things while still alive, which Yves might not have done. I could only organise this sale after his death. A page is turned.”
Saint Laurent died on June 1.
Well-known for their mutual passion for art, the pair collected the finest of oils, furniture, statuettes, enamels and jewellery.
Berge, who was several years YSL’s senior and will turn 78 in November, frequented the likes of Paris literati Jean Giono and Jean Cocteau as a young man, and lived with Bernard Buffet before meeting Saint Laurent and setting up the YSL fashion empire.
In later years he ran a theatre, staged concerts, headed the Paris Opera, worked as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador and helped Chinese pro-democracy protesters after the events of Tiananmen.
Among pieces owned by the pair are Brancusi sculpture once owned by Leger, a marble bust from 100 AD, Renaissance enamels formerly the property of Count Stroganov, then Hubert de Givenchy, a tiny portrait of Louis XIV circled by 78 diamonds, a Goya, an Ingres and 18th century Chinese bronzes.
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KABUL, Afghanistan : Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan opened fire on a speeding car, which they feared was about to attack their convoy, and killed a 2-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister, officials said;Monday.
NATO and the Canadian military issued statements that said the soldiers opened fire close to the southern city of Kandahar on Sunday after the driver had ignored repeated signals to keep;back.
Militants have used civilian cars loaded with explosives in suicide missions against Afghan and foreign;troops.
The car came under fire after it drove within 10 yards of the convoy, the Canadian statement;said.”
MacKay said soldiers lived with the possibility that whenever a car approached, it “may be a bomb coming your;way.
In Ottawa, Canada's defense minister, Peter MacKay, said the deaths of the two children were a “horrible circumstance” that resulted when a “horrible decision had to be;taken.
Afghan and United Nations officials have urged international troops to avoid civilian casualties, which threaten to undermine support for President Hamid Karzai and the presence of foreign;forces.”
“With these suicide bombs that have occurred in the past with these approaches,” he said, “soldiers have sometimes a split second to make a decision on protecting their fellow soldiers and protecting themselves,” or protecting civilians in the;area.
In Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, British officials said, a British soldier was killed Monday while patrolling in the Marjah area west of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.
NATO commanders have said they take reasonable precautions to prevent civilian deaths and have blamed militants for endangering;innocents. The death brought to 113 the number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan since;2001.