Two a penny

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.