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War Graves in France and Belgium
War Graves in France and Belgium
Glancing from your window as you speed through Northern France or Belgium on Eurostar, it’s easy to forget that these rolling agricultural landscapes were the settings for some of the First World War’s bloodiest conflicts.
Battles like those that raged at the Somme, Ypres and Fromelles were responsible for the deaths of thousands of soldiers, many of whom were never recovered or given proper war graves.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has worked tirelessly to provide permanent war graves and memorials for such soldiers, many of which can be easily reached from the Eurostar destinations of Brussels and Lille.
The Battle of Fromelles
Currently the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is working in the idyllic surroundings of Fromelles, the site of a conflict renowned in Australia as one of the most costly and ultimately futile in the country’s military history.
At the Battle of Fromelles near Lille, on 19 July 1916, 5,533 Australian and 1,547 British soldiers were reported killed, wounded or missing. Now, following extensive research by amateur Australian historian Lambis Englezos, it is believed that between 250 and 300 of these soldiers were respectfully buried by German soldiers in a series of mass war graves in the nearby Pheasants Wood.
Using modern forensic and archaeological techniques which have never before been used on a WW1 burial site, a team of experts has been carrying out a huge excavation project, meticulously peeling back the soil to give a breathtaking insight into the Fromelles fallen.
With the latest DNA testing techniques, they hope to identify as many of the bodies as possible and notify any living relatives. What’s more, as of 19 July 2010 every body recovered from the pits will be given its own individual war grave in a newly built cemetery: a fitting final resting place in the tranquil environs of the village of Fromelles, and a perfect visiting place to commemorate those who gave their lives so courageously.
Book your journey to Lille to visit the Fromelles war graves
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