Missing Soldiers of Fromelles
Discussion Group

Fromelles Discussion Group - Guest Book

The limited recovery program at Fromelles has concluded, the remains of exhumed soldiers have been re-interred in what has been described as a purpose-built cemetery and the opening of the newly-constructed complex has been scheduled for 19 July 2010, when the final unknown soldier from Pheasant Wood will be buried with military honours to coincide with the 94th anniversary of the historic assault. Preparations for the opening of the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery are all but completed, the burial ground supposedly being designed as a tangible expression of the principles of equality and uniformity which underpin the CWGC-although, how this is possible when more than a thousand Great War Diggers from the battle have actually been left out of the identification process, is difficult to understand.

Should any relative or community member want to contribute to the work of Fromelles Discussion Group or post an entry in this Guestbook, please contact the Convenor/Administrator by means of info@FromellesDiscussionGroup.com.au. Guestbook requests should include your name, your city/state/country, E-mail address and any comments you are interested in posting.

July 5, 2010

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Name: peter sneddon From: melbourne E-mail: Contact	All strength to your arm. This debacle should never be forgotten and needs to be honoured as with the other major WW1 battles. I have the personal diary of a sapper JF Bowen from 5th division HQ and the battle at fromelles was never forgotten by the troops themselves. They remembered it every year after the battle finished according to his diary cheers peter sneddon   Added: September 16, 2009

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Name: Colin Briscoe From: Sydney NSW Australia E-mail: Contact	Thanks so much to the people involved in the Fromelles Project and this website. My Great Uncle Acting Corporal Lionel Leopold Briscoe of the 30th Battalion was killed on 20th July 1916 in the Battle of Fromelles with no known grave. This project pays a tremendous tribute to our missing AIF soldiers. Regards   Added: September 15, 2009

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Name: Norma Staber From: Charmhaven NSW E-mail: Contact

No. 1888 Private Reginald Raymond Bradney/Wildman After I submitted information on my great-uncle it was suggested that I should send information on his three uncles who also served in France, where two of them also lost their lives,one at Villers Brettoneaux and one at Glengorse Wood. I have now prepared items on all of them, together with photos of them and one of my grandmother who was their sister and mother of Reginald Raymond Bradney/Wildman. If anyone is interested in their stories I would like to know how to transmit them to the Group, please.   Added: August 26, 2009

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Name: coghlan From: frankston vic E-mail: Contact	Any imformation on private John Coghlan 624 31st bat would be greatly appreciated leah   Added: August 25, 2009

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Name: Helen Thomas From: Kureelpa, Qld Australia E-mail: Contact

I would like to register my interest in this project. I recently visited the very touching VC corner at Fromelles and other WW1 sites in northern France. I had long wished to see where my uncle, Private Arthur Donald LEIGH (no 147 of 31st Battalion) was killed in action at Fleurbaix on 19 July 1916, having disembarked at Marseilles less than a month earlier. His father, (my grandfather) sought information for more than a year, before witnesses could be found and Arthur's demise confirmed. I never knew him, but I wish I had. He was only 23 years old, the eldest in a family of eleven children. I would be happy to supply a DNA sample if it would be helpful.   Added: July 21, 2009

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Name: Robert Bird From: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia E-mail: Contact

Some years ago assembling my family tree, I found I had a Great Uncle listed in the missing at VC Corner Memorial. The work done in recent times has unearthed such a lot about not just my Great Uncle 4946 Arnold Needham, 54th Battalion AIF, buried by the Germans at Pheasant Wood, but all those allied men involved. As an exserviceman myself how gratifying it was to learn that Arnold was one of the few to achieve their objective in Australia's first action in that terrible, terrible campaign. 4946 Arnold Needham enlisted as an 18 year old in Sydney on 13 January 1916, embarked on HMAT Star of England 18 March 1916 for Egypt, and joined the 54th Battalion on 20 April 1916. He boarded ship for Alexandria, 19 June 1916 arriving Marseilles 29 June 1916 just in time to participate in the assault on Fromelles. Like all the fallen from this feint, the loss of Arnold Needham was a tragedy and greatly affected his family, as he was one of four children. Arnold lost two sisters who died as youngsters and his father before the remainder of the family migrated to Australia, where he enlisted. Thanks to all those involved and lets give our relations a decent military burial.   Added: June 25, 2009

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Name: Sharon Summers From: Goulburn, NSW E-mail: Contact

My great uncle, Private Percy Weakley #318, is listed as K.I.A at Fromelles 20.7.1916. I am currently reading the book "Fromelles" and would like to thank all of those involved for helping to find my uncle and the men that fought along side him. Thank you Lambis for your great effort and determination. Well done. I will be one of those relatives there when they are laid to rest   Added: June 11, 2009

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Name: Annette Tebb From: Kentlyn NSW E-mail: Contact

I am related to Lance Sergeant Ernest Augustus Jentsch, 53rd Battalion, killed in action 19th July 1916 at Fromelles.He was my Great Grandmothers 1st Cousin and has been named on the list of Fromelles soldiers.Thankyou for all the information on this site-very insightful & helpful in understanding the tragedy of Fromelles & the part Ernest played in this terrible battle.I can't tell you how overwhelming it has been to know so may people have worked so hard and are so amazingly dedicated to giving these precious Boys a proper final resting place.We can only hope that Ernest is amongst them and for that our family thank you all.   Added: June 8, 2009

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Name: GREG OATES From: ADELAIDE, S. A. E-mail: Contact	Re: Pte. Daniel Michael LAWLOR died 20/7/1916 Fromelles. Great Uncle to Lynette, Christine, Greg & Paul OATES. Uncle to: Bob, Vilma & Roy OATES. We're travelling over in May to commemorate his life. The "dig" is a closure for the family, long time awaited. We hope, with DNA "we can lay him down to rest".   Added: May 21, 2009

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Name: Kerrin Lee From: Castle Hill Sydney NSW E-mail: Contact

Thank you for this wonderful web site. I am a great great niece of John Turner 30th battalion who died July 20 1916 age 20 in the Battle of Fromelles. His brother Jimmy, who has no known grave, died at Gallipoli. I visited Pheasant Wood in Sept 2008. I hope to return to Fromelles to be at the official funeral service of my great great uncle if we are fortunate enough to have his remains identified.   Added: May 18, 2009

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