>>Minister for veterans' affairs >>Media Release Subscription Service >>VA30 Saturday 19 April 2003 >>aUSTRALIAN wwi REMAINS FOUND ON WESTERN FRONT >> >>The remains of four unknown Australian soldiers of the First AIF have been >>located near Hazebrouck, France, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna >>Vale said today. >> >>"Every effort is being made by the Australian Government to identify the >>names of these Australian soldiers," Mrs Vale said. >> >>"However, on the basis of artefacts recovered with the remains, >>identification seems, at this stage, most unlikely. >> >>"In the event that they are buried as unknown Australian soldiers, the >>Commonwealth War Graves Commission will arrange for burial in an appropriate >>war cemetery in France." >> >>Mrs Vale said Australia was an active member of the Commonwealth War Graves >>Commission, ensuring the soldiers would be buried with the dignity and >>honour they deserved. >> >>Hazebrouck, located near Dunkerque, was used as a casualty clearing station >>from 1914-17, until heavy German shelling and bombing caused its evacuation. >>During September and October 1918, a British Red Cross Hospital was >>stationed in the town. >> >>Fifty Australian World War I casualties are buried at Hazebrouck Communal >>Cemetery, although the final resting place of these four has not been >>finalised. >> >>"These four men made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation and they are >>remembered through their inclusion on one of the Commission Memorials to the >>Missing," the Minister said. >> >>This is the first discovery of missing Australian soldiers from World War I >>since the remains of Private Russell George Bosisto of the 27th Battalion >>were discovered near Pozieres in 1998. Private Bosisto is now buried in the >>Courcelette War Cemetery alongside nine other members of his battalion. >> >>More than 16,000 members of the First AIF who served on the Western Front >>are listed as having no known grave. >> >>Media Contact: Rachael Thompson 02 6277 7820 or 0417 265 >>289 > >Cathy Dunn >Cd's Webpage Designs & Services >South Coast Promotions >www.ulladulla.info/cdweb > >PO Box 52 Milton NSW 2538 >Ph: 4455 4780 >Fax: 4455 4628 > >Public comment sought for Ulladulla Bali Memorial Complex >www.ulladulla.info/memorialbowl/survey > > > > > > Cathy Dunn Cd's Webpage Designs & Services South Coast Promotions www.ulladulla.info/cdweb PO Box 52 Milton NSW 2538 Ph: 4455 4780 Fax: 4455 4628 Public comment sought for Ulladulla Bali Memorial Complex www.ulladulla.info/memorialbowl/survey