The Fromelles Project is a joint Australian Army and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence project to investigate, recover, identify and re-inter the remains of Australian and British soldiers who were killed during the Battle of Fromelles on the night of 19 - 20 July 1916. The Australian element of the project is managed by the Unrecovered War Casualties, located in Army Headquarters, Canberra.
The Fromelles Project began with careful academic scrutiny of the battle, including commissioning some intensive independent research into the battle. Following this, the second, or ‘proof’ stage, began. This involved two steps: an examination of the site using ground-penetrating radar and in 2008, a limited excavation to prove conclusively whether or not remains were on the site.
On 27 May 2008, during the limited excavation of the site, human remains were discovered.
A careful assessment of the excavated site and artefacts unearthed with the remains suggested that the human remains of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers were buried at the site.
The third phase, recovery, identification and reinterment, followed in 2009 and the Project successfully recovered the remains of 250 Australian and British soldiers from six burial pits.
The Army has established a register of people who believe their relative may be buried at Fromelles. We are interested in information about First Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) soldiers who fought in the Battle of Fromelles, and whose date of death is listed between 19 - 20 July 1916 and grave is listed as unknown. If this profile fits your relative, please submit your information by completing the contact inquiry form.
Personal details will not be released to non-government persons or bodies, or used for purposes other than the identification of soldiers at Fromelles, unless express permission is granted by individuals.