Remains of six World War I diggers identified, 2016

Remains of six World War I diggers identified, 2016

The Australian Army has confirmed the identification of a further six Australians from the 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009.

Second Lieutenant James Benson

James Benson was born in Bundaberg, Queensland. He was married, employed as a lineman, and living in Cheltenham, South Australia. Private Benson enlisted in the Australian Army on 5 July 1915 and was attached to the 32nd Battalion, A Company.

On 18 November 1915, Second Lieutenant James Benson, aged 36 at the time, embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong.

Second Lieutenant Benson served in Eqypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 20 July 1916.

Second Lieutenant Benson was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010.

Second Lieutenant Benson was identified in 2016.

 

Private Justin Hercules Breguet

On 18 February 1916, Private Breguet, aged 18 at the time, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat.

Private Breguet served in Eqypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 19 July 1916. 

Private Breguet was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010. 

Private Breguet was identified in 2016.

 

Private Clifton Sydney Brindal

Clifton Sydney Brindal was born in Sydney, New South Wales. He was single, employed as a barman, and living in East Perth, Western Australia. Private Brindal enlisted in the Australian Army on 28 October 1915 and was attached to the 20th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement.

On 20 December 1915, Private Brindal, aged 22 at the time, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas.

Private Brindal served in Eqypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 19/20 July 1916.

Private Brindal was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010. 

Private Brindal was identified in 2016.

 

Private Sidney Broom

Sidney Broom was born in Norfolk, England. He was single and employed as a miner, and living in Mount Morgan, Queensland. Private Broom enlisted in the Australian Army on 21 July 1915 and was attached to the 31st Battalion, 1st Reinforcement.

On 5 November 1916, Private Bloom, aged 25 at the time, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A41 Bakara.

Private Broom served in Eqypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 19 July 1916.

Private Broom was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010.

Private Broom was identified in 2016.

 

Private William Burke

William Burke was born in Parkes, New South Wales. He was single, employed as a quarryman, and living in Sydney, New South Wales. Private Burke enlisted in the Australian Army on 4 July 1915 and was attached to the 30th Battalion, C Company.

On 9 November 1915, Private Burke, aged 23 at the time, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72Beltana. 

Private Burke served in Egypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 20 July 1916.

Private Burke was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010. 

Private Burke was identified in 2016.

 

Private Robert Thomas Maudsley

Robert Thomas Maudsley was born in Lancashire, England, in 1889. He was single, a labourer, and living in Keswick, Adelaide. Private Maudsley enlisted in the Australian Army on 22 July 1915 and was attached to the 32nd Battalion, A Company.

On 18 November 1915, Private Maudsley, aged 26 at the time, embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong.

Private Maudsley served in Eqypt and the Western Front before he was killed in action during the Battle of Fromelles at Fleurbaix, France, on 19 July 1916.

Private Maudsley was one of 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009 and reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery in 2010.

Private Maudsley was identified in 2016.