New exhibition tells
story of fallen of Fromelles and first new war cemetery in 50 years
An exciting new
exhibition, organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,
which tells the story of 250 First World War soldiers recovered
from a mass grave in northern France in 2009 will open at the
Imperial War Museum London on 1 Jul 2010.
Remembering Fromelles: A New Cemetery for a New Century charts
the construction of the Commission's new Fromelles
(Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, the first to be built in 50
years, and explains the fascinating story of how 250 Australian
and British soldiers came to be found, excavated and then reburied
in a fitting and final resting place.
Using artefacts found at Fromelles, personal recollections of
those who worked on the project and photographs from each stage of
the recovery process, the exhibition charts the construction of
the cemetery and sheds new light on a forgotten story of the First
World War.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Fromelles
Project Manager David Richardson said: "This has been an
incredible project to work on over the past two years. The
building of a new Commission cemetery is something I never thought
I would see, but as it nears completion, its tranquil beauty is, I
believe, the finest honour we could have paid these men."
Remembering Fromelles: A New Cemetery for a New Century also
details the painstaking and complex work to identify the soldiers.
Many of the DNA testing techniques, which were used alongside
historical and archaeological evidence, have set new standards in
the field of forensic investigation.
The exhibition opens as the Fromelles project reaches its
conclusion, with the dedication of the new Fromelles (Pheasant
Wood) Military Cemetery taking place on 19 July 2010. Echoing the
traditional design of cemeteries built after the Great War, this
new cemetery will give the soldiers of Fromelles the dignity in
death denied to them for nearly a century.
Helen Steed, a relative of one of those soldiers identified at
Fromelles said: "I have been overwhelmed by the
determination shown by so many people to recover my grandfather
and his comrades, and have them properly buried in a new,
purpose-built Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery."
The exhibition, which is free of charge to visit, runs until
January 2011. It is accompanied by a book of the same title which
serves as a commemorative publication to these men and the
sacrifice which they made.
For further information, please contact the Commission's
PR & Media Manager Ranald Leask
To view the pictures that accompany this release, please
follow the link below;
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=414009&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=430
Ends.
Notes for Editors
1. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for
marking and maintaining the graves of those members of the
Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars, for
building and maintaining memorials to the dead whose graves are
unknown and for providing records and registers of these 1.7
million burials and commemorations found in most countries
throughout the world. For more information visit www.cwgc.org
2. The press view for the exhibition, which will be officially
opened by the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,
HRH The Duke of Kent, on the evening of 30 June 2010, will take
place on 30 June from 10am until 1pm. In addition to
representatives of the CWGC and archaeologists and DNA experts who
have worked on the project, relatives of some of the Fromelles
soldiers will be attending and available for interview. The
exhibition opens to the public on 1 July 2010 and runs until
January 2011. Admission is free.
3. High resolution images of the work being done at Fromelles and
of artefacts recovered there can be obtained by visiting www.fromelles.org and going to
the "image library". A photo of Corporal Frank
Steed, grandfather of Helen Steed, who is quoted in this release,
is attached. Corporal Steed, who served with the Australian
Infantry was 33 when he died on the 20th of July 1916 at the
Battle of Fromelles. Helen Steed lives in Canterbury, UK.
4. The opening of the exhibition takes place just a few weeks
before the official opening of the new cemetery at Fromelles on 19
July 2010. The dedication of Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military
Cemetery will include the burial of the last of the 250 Australian
and British soldiers found at the Pheasant Wood site. This event
is open to the public and information on ticketing can be obtained
by visiting www.cwgc.org/fromelles
5. The London branch of the Imperial War Museum explores how the
history of modern conflict affects us all, from the front line to
the home front. Exhibits range from tanks and aircraft to
photographs and personal letters; they include film and sound
recordings and some of the twentieth century's best-known
paintings. Visitors can explore six floors of exhibitions and
displays, including a permanent exhibition dedicated to the
Holocaust and a changing programme of special temporary
exhibitions.
Imperial War Museum London, Lambeth Road, London, SE1
6HZ
Open daily 10.00am - 6.00pm except 24, 25 and 26 December.
Last admission 5.45pm
Public Enquiries + 44 (0)20 7416
5000
Press enquiries +44 (0)20 7416 5497
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Ranald Leask
Phone: 01628 507204
ranald.leask@cwgc.org