Relatives hope for answers in Fromelles
WWI grave excavation
Friday - 6 June
2008 - ABC News Online
The family of a Tasmanian soldier who
died at the Battle of Fromelles in
northern France, is hoping his remains
will be found in the excavation of what
is believed to be a mass grave at
Pheasant Wood.
A total of nearly 2,000 Australians lost
their lives in the battle, World War I's
bloodiest, in July 1916.
War records reveal that Private Robert
Goldsmith was among those killed.
The records also show military map
coordinates pointing to where he fell,
but his body has never been recovered.
"He is on the Fromelles War Memorial,"
said his great-great-great-nephew, Scott
Goldsmith, "so there is a remote chance
he may be buried at Pheasant Wood along
with the other Australian soldiers."
It is believed 170 Australian soldiers
were buried in mass graves dug by the
Germans on the outskirts of Fromelles.
Recent excavation has uncovered
fragments of material and buttons, and
bones that are undergoing DNA analysis.
"I've registered online with the
Australian War Memorial as a relative
and I'm not sure what they are going to
do if they dig them all out," said Scott
Goldsmith.
It is believed Trooper Goldsmith's fate
was sealed when he joined the war effort
from interstate.
"Well the unfortunate part for him of
course [was] that he was serving with
the Victorians, and the 59th and the
60th Battalions were the ones that
actually attacked Fromelles, the Germans
in that area," said military historian,
Reg Watson.
Scott Goldsmith is hoping his relative's
final resting place will be marked, so
that the family can pay its respects.
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