Six more Fromelles soldiers identified

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.

Newly identified soldiers are Second Lieutenant James Benson, Private Justin Hercules Breguet, Private Clifton Sydney Brindal, Private Sidney Broom, Private William Burke and Private Robert Thomas Maudsley.

Identification was facilitated by the Australian Army’s Unrecovered War Casualties Fromelles project team and brings the total number of named Australians to 150.

It contributes another important piece to the history of the Army in the Great War.

Deputy Chief of Army Major General Rick Burr said the identification honoured the service and memory of our soldiers.

“The Battle of Fromelles is an important part of our Army’s history and our Nation’s history, and it is a story that we want to complete,” Major General Burr said.

“We have been fortunate to have the interest and cooperation of the Australian community to connect 150 of the soldiers lost at Fromelles with their descendants.

“Together with the relatives of those who fought at Fromelles, we hope to collect more information to identify the 100 soldiers who remain unknown.

“The assistance of the community helps us to commemorate our soldiers in the most respectful way, while also connecting current generations of Australians with their military heritage.”

The Battle of Fromelles was the first major battle fought by the Australian Imperial Force in France and is recognised as one of the worst periods in Australia’s military history as the 5th Australian Division suffered more than 5500 casualties (killed and wounded).

The identification of soldiers killed has been made possible by the Fromelles Project team establishing a register of more than 3000 relatives and descendants of Australian soldiers killed at Fromelles.

 

 

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.

Private Justin Hercules Breguet

Justin Hercules Breguet was born in Geelong, Victoria in 1897. He was single, employed as a bread carter, and living in Geelong West. Private Breguet enlisted in the Australian Army on 16 July 1915 and was attached to the 29th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement.

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 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 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 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 A72 Beltana. 

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 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.

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