An operation to recover and identify the remains of about 400 British and Australian soldiers killed during a WWI battle in Northern France is to begin. It follows the discovery of several unmarked mass graves in a field on the outskirts of the village of Fromelles.
The British and Australian authorities have published the names of the soldiers they expect to find. They have asked relatives for DNA to help identify the soldiers, who will be re-buried in a new military cemetery.
You can read more on the BBC News web site at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8032908.stm.
Like many, I have a granduncle who was presumed killed in action during World War I, his body never recovered. I wonder if anyone has considered a sort of multi-national DNA database where we could "file" our DNA test (my dad's DNA in my case) results and that could then be consulted by researchers/archeologists as and when any remains are unearthed. I know that I and my family would like to see uncle Hervey's remains found, identified and given a proper burial.
Posted by: Liza | May 06, 2009 at 11:42 AM