Following the recent meeting of the Fromelles
Identification Panel, the formal six year programme to
identify the remains of 250 British and Australian soldiers
that were found in burial pits at Pheasant Wood near Fromelles
in France is drawing to a close with 144 men having been
identified. Henceforth, identification will take place
directly through the respective Ministries of Defence.
Throughout much of that period, the Group
has been working to secure the identification of Old Victorian,
Sgt Chester Church, through research and in locating family
members from the male line who are considered as being
suitable donors of DNA samples. Unfortunately for whatever
reasons, that effort has not proved successful, and Sgt
Chester Church has still not been identified.
However, research work is continuing, and with the advice
of the Australian Department of Defence, it is hoped that
that this will provide a successful outcome before long.
To achieve that, the Group would welcome
hearing from family members who are related to Chester's
mother, Susannah Louisa Flowers, her subsequent married
name after being widowed, formerly Church, and having
been born Flowers at Portsmouth in 1855. For those who
may be able to help, please contact us:
Contact
us
Australian
service records
Commonwealth
War Graves Commission Record
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