After an enormous ball-breaking exercise, we have landed hundreds of relatives for 207 of the missing soldiers.

The figure means that we have 63% of the 331 missing in action soldiers of the 61st Division soldiers covered.

Mel

That's a fantastic result Mel, well done!

Marc

Well done Mel,

Good luck with the rest of them, and hopefully some of these lads can be identified.

Steve.

Mel, that's outstanding

Well done

Cheers Andy

A great result and one that gives us hope of a cemetery with a good proportion of known graves. If this does happen, it will be a minor miracle. Well done to all those who have worked so hard on this.

To give someone back their identity is a great thing.

Well done. Hopefully this may lead to the ID of a number of soldiers, but in any case I am sure the relatives found to date will be able to provide more info, material and perhaps photo's of those who died. Is such material being collated etc perhaps for local archives, Fromelles museum etc?

Congratulations Mel ... WELL DONE

Bright Blessings
Sandra
AIF Fromelles Descendant Database

Good point.

That is fantastic Mel,

I am wondering if the database can be updated with columns listing those for whom a source of paternal DNA has been identified and those for whom a maternal line DNA source has been identified. ( as per my suggestion on the Rootschat website recently - a version of the same having been added as a tab delimited text file)

I think this would give a clearer indication than the 'completed' column on the fromelles.net listing for example and could extend to the British ones as well.

This would give those of us who are keen to help in the genealogical tracing task a clearer indication of which bits of this massive coalface to start digging on

For instance I have identified a potential source in the female line for George Honey of the AIF - but am unsure if anyone needs this information.

Best,

Tjapaltjarri

Hi Tjapaltjarri,

I think it best to explain that the Fromelles Descendant Database (fromelles.net) aims aren't specifically to locate DNA matches. Our primary aim is to source as much information about these chaps as possible with a view to eventually producing a memorial book containing biographies of each man. Hence the search for descendants - to try and locate photos, diaries, letters etc.

Of course, we keep the DNA testing in mind and assist the Australian Fromelles Project Group by passing along the details of any descendants we locate. Beyond that, the determination of who is a possible DNA match is left to the specialists.

We consider that because we are not experts in the field of genetics or DNA analysis, it would be improper of us to make these determinations and publish them on the website. We also feel that it would give people the incorrect perception about our primary goal.

I hope that has explained things a little better for you.

Cheers,
Tim L.

Hi There,

Having now joined Mel and his band of helpers, and had the chance to look at the enormous amount of material they have collected on "the tree", I am in awe of the effort involved.

Mel has passed on to me a list of sixty soldiers for whom no relative contact has been made and I have made a start on working on these family trees. Progress is limited so far, a weeks work, but I thought there might be some genealogically minded persons who would like to see what this partial list of "No Relative Contact yet" looks like, and may feel motivated to help .

Also those with more detailed knowledge of the Regimental records may be able to chip in with observations regarding the ones I have denoted with ***** as men for whom insufficient information about their dates of birth and families of origin exists even to start a tree.

Best wishes to all,

Tjapaltjarri

Can I just double check on Pte Harry Austin- He is not listed so have relatives definitely come forward? My reason for asking is that I may have a picture of him with Leonard Twamley- Harry may be the one standing in the photo. Matched him from Trevor Harkins web site. I think its a match any way.

Richard

Stirling work Mel and crew...keep up the good work. .

Tjapaltjarri
Looking through your list and can help with some original No's (pre 1917)
Info taken from The Time list of missing from R W dated 28 - 8 -1916 posted by Stebic9175 on the twainley thread.
CHATWIN L/CPL A 1639
CHRISTIE F 5496
FARREN J 2257
GRADY G A 5518
GRAY A 5624
TAYLOR W T 3019

Also BILLERS L/SGT W is listed as 2201 not 2291
hope this is of some use

Thanks James,

Yes every little bit helps with these last few soldiers, I have definite leads on a couple and strongly suggestive leads on a half dozen more but there are one or two that look very difficult indeed.

One of these is William Reginald Hobbs, b abt 1893, St James, Bristol. There are no BMD entries for that name there, nor for his sister Margaret E Hobbs (1891/2). His Parents, William Edward Hobbs and wife, Janet are on the 1901 and 1911 censuses with their children but no corresponding marriage can be found. The closest I can find is for a marriage between William Edward Martin and possibly a Janet Gilvear Mar qtr 1890, Bristol. This date corresponds with their number of years married on the 1911 census. So it looks as if the children may have been adopted, in which case genetic links may be impossible to trace and identification may rely on more detailed forensic evidence.

I will update my working list shortly.

Best,

Howard

I have written to three of the families on my list this week so some progress continues to be made, albeit slowly.

The updated list of the one's Mel gave me to look at can be found at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/t...html#msg2820048

Best,

Howard

Mel,

Excellent news, keep up the great work!

Best regards,

Ian.

I have now had positive reponses from 6 relatives for those on my list, so progress, if slow, is still possible.

Updated progress table at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/t...html#msg2845298

Just off the phone from further charming and positive responses. Even when I've got the wrong person, people are generally encouraging and in support of the project.

I have updated my progress list again this morning.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/t...html#msg2848490

Howard

Well done to all involved!
great work
julie

Hi Mel

I see from Ancestry that one of the men you are interested in is Pte. 4331 Benjamin Warr, Ox & Bucks LI. While I can't shed any light on any living relatives, from my research into the GW Soldiers of Fenny Stratford, I have copies from the local newspaper of the time of a photo of him and the announcement of his death. Please let me know if you would like copies of these.

Regards

IanC

Yes, we would! Thank you!

V.

Have you managed to contact relatives of Thomas Birchall, 2/7th Royal Warwickshire Regt (L/Cpl 5489/267143)?

I communicated with a relative of his some time ago when he was enquiring about Thomas's Great War service.

Ken