The service to mark the 93rd anniversary of the 1916 action will take place at Fromelles on Sunday 19th July. Apologies for the late publication of this notice, but I have only just had the details confirmed.

Guests are asked to convene at the Australian Memorial Park at 10.15 hours for 10.30 hours (local time). The service will continue at VC Corner Cemetery before moving on to Pheasant Wood.

A “garden party” will follow at La Salle du Temps Libre (village hall) in Fromelles at approximately midday.

V.

Looking forward to the ceremony Victoria. Just had my invitation. Bringing my parents this year as we are having lunch with some of the locals after the appretiffs in the hall.

Are you doing another exhibition? Need any help?

Looking forward to meeting you again.

Best wishes

Liz

I have never been able to make it over for the 19th / 20th July, again this year work prevents me once more....However, I will be visiting the area around August 8th. Hope to meet with Martial & Lambis at some point that day. Have the kettle on Liz, all being well we may drop in for a cuppa !

Col

Hi Vic,
I have received an invitation and Roz and myself will be attending. Does anyone know why the ceremony is so early this year?

Mike B

Perhaps the French want to keep the afternoon free to watch the Tour de France ??!!!

Hi Mike and Liz.

You are both honoured to have received an invitation. Lord Faulkner wasn’t so lucky and (disgracefully) neither was Peter Barton. I’m the British Representative for the Association – and I didn’t receive an invitation either! However, I’ve told Martial that I shall be attending and that I shall be laying a floral tribute on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group at both the Memorial Park and Pheasant Wood. That gave him something to think about, but he’s now refusing to answer my e-mails.

Liz, the idea was that we would be staging another exhibition. It was requested by the Mayor following the success of the 9th May. However, despite repeated requests from me as to when and where, he finally replied a week ago (only after some intervention from another interested party) to inform me that he had changed his mind. C’est la vie ……….

I’ll drop you both a line.

V.

Colin, will Lambis be there in August? He phoned me on Thursday from Oz, but didn’t mention being back in Fromelles before July next year.

V.

Apparently it is more convenient for the locals.

V.

my mistake....and I was looking forward to catching up with him... : (

Hi Victoria, I am William Edmund Gray's grandson. How can I help?

Hello JCG

Welcome to the GWF - I'm sure you'll have many happy hours ahead of you.

This is nothing to do directly with Fromelles but I wonder whether you might have a photograph of your grandfather and any details that you would be willing to share? You will see there is a Pte William Gray 1804 on our website (address below) whose name is on the War Memorial at High Wycombe Hospital. If this is your grandfather, any family details that you are able to pass on would be very helpful.

Kind regards
June

Hello June,

I am sorry to disappoint you but I hope that Jonathan (JGG) is the grandson of 2/Lieut William Edmund Gray M.C. 2nd Rifle Brigade who survived the war. Your William Gray is I believe 1804 Pte William Gray, 2nd/1st Bucks Bn, killed in action at Fromelles on 19/07/1916

Marc

Hello Jonathan,

Just to bring to your attention I have posted a response in the following thread so that I may arrange for Victoria to contact you.

Kind regards
Marc

Some photographs from the 19th July service at Fromelles....

Australian Memorial Park

Liz M. was amongst those who laid a wreath at the Memorial Park.

Victoria, as British Representative of the Association Fromelles - Weppes - Terre de Mémoire 14-18, also laid a wreath at the Memorial Park.

The RBL Somme Branch and Ieper Branch were also in attendance.

Their attendance was much appreciated.

A further shot from the Memorial Park service.

On to the service at VC Corner where Mike B. (Guzzi T3) read the Ode.

Under a leaden sky the Last Post was sounded by buglers from the Last Post Association.

At Pheasant Wood we were allowed onto the site for a brief, albeit cramped, service.

Victoria laid a wreath here on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group and also read the ode during the service. Unfortunately, I was not able to capture a photograph of the wreath laying.

Marc

Excellent photos

Thank You

Peter

Work at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery appears to be well underway with the site screened off and decorated by murals.

A number of the murals have been designed by local school children.

And while reading the information screens around the site, please take the time to remember 358 Private Arthur Joseph Weir, 29th Battalion AIF - a 26 year old farmer from Nhill, Victoria and 882 Private Robert Fenwick, 30th Battalion - a miner from Helensburgh, NSW who were both killed in action at Fromelles and believed to be buried at Pheasant Wood.

Their images are the ones depicted on the screen in the photo above (Fenwick's is out of shot to the right).

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(Weir on left and Fenwick on right)

Cheers,
Tim L.

Below is the right hand side of the screen featuring Robert Fenwick.

Thanks Marc

Tim L.

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All Photos taken by self this week at Fromelles.

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Wow, I am so excited about this new cemetery. What a fine way to confirm that we are picking up the torch of Remembrance from Harry, Henry and co.

We will remember them - in the most tangible way and hopefully with new named graves.