UNKNOWN SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 11

UNKNOWN SOLDIERS.

BURIED AT FLERS. NEW ZEAL.ANDERS IDENTIFIED FROM AUCKLAND REGIMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Publication of the photograph of a small gold medal recovered from the remains of an unknown soldier in I? ranee, has led to the probable identification of three New Zealanders who fell in action at Flers in 1916. Mrs. Taylor, of Hamilton, has advised the \Yar Graves Department that the medal in question was won by her and she gave it to Lance-Corporal Fergus Ferguson, a friend of her family, on his embarking for service overseas. After it was learned that in all probability one of the bodies was that of Ferguson it was considered that, if thorough search of the records showed that two other members only of the Second Auckland Regiment were found to have been buried at exactly the same map reference, it would establish the identification of the whole three. Search was made, and this disclosed that the only other soldiers buried at exactly the same spot were Private E. J. Mac Donald (Auckland Regiment), killed in action September 20, 1916, and Private A. Sherman, killed in action September 19, 1916. As a badge of the 15th Company Auckland Regiment was found on one of the bodies, it would appear that the remains are those of Privates Sherman and MacDonald. The whole of the particulars gathered are being immediately forwarded to the War Graves Commission, said Sir Maui Pomare to-day, and if the Commission finds that the three bodies were located at. the map reference, identification will be established.