"UNKNOWN SOLDIERS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19712, 11 August 1927, Page 10

"UNKNOWN SOLDIERS."

NEW ZEALANDERS IDENTIFIED BODIES- EXHUMED IN FRANCE. FALSE TEETH PROVIDE CLUES. $ [r.Y TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The great care exercised by the Imperial War Graves Commission in investigating all possible clues which might lead to the identification of unknown soldiers .buried in the scattered grayes of France has led to the discovery of the names of two more New Zealand soldiers whoso remains were located in Beaumont Harriet. This time identification lias been proved by the artificial teeth of the soldiers. A summary of the report of the Imperial War Graves Commission on the cases of the two soldiers was made available by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. R. F. Bollard, this evening. "In October last," says the report, "the commission advised that the bodies of two unknown New Zealand soldiers had been exhumed in the field at Beaumont Harnel and retained in an Australian military burial ground. On one body reburied a mutilated diary cover, market 'With the compliments of H. Stone and Son, men's clothing, boots and stationery, tobacconists and fancy goods stores, Methven,' was recovered, together with N.Z.R. shoulder titles, Ist Canterbury Regiment collar 'badges and a full upper set of artificial teeth. No personal effects were recovered from the other body reburied, but N.Z.R. titles and full upper and lower sets of artificial teeth were found. It was estimated that the height of both unknown men was approximately sft. 9in. "As it was not possible to effect identification from the records held by the Imperial War Graves Commission and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, the former requested that investigations should be made in New Zealand. A careful search of the records showed that two New Zealand soldiers, both of the Canterbury Regiment, who were killed in action on March 29, 1918, were reported as having been buried in the field at the map reference mentioned. Dental reports on the soldiers' medical files were obtained from the Defence Department, and after those reports were submitted to the Imperial Wat Graves Commission, the following communication was received through the High Commissioner:— " ' From the information you have supplied, in view of the fact that these two soldiers were reported to have been buried together at the map reference mentioned, and as their dental reports agree favourably with the details shown on the report rendered at the time of removal, it is believed the bodies now at rest in graves in the Australian burial ground are those of the soldiers you mention. Temporary wooden crosses bearing theii names and full regimental particulars have been erected, and in due time headstones will be provided.' " Mr. Bollard said he did not think it fitting to disclose the names of the two soldiers referred to, but it' would be of interest to know that the mother of one of the soldiers was still a resident oi Met liven.