GRAVES IN FRANCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160796, 2 November 1920, Page 5

GRAVES IN FRANCE

PINE WORK BY AUSTRALIANS LOCATING- THEIR DEAD COMRADES. By Telegraph.—Frees Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received! November 2, 9 a.m. LONDON, October 31. Mi Grover, the Sydney Sun’s correspondent, has just completed a study cf Australian graves from Amiens to I'operinghe. He is impressed with-the magnificent devotion and spirit of the "Diggers,” mostly 1914 men,, many decorated, who stayed behind to engage in the work of locating and identifying thiair dead comrades, who otherwise would be among the missing. The task of exhumation is difficult and repulsive. The bodies are located by means of a steel rod, similar to the NeW Zealand gum digger’s rod. The actual extrication is careful and tedious. Where the discs are missing the workers scrutinise every portion of the clothing on the body,, noting even the bone formation and dental work. _ The magnitude of their achievements is astounding. A considerable number of missing have been found, twenty-five last week and about fifty weekly around the northern area of Poperinghe. Since Australia took control nine have been found in an area marked “cleared” by the British-garrison headquarters. The "Diggers” relate a striking story of the careless work of the British searchers. The particulars on. the cross disagreed with the departmental records, and exhumation revealed another man. A systematic search resulted in botween 60 and 70 ' Australians" graves being found wrongly marked. The French peasantry are giving great assistance ' without payment on the grounds ihat the Australians had done much for France, though feeling runs high against Britain because of her supposed leniency towards Germany.