GRAVES ON GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 172, 15 April 1919, Page 6

GRAVES ON GALLIPOLI

A NUMBER IDENTIFIED. Apart from the Graves Registration Unit which visited Gallipoli at tie beginning of this year, some work of a similar nature was undertaken bj. tne Canterbury Mounted Rifles j which has submitted a detal ¥,Jf r £ j.j of its discoveries, lhis / olvrar sl to New Zealand, and. the Defence Denartment will send to the next-of-kin of any soldiers whose graves have been identified nil particulars regarding location which this report contains. A certain number of the graves had ti be reported as "unknown, but where there was definite information the exact location was noted.with compass bearin?s and references to landmarks. One working party attended to the fencing ol craves wherever this could be done, and a slip of paper was placed m a siieucase or other receptacle, with all details of identification 011 each gravo iounri. A copy of the report was handed to tM Graves Registration Unit to assist them in their more comprehensive ■>P er *t ,ons - Identification of graves, states the )> rort. is difficult owing to the lapse of time, and in some isolated cases to desecration bv marauders, though there is nothing to indicate this has been made at. the instigation of the authorities. The work of refortification of ihe Peninsula by the Turkish fores r.fter the evacuation necessitated tne building of roads, trenches, gun positions, and extensive wiring of all positions This. undoubtedly obliterated the traces of many burial places, but as far fis can be ascertained, it was. purely a work of military necessity.