AUSTRALIAN GRAYES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN GRAYES

A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE. j (United Service Telegrams). ; I LONDON, Oct. 31. ' Grover, a “Sun” correspondent, lias just completed a study of Australian graves from Amiens to Uoperinghe. lie is impressed with the magnificent devotion and spirit of a handful of Diggers, mostly 1914 men; many decorated, who stayed behind to engage in the work of locating and identifying their dead comrades ,who othenyise would be mis. sing. The task of exhumation is difficult and repulsive. The. bodies arc loeated by means of a stijel rod similar to a. Now Zealand gum digger. The actual extrication ,is careful and tedious. Where disck arc missing, the workers scrutinise every portion of the clothing on the body, noting even hone formation and dental work. The magnitude of their achievements is astounding. A considerable number of missing were found, +wcnty-five last worn nmj about fifty we ..sly around the northern

area of Popermglie. Since A os! "aim look control .nine have been found in an area marked cleared by the British garrison headquarters, l'he Diggers relate a striking stoiiy of the careless work, of British searchers. Particulars on a cross disagreed with the departmental records, and an exhumation revealed another man. A systematic search resulted in between GO and 70 Australian graves being found, wrongly marked. French peasantry are giving great assistance, without payment, on the grounds that Australia has done much for France, though feeling runs high against Britain because of her supposed leniency towards Germany.