Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/243A/1 - 1916 - 1934 - Part 27

WSB/AWB.     A.R./AS/9/28.

Branch Office.

Imperial War Graves Commission.

AMENTIERES.

Major.Phillips.

Area Supt. No. 5.Area.

ALBERT.

------------------------

My dear Phillips.

Reference your VR/1072/A dated 5-2-25.

I attach herewith certain information given to me

by Pitman and Kohler which may be of some use to you.

It is difficult to reconcile Mr.Bean's sketch with

our Trench Maps, though I think the Map References given

on attached List are somewhere near the Sector in question.

Certain Graves Registration details are given in

the attached papers as it is hoped that Mr. Bean may be able,

thereby, to piece together sufficient facts to arrive at

definite conclusions.

I presume, however, that he will treat this as

being Confidential.

Mr. Bean's letter attached herewith.

Yours very sincerely,

A S Brown 

Armentieres.

25-3-25.

Area Superintendent

No 2 Area

Australian Remains

Found at Fromelles.

The attached is a List of Australian

Soldiers found at Fromelles

during the last 3 years.

-------

36.N.8.d. and 9.c and d. would appear to be the spot referred to by Mr.Bean	A considerable number of unknowns have also been found at 36.N.8.9. and 10. Some of these are, without doubt, Australians, but at the time of collecting it was impossible to determine whether they were Australians or not, in which case they were reburied as unknown British Soldiers. Some in Rue Potillon MM.C. Y Farm M.C. Pont-du- Hern. M.C. and a few in Cabaret Rouge B.C.
V.C. Corner Aust Cem  is situated at 36.N.9.d.1.6	V.C. Comm Aus Cem Contains same 410 unknown Australians. These were no doubt picked up from the ground in question.
Mostly 51st to 60th Bn →} a lot of 1st and 3rd Bdes also}	Rue du Bois M.C.} Rue Petillon M.C.} 'Y' Farm. M.C.       } Rue David M.C.   }    All
A number of unknown Austrn→	Contain Australians killed at Fromelles.
	About 3 years ago, when the ground at 36.N.8.9.10.14. & 15. was still in a rough state there was [?] surface indication of a very heavy death roll

and traces everywhere of bodies blown to

pieces. A great number must still

be in the ground and too deep to

be located by ploughing or probing.

 

E F Kohler

23.2.25.

Map.Ref.where found.	Particulars.No: Etc.	Cemetery of Reburial.
36.N.10.c.0.8.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	Cabaret Rouge, B.C.
36.N.23.a.40.15.	4 -do- located by German Records.	"         "
36.N.9.d.9.4.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"         "
36.N.9.d.8.5.	J.BROWN. 7/Bn.	"        "
36.N.9.d.3.8.	2948.R.F.HOLTON. 59/Bn.	RUE PETILLON.M.C.
36.n.9.B.78.00.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"         "
36.N.9.c.50.15.	GULLEN. 8[[?]]1.A.I.F.	"          "
36.N.9.c.50.15.	CLEMENTS. 22/Bn.A.I.F.	"          "
36.N.9.c.50.35.	(TWO)UNKNOW AUS SOLDIERS.	"         "
36.N.9.d.1.6.	SYDES. 59/A.I.F.	"         "
36.N.9.c.60.65.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"       "
36.N.9.c.65.70.	FRYER. 53/Bn. A.I.F.	"        "
36.N.9.c.4.4.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "
36.N.9.c.3.3.	(TWO)UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "
36.N.9.c.3.2.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"       "
36.N.9.c.2.1.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "
36.N.9.c.1.1.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "
36.N.9.c.00.15.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"       "
36.N.9.c.75.60.	RYAN.	"Y" Farm.M.C.
36.N.9.c.75.60.	WALTER. Peat. 53/Bn.	"        "
36.N.9.c.50.55.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "
36.n.9.C.3.3.	COUBROUGH. 29/Bn.	"        "
36.N.9.c.10.35.	WATSON.  A.I.F.	"      "
36.N.9.c.0.5.	4745.H.BRUN-----59/Bn.	"       "
36.N.9.c.0.5.	POWELL. 6/59.A.I.F.	"       "
36.N.8.d.95.70.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"       "
36.N.9.c.00.60.	1760.Pte.J.H.SWAIN. 54/Bn. A.I.F. 29.7.16.	PONT DU HEM M.C.
36.N.9.c.	11 UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIERS.	"          "
36.n.9.c.7.2.	3003.T. AITKIN. 58/Bn.A.I.F.	"          "
36.N.8.d.8.3.	W.L.LEECH.58/Bn.A.I.F.	"          "
36.N.8.d.9.3.	UNKNOWN AUS SOLDIER.	"        "

GLP/EWH.

Branch Office.

Imperial War Graves Commission

ALBERT.

(Somme).

FRANCE.

January 8th, 1929.

Dear Mr.Bean,

I have been somewhat late in replying

to your letter No:2517 of 29-9-28 (wrongly given

owing to typing error as 1927) , but the particulars

you ask for have necessitated a rather diligent

search in consequence of the data given by you.

 

Regarding the burials at MOUQUET

FARM, I am rather of the opinion that the bodies

buried, as shown in your sketch, refer to German

dead only, but I hope to give you further details

on this point in the near future.

 

With reference to the action at FROMELLES,

I am attaching information contained in a letter and

copy of the original Report which may assist you to

clear the points raised in your letter under reply.

 

I would take the opportunity of informing

you that I am vacating my present position in France

owing to my transfer to London Office and therefore I

would like you to note that any further communications

should be sent to me

c/o. The Imperial War Graves Commission,

82, Baker Street,

LONDON.W.

 

I hope you will allow me to offer, if

rather belated, to Mrs Bean and yourself, the best

wishes for the present year, and I sincerely trust that

your health has considerably improved.

 

Yours sincerely,

[[?]]

Area Superintendent.

No:5:Area.I.W.G.C.

 

C.E.W.Bean., Esq.

Official Historian.

Victoria Barracks.

SYDNEY.

N.S.W.