Unknown Soldiers In Photographs

The following photographs were sent to me to by a family member of John Harris. They have been placed on the November 5th 1916 website, on John Harris' personal page. They contain John Harris and other soldiers whom names are unknown - if you recognise a soldier please let me know.

John Harris is standing on the left-side of this photograph.

John Harris is standing on the right-side of this photograph.

John Harris is sitting on the left-side of this photograph. The solider standing behind him and the one sitting next to him are from the 1st battalion as they are wearing 1st battalion patches on their uniforms (top of left arms).

Trying to Get Government Support

The following is a brief overview of the steps myself and my father took to try and get government support:

 
My dad and myself decided that we would try and get the federal government to look at my research. Dad hoped that my research would be enough for the government to make them search the Gueudecourt area in the hope of locating our missing soldiers.

I wanted official researchers to look at my research and tell me if I had done the right thing and to say what I found was correct. Once this happened I would feel much happier about trying to locate family members and let them know what I had found.


Our first step was to contact our local federal member to ask him to forward my research onto the appropriate person in the government. Once we did this most of the correspondence was between him and the different officials my research was forwarded onto.


After more than a year, the federal government finally got back to me with their response. It was a mixed response for my dad and myself. Their response gave me the response I was looking for, but did not give dad the response he wanted. I have to admit that I have now begun wanting to know for sure the soldiers are still under the ground.

The government basically said that my research was good and that I was right - the soldiers were buried in March 1917 and never moved. The said that I did not have any new information and that I didn't have specific enough information for their March 1917 burial. Due to these two items they could not do anything further.

I still hope that some day they can help me confirm the soldiers are still there and/or help me erect a memorial to the soldiers.

100th Anniversary

I will be going to Gueudecourt for the 100th anniversary on November 5th 2016. If there is anyone who would like to join me at Gueudecourt and visit the field where the 1st Battalion soldiers are still buried meet me in Gueudecourt at the monument at around 10am (this time may change closer to the date).

95th Anniversary

I have just come back from visiting the Somme. On November 5th 2011, I stood amongst the Gueudecourt battlefield and where Thomas and the 1st battalion soldiers were killed 95 years earlier (and some are still buried there today). It was so quiet while I was standing there looking around.

It was good to be able to "play" the battle attacks on the land instead of looking at maps and trying to visualise it. I took photos of the battlefield and will be placing them on the website.

While visiting the Somme, I also went around to every cemetery and/or memorial which had the 73 soldiers and photographed their headstone or name. I will be placing these pictures on the individual soldier pages on my website (hopefully over the next week).

ANZAC Day 2011

I attended the local Piangil Service today and laid some hibiscus flowers (from my garden) with the burial co-ordinate written on the wrapping.

I am currently watching the Villers-Bretonneux drawn service. It has been a little surreal (maybe not the correct word) because while I am listening to /watching this service - knowing that Thomas and the other soldiers names are there (actually they just showed their part of the wall on TV) I am replying to two new sets of family members who has just contacted me.

November 5th 2011, Gueudecourt, France

95th Anniversary

This year on November 5th it will be 95 years since Thomas and the other 1st battalion soldiers were killed.

I had hoped to return to Gueudecourt (I was there with my dad in 2006 for the 90th anniversary) and go to where (I now know) Thomas and the others are buried (on the battlefield).

Well, with some planning I have booked and paid for my trip and I will be standing on/near their graves on November 5th this year. I have also organised (hopefully) to visit all the cemeteries and memorials where all the 1st battalion soldiers are buried or have their names commemorated. I will take photographs of their names or graves and place these onto the website on the individual soldier's pages.

Website FINISHED!

This is to say that I have finally finished the website. I will in the future be updating it with photographs of the soldiers as family members contact me and hopefully have a picture of their soldier.
I will also update the website with any new information/maps/pictures I come across.