UXO Hampers the Recovery Efforts of Remains

Fromelles, France Almost 92 years ago a fierce battle between the Allies and the Germans occurred in Fromelles, France where thousands of Allied troops were killed over a two day period. Following the bloody battle, the Germans reportedly dug eight pits to bury the dead Allied soldiers and battlefield debris.

An effort is currently underway to recover the remains of an estimated 170 Australian troops so they can be relocated to a military cemetery and given a proper military funeral. The recovery effort has been hampered however by the potential for UXO. To manage the potential explosives safety risks posed by UXO, the recovery teams are supported by UXO technicians with metal detectors to screen for UXO.

To date no UXO have been located only metallic debris, buttons and belt buckles. Discussions are underway to determine what to do with the remains of British soldiers (estimated at 400) recovered during the process. The recovery effort is estimated to last for two weeks.