Madam – Some of your readers may have seen the documentary The Lost Battalions, shown recently on Channel 4, which featured the discovery in 2008 of a mass grave of 250 soldiers who fell during the first World War in the battle of Fromelles, July 19th/20th, 1916.
Since the initial discovery of the grave, the The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has been trying to identify each soldier. After 94 years, many may only be confirmed through DNA matching; accordingly, the relatives of those who died at Fromelles are being sought out in order to assist in the matter.
Among the soldiers recently interred in the new Pheasant Wood Cemetery on the outskirts of Fromelles in northern France, is believed to be that of a soldier of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Pte William Kavanagh (35) Regimental No. 23042, ‘A’ Company, 9th Battalion, KIA 20/7/1916. He was the husband of Mary Kavanagh, of 5 Tyrone Place, Golden Bridge, Inchicore, Dublin. William was 35 years old when he was killed.
The CWGC are anxious to contact any living relatives of Pte William Kavanagh; accordingly, I would earnestly appeal to anyone who can help in this matter to contact them at www.CWGC.org. “Let Erin Remember”. – Yours, etc,
