GRIFFIN AND UK MINISTER JONES MEET IN LONDON
Following the 90th anniversary Remembrance Day services, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin travelled to London to meet with his British counterpart, the new Under Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP.
The two Ministers discussed cooperation on key activities to commemorate their shared wartime history on the Western Front.
“I briefed Mr Jones on our work to raise awareness of Australians on the Western Front,” Mr Griffin said.
“Mr Jones and I also discussed our nations’ cooperation on commemoration at significant sites, such as Fromelles in France, where a new cemetery will be created for 400 British and Australian soldiers whose remains were recently located.”
This will be the first official cemetery to be built in more than fifty years, and the first since 1920 to be built for First World War soldiers.
“Our two countries’ soldiers fought and died together so it is appropriate that they rest in peace together,” Mr Griffin said.
“I am pleased that our governments will work collaboratively using technology such as DNA testing, to attempt to give each one of the Fromelles soldiers a named grave.”
Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.
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