A small, impassioned group known as the Unidentified War Casualties (UWC) is out to change that. They are uncovering the graves of Australia’s soldiers long missing since World War I and II. Led by Major Cameron Clarke, the UWC has spent over a decade investigating headstones and human remains to bring closure to families longing to find their lost relatives. Over 30,000 Australian soldiers are still not accounted for. This work includes the thousands buried in unmarked graves and listed as unknown soldiers, which makes the team’s work all that more important and more difficult.
During this impressive campaign, Major Clarke’s team has enriched the memory of an estimated 45 soldiers thanks to the careful study of headstone records. Using DNA sequencing of human remains, they were able to identify 12 soldiers. This remarkable accomplishment testifies to their commitment to cracking this compelling enigma. Their story and continued work hits home with families like Jan McAlpin and Ken Murphy. Collectively, they’re working with the team to reconnect with their grizzled great-uncles, silenced in the horrors of war.
Families Seeking Closure
Jan McAlpin, originally from Chatsworth Island in New South Wales, is taking a walkabout. Her great-uncle, Arnold Carr, was declared dead, but she is determined to find him. Carr was to be killed in 1917 at Zonnebeke. His service record tells us he was “getting buried” with four or five map grid locations. It was McAlpin who decided to cross-reference Carr’s letters, verifying his death at Zonnebeke.
All that was left was Uncle Arnold’s recorded date of birth, and date of death, with mention of being killed in action. And, you know, that didn’t feel good for me,” she noted. Her drive is emblematic of so many families who have fought to learn the history behind their loved ones lost.
McAlpin expressed her hopes for closure, stating, “His story would be complete if we found him and put him to rest properly.” Such emotional weight to this quest only further emphasizes the significance and impact of Major Clarke’s work. For families who are searching for answers, it can be life-changing.
The Role of Technology in Identification
To assist in their quest for justice, Major Clarke’s team uses cutting edge techniques such as DNA analysis, forensic anthropology and forensic dentistry. To sample the former, for example, they’re currently using a DNA sample taken from a watch once owned by Ken Murphy’s great-uncle, Stanley Mortimer. Mortimer was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 at the young age of 25 years old.
Major Clarke explained the significance of DNA in their work: “When a family offers DNA, it puts the team on the front foot.” He warned even though artefacts can yield strong circumstantial evidence, they do not offer conclusive proof of identity.
You cannot know a person’s identity just on an artefact, he said. We’d argue that it is an excellent piece of circumstantial evidence. This new technology combined with other traditional research methods supercharges their capacity to positively identify someone. Yet, the process is time-consuming and cumbersome.
The Ongoing Search for Missing Soldiers
The UWC concentrates on strategic frontline the battlefields. Perhaps Australia’s most bloody and brutal battleground in World War I, Bullecourt laid the lives of over 40,000 Australian soldiers to rest. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is deeply involved in finding any remains that are likely to belong to an Australian soldier. Once they’ve determined that, they pass the case along to Major Clarke’s team for further investigation.
“Often deceased soldiers were placed into a big shell hole in the heat of a battle because they didn’t have time, or it was too dangerous, to dig a grave,” Major Clarke explained. This practice increases their difficulty level, as numerous soldiers were buried in a hurry with no identifying information.
Today, an estimated 25,000 of those soldiers are thought to be missing from the European Western Front of World War I. There are about 8,000 lost in areas like Papua New Guinea and Singapore from World War II. As interest in these historical figures grows among descendants, Major Clarke noted, “As time goes by, the admiration for Anzacs grows and more descendants are taking an interest to find out what happened to their family members.”
