Vets to search for truth

A TEAM of British and Australian war veterans will lead an archaeological expedition in France next year in what will be the first major dig of the Battle of Bullecourt in almost 100 years.

The move aims to solve the mystery of the fate of a dozen British tanks that were deployed to support the 1917 assault of the German line by the Australian 4th Division, but disappeared leading to the slaughter of the Diggers in one of the biggest defeats of the Great War.

News Corp Australia has learned the French government has granted the British Ministry of Defence at extraordinary permit to conduct an exploratory survey next month with further access to be sought for a full dig to take place in early 2017.

Such formal digs are rare given the sensitivities of upsetting locals. but moreover the likelihood of unearthing human remains, with tens of thousands of soldiers having no known grave. The project stems from an award-winning program in the UK providing injured military personnel a chance to volunteer, learn a new skill in a military-style unit and operation.

British Ministry of Defence senior archaeologist Richard Osgood, whose grandfather fought for the AIF in WW1, said Australian historian Charles Bean recorded roughly where the tanks were and pieces were in various museums, but their precise fate was largely unknown.

“We definitely have permission from the French government, the mayor and landowner to do the survey ... and should give us some really good pointers then hopefully next year we go in in the centenary period with Aussie and British vets,” Mr Osgood said.

The First Battle of Bullecourt on April 11 1917, was a disaster with the tanks failing to reach the German lines and without artillery support, Australian troops were slaughtered with more than 3000 casualties.