Families’ fury at wind farm on war grave

THE families of thousands of British and Australian soldiers killed on a First World War battlefield in France are fighting plans to put a wind farm there.

In Australia, ministers are being urged to ask French president Emmanuel Macron to stop the proposal by energy firm Engie Green.

Nearly 9,000 British troops and 10,000 Australians were killed, captured or wounded around the village of Bullecourt in north-east France in 1917. It is believed the remains of up to 4,000 soldiers still lie there.

The wind farm, with seven turbines, would be around 650 yards from a memorial.

Dr Brendan Nelson, of the Australian War Memorial, said: ‘Bullecourt is one of the most significant sites of Australian sacrifice. It’s a war grave.’

A local farmer said: ‘At the first stroke of the spade, they’ll come across bodies.’ Engie Green say the choice of site will ensure ‘the impact to landscape and the memorial were minimal’.