125 soldiers uncovered in WWI trench
AROUND 125 First World War soldiers have been discovered entombed in a perfectly preserved German trench system.
The men were German, British, French and South African, some as young as 15. Most were found where they fell during the conflict.
Other remains were found in mass graves alongside religious artefacts placed by comrades.
The trench fortification, on a hill in the village of Wijtschate, near Ypres in Flanders, Belgium, had remained undisturbed since the end of the war.
The network on the ridge, known to the Allies as Hill 80, was found in 2015 when archaeologists were asked to examine a field earmarked for a housing development.
The excavation project, called Dig Hill 80, started this spring after a crowdfunding campaign raised over £150,000. TV historian Dan Snow and comic and military enthusiast Al Murray are involved.
All of the bodies have now been recovered.
Artefacts found include helmets, rifles, search lights, cooking utensils, coffee pots, watches, cap badges, toothbrushes and a bottle of HP sauce.
The relevant authorities, such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, have been notified of the finds and the difficult task of identifying the dead has begun.
Professor Peter Doyle, lead archaeologist, said: “When you look at these mass graves and these young men, they had a mother and father who missed them. Yet they have never been given peace.
“Now every one has the chance of being given a respectful burial with full military honours.”