Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium - Rededication Ceremony 

On Friday 27th January 2017 at 12.00h, a rededication ceremony was held for two Australian soldiers, Pte. Francois Eveillard, 5003, 32nd Bn, 1st Division AIF and Pte. Alexander Williamson, 691, 29th Bn, 1st  Division AIF.

 

Pte. Eveillard killed 20th October 1917 in the Ypres area and Pte. Williamson on 24th October 1917, they were buried near the spot where they died but at the moment of their reburial at Hooge Crater Cemetery the identification papers got lost and they both were marked as "Unknown". Previously both were commemorated by name on the Ieper Menin Gate Memorial as having no known grave.  In 2015 researchers from the Fallen Diggers organisation gathered enough evidence to confirm that the unknown soldiers were in fact Pte. Eveillard and Pte. Williamson.

 

The service was attended by local dignitaries', Australian military representatives and the Australian Ambassador in Belgium, Dr Higgie.

 

the epitaph of Pte Eveillard says:

"I once was lost

But now I am found

Mort pour la France

Et l'Australie"

 

the epitaph of Pte Williamson says:

"I once was lost

But now I am found"

  

Hooge Crater
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