A very interesting & informative Lecture by Lambis Englezos AM on the Lost Diggers of Fromelles today (19 Feb 2026) at Gaythorne RSL.Approx 100 people attended including a number of relatives of Diggers who were in the Battle. One highlight was former Governor General, Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, reading a letter to Military Authorities by Mrs J Alice Goulding, seeking information of her missing (for 3 yrs) son, John Joseph Goulding of 31st Battalion. See photo with image of Grieving Mother statue.

Lambis Englezos AM Delivering Lecture on the Search for The Missing Diggers

–

Many of the approximately 100 people present in the room, plus roughly 40 others connected via Zoom streaming sessions, were aware of the immense amount of work done by Lambis. His efforts in the search for the missing bodies of Australian Diggers are legendary. It has been an ongoing work over many decades to restore dignity to the men who fought and died in the WW1 battle of Fromelles which took place on 19th July 1916. Fromelles is in Northern France (approx 15km south of the Belgian Border).

Lambis was invited by the Military Historical Society of Australia (Queensland Division) who arranged for the Lecture to take place at the Gaythorne RSL Lecture Theatre. After the introductory comments by the local Acting President of the Military Historical Society Lambis was introduced by Military History Professor Vic Nurcombe who has also done considerable research on the Australian participation in WW1.

In an early part of his Lecture Lambis stressed that his background was not in the Military but rather as a Teacher of Art in Melbourne. However ha became interested in the battle of Fromelles, known as the, “worst 24 hours in Australian history”, because of its horrendous 5,000 casualties.

The battle was the first commitment of Australian units on the western front after the reorganization, retraining, in Egypt subsequent to the withdrawal from Gallipoli at the end of 1915.  It was poorly planned by British General Hacking who threw the Australian 5th Div (Comd by Gen Mackay) into  the line in less than a week against German defences that had been constructed and consolidated over many months. Involved were the 8th, 14th and 15 Brigades. Of specific interest to members of the 31st Battalion Association our Bn was part of the 8th Bde. The CO 31st Bn was LTCOL Frederick Toll.

The search by Lambis started as a result of his connection with veterans of the Battle of Fromelles. They refered to themselves at the “19th July Men” The story of his discussion with veteran Bill Boyce in Sept 1992 including an aerial photo of the battlefield is recorded on this website.     Link To Discussion With Bill Boyce.

Lambis provided a timeline of events that took place from the time of his research of the battle, his analysis of the air photos at the time and the identification of the mass grave trenches. His subsequent questioning as to why this site had never been investigated by the Commonwealth Graves Commission led to increased publicity and interest by descendents of families of these diggers.

Ongoing battles with officialdom both in Australia and in Britain slowed down the process, however continued research with German authorities in 2007 led to the discovery of a German burial Order in Munich dated July 1916 referring to the burial of soldiers adjacent to Pheasant Wood. In an initial ground survey of the site a medal (Alberton Shire (Victoria) Medal) was found which belonged to  Harry Willis of the 31st Battalion. (A picture of the Alberton Shire Medal and a brief mention of Harry Willis can be found here. Link To Picture of Alberton Shire Medal).This was the clincher that convinced authorities that indeed Australian Diggers were buried there. Finally digging was approved and got underway in 2007 continuing through to 2009.

Lambis referred to the generosity of Mme Marie Paule Demassiet the owner of the land on which the bodies of the diggers had been buried and who had also lost one of her ancestors in WW1. Not only did she allow the investigatory dig to begin but subsequently donated the section of land to Australia. Sadly Mme Demassiet passed away and in one of the strange co-incidences which occurred during this search she was buried on 19th July 2021, the anniversary of the battle.

Link To The Story of Mme Demassiet

An ongoing, highly successful, effort to identify the missing diggers and the establishment of the new Pheasant Wood Cemetery took place in 2010, just six years prior to the centenary of the Battle. The bodies missing 250 bodies were re-interred in the new cemetery and gravestones are marked as identifications are made. Some of this has been previously covered in articles on this website. Many members of the 31st Battalion Association visited the Battlefield for the 19th Jul 2016 centenary

Link to Previous Article on the Search for the Missing 250 Diggers

Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, reading a letter to Military Authorities by Mrs J Alice Goulding,

seeking information of her missing (for 3 yrs after Battle of Fromelles) son, 

John Joseph Goulding of 31st Battalion.

Link To Letter from Grieving Mother on This website

Lambis finished his lecture by referring to people and groups such as the Military Historical Society and the Australian Remembrance Army who are continuing to do fine work in ensuring that Our Diggers in Cemeteries all over Australia are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. He specifically named the late LTCOL Jim Bourke MG AM Phd who did so much for the repatriation of the missing diggers from the Vietnam War. Many 31Bn Association Members foot remember Jim’s excellent efforts as Adjutant of 31 Battalion in the early 1970s.

–

Lest We Forget

Lambis opening remarks – Picture showing Original Cemetery At VC Corner where 411 diggers were

Buried After The Battle

–

Pheasant Wood Cemetery – Re-interment of the Missing 250

Lambis with Descendents of Battle of Fromelles Diggers

–

Lambis with Audience – Asking Questions At Conclusion of Lecture

–

Foot Note:

Of all the Battalions in the Battle of Fromelles the 31st Battalion is the only Battalion which is still in existence.

It is currently serving as The 31st/42nd Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment  

Part of 11th Australian Infantry Brigade.

—