A very interesting & informative Lecture by Lambis Englezos AM on the Lost Diggers of Fromelles today (19 Feb 2026) at Gaythorne RSL.Approx 60 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
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Most of the approximately 60 people present were aware of the immense amount of work done by Lambis in the search for the missing bodies of Australian Diggers which commenced just short of a century after the battle of Fromelles which took place on 19th July 2016. 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 Norcombe 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 reorganisation, retraining, in Egypt after 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.
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 his research, through to his continued fights with officialdom both in Australia and in Britain through to the digging which got underway in 2007 and 2008. Some of this has been previously covered in articles on this website
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 other 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.
Lambis opening remarks – Picture showing Original Cemetery At VC Corner where 411 diggers were
Buried After The Battle
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