| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens Harbonnieres Area, Villers-Bretonneux Area, Villers-Bretonneux |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL25221 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Stone |
| Maker |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Great Britain |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | 1920s |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Headstone for an 'Unknown' soldier : Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Description
Commonwealth War Graves Commission portland limestone headstone for an 'Unknown' soldier. Engraved into the face is an Australian Imperial Force (AIF) 'Rising Sun' badge and 'AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER THE GREAT WAR', a cross and 'KNOWN UNTO GOD'. Stencilled onto the bottom is 'P3 RG G4 ADEL.C 046'.
History / Summary
Original headstone for an unknown Australian soldier buried in the Adelaide Cemetery near Villers Bretonneux. This is the same cemetery that the unknown Australian soldier, buried in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial, came from. This headstone came from Plot III, Row G, Grave 4.
Adelaide Cemetery was established during the war and had about 90 graves by the end of 1918. In April to early May 1919, the men of the Australian Graves Detachment reburied hundreds of bodies in Adelaide Cemetery from smaller cemeteries in the area and isolated graves. Some extra bodies were reburied in the original part of the cemetery, which became Plot I, with further bodies being reburied in Plots II and III.