Diggers Killed in WW2 PNG identified

Alfacentori · 11-12-2009, 04:48 AM

Diggers killed in PNG identified

The Federal Government says the remains of two Australian solders killed in Papua New Guinea in World War II have been identified.
The remains of Lieutenant Talbot Logan and Lance Sergeant James Wheeler will be interred at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby in December.
Lieutenant Logan was killed in January 1943 and Lance Sergeant Wheeler was killed in December 1942.
Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet says it is pleasing to have identified the servicemen after a considerable amount of time.
He says Lance Sergeant Wheeler's remains had been held at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby for a number of years.
A review is underway into why it has taken so long to identify the remains.
"It's not something that it's appropriate for me to comment on extensively, other than to say that the Government and Defence are conducting a review to identify exactly why there was such a period of time involved," he said.
"But it's taken over the last year or so to be able to do the identification that's been achieved."
Mr Combet says two other sets of remains thought to be Australian soldiers have also been recovered, but not identified.
"The identification work, that's been rather painstaking for almost a year, has been unable to result in identification of the two other sets of remains," he said.
"[So] they will be interred in the Bomana War Cemetery with a headstone saying 'Known unto God'."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...12/2741248.htm

Rest easy lads

Alfa

rgjbloke · 11-12-2009, 05:52 AM

Rest in peace Soldiers.

goat89 · 11-12-2009, 12:32 PM

RIP Soldiers. Welcome home.

shortyirish12 · 11-12-2009, 02:49 PM

This might sound a bit crazy.... but I always thought, if a person knew they had a missing relative in any of the wars, and they felt inclined to offer some DNA to the government to help possibly indentify a lost soldier..... wouldn't it be a good idea to have a data base or something that they could keep track of this, in hopes they could use it? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense getns, I am still feeling the effects of yesterday's celebrations at the local legion.

shorty

Connaught Ranger · 11-12-2009, 03:11 PM

May they + Rest In Peace +

DNA only works

a. if its possible to get a DNA sample from the remains.

b. if the relatives give DNA samples for comparison.

c. if there are any relatives alive,

remember DNA sampling is a relatively new science.

11-12-2009, 04:48 AM	#1
Alfacentori Reported.....For not reporting T3ngu sooner Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Resident Misanthrope Posts: 2,088	Diggers Killed in WW2 PNG identified Diggers killed in PNG identified Related Story: Australia remembers war fallen Related Story: Hundreds attend Remembrance Day service Related Story: Defence department slashes support services The Federal Government says the remains of two Australian solders killed in Papua New Guinea in World War II have been identified. The remains of Lieutenant Talbot Logan and Lance Sergeant James Wheeler will be interred at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby in December. Lieutenant Logan was killed in January 1943 and Lance Sergeant Wheeler was killed in December 1942. Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet says it is pleasing to have identified the servicemen after a considerable amount of time. He says Lance Sergeant Wheeler's remains had been held at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby for a number of years. A review is underway into why it has taken so long to identify the remains. "It's not something that it's appropriate for me to comment on extensively, other than to say that the Government and Defence are conducting a review to identify exactly why there was such a period of time involved," he said. "But it's taken over the last year or so to be able to do the identification that's been achieved." Mr Combet says two other sets of remains thought to be Australian soldiers have also been recovered, but not identified. "The identification work, that's been rather painstaking for almost a year, has been unable to result in identification of the two other sets of remains," he said. "[So] they will be interred in the Bomana War Cemetery with a headstone saying 'Known unto God'." http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...12/2741248.htm Rest easy lads Alfa

11-12-2009, 05:52 AM	#2
rgjbloke Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West London Posts: 1,047	Rest in peace Soldiers.

11-12-2009, 12:32 PM	#3
goat89 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Republic of Singapore, but in Canada studying Posts: 6,331	RIP Soldiers. Welcome home.

11-12-2009, 02:49 PM	#4
shortyirish12 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada, a base in Posts: 196	This might sound a bit crazy.... but I always thought, if a person knew they had a missing relative in any of the wars, and they felt inclined to offer some DNA to the government to help possibly indentify a lost soldier..... wouldn't it be a good idea to have a data base or something that they could keep track of this, in hopes they could use it? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense getns, I am still feeling the effects of yesterday's celebrations at the local legion. shorty

11-12-2009, 03:11 PM	#5
Connaught Ranger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Garlic Fields of Transylvania, Romania. Age: 51 Posts: 6,901	May they + Rest In Peace + DNA only works a. if its possible to get a DNA sample from the remains. b. if the relatives give DNA samples for comparison. c. if there are any relatives alive, remember DNA sampling is a relatively new science.