Unknown Australian soldiers identified decades after deaths in action
The soldiers died on the same day, 24 years apart. The first fell in Europe towards the end of World War I and the second in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.
Two Australian soldiers, Private Archibald Blue Hanley and Lieutenant Hercules William Crawford, have been identified decades after their deaths in combat. Both men had been buried in graves marked "Unknown Australian," with their families unaware of their fates for more than a century and a quarter, respectively. Their identities were confirmed through a thorough investigation by the Australian Army's Unrecovered War Casualties team, in collaboration with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Office of Australian War Graves.
Headstones featuring their names, ranks, and unit details will be installed at their graves to honor their service and sacrifice. Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh emphasized the ongoing commitment to remembering Australia's wartime missing, while Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle highlighted the significance of providing answers to the families of these soldiers, underscoring the nation's dedication to accounting for its missing personnel regardless of the passage of time.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
