World War I Hero Honoured After 94 Years

By Cara

Friday, April 23, 2010, 12:20

A first World War soldier, whose body was found in an unmarked grave, has finally received an honourable burial after his great-nephew's DNA was used to identify him.

Private Harry Dibben, 33, died at the battle of Fromelles, France, in 1916, when he was shot in the chest during an attack on a German trench.

Although his death was confirmed, his identity tags were removed and he was sent to London. His body was never recovered, as he was buried in a mass grave in Fromelles.

In 2007, archaeologists found the remains of 250 unidentified soldiers from an unmarked grave in Fromelles.

Dibben's great-nephew, Richard Dibben, who was researching his family's history, came to know of the exhumation and realised great-uncle Harry, who was a part of the 14th brigade of the 5th division of the Australian Imperial Force, could be among the unidentified soldiers.

After Richard provided his DNA to the Australian army, the result confirmed that Harry was one of the unknown men.

Now Private Harry Dibben, who emigrated to Australia in 1912 and was enlisted with the army in 1915 has been buried in a marked grave in a new cemetery in Fromelles, beside 75 other soldiers. Finally, after 94 years, the forgotten hero received an honourable burial.