The Australian Army has laid to rest an unknown Australian World War I soldier with a military funeral today at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnebeke, Belgium.
Believed to have fought in the Battle of Menin Road in 1917, the unknown soldier's remains were discovered in 2017 by archaeologists near Zonnebeke and were identified as Australian.
As part of Army's ongoing commitment to remember our fallen soldiers, the unknown soldier was honoured with today's military funeral and burial, and a dedicated Last Post Ceremony yesterday at the Menin Gate.
The funeral was supported by a group of Army members recently awarded the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award for their embodiment of Army values. The group is representing Army for a series of ceremonial activities at war cemeteries in France and Belgium throughout July.
Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, honoured the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the World War I and the importance of Army's work to honour our military's past.
"Australian Army's Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award recipients are our future leaders who personify compassionate and ethical soldering," Lieutenant General Stuart said.
"Today's funeral is a reminder that we all owe a debt of gratitude to those who have served our nation, and it is a genuine and rare honour for our serving soldiers to lay to rest this unknown soldier," he said.
"Army's commitment to identifying our fallen soldiers is an important duty, and our ongoing work continues to identify unknown World War I soldiers and bring peace to their families."
The Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, Major General Matthew Hall, attended the funeral and said it was an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice of our World War I soldiers.
"Today was a very special opportunity to reflect on Australia's history and sacrifice in this region, and a reminder of our long and continuing role in partnering with Europe to provide global security," Major General Hall said.
"As we fought alongside our European partners during World War I, we continue to stand by them today, honouring our fallen soldiers 105 years on."
The Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award is awarded annually to junior soldiers who personify compassionate and ethical soldiering. The award is named in honour of Trooper Jonathan Church and his actions in Rwanda in 1995.
