Benjamin Richardson 5th AIF killed at Fromelles

Submitted by Tjapaltjarri on Wed, 2011-10-26 13:21

Location:

Sussex

Since Ben Richardson still remains to be identified and so far as I know samples from a potentially matching Mt DNA sample have not been submitted there is still time to achieve an identification one way or the other, given that he remains on the lists with a high probability that they are now in the Pheasant Wood cemetery.

I have identified and located a suitable donor of a cheek scrape sample and am now looking for a relative who went to the Inauguration of the cemetery to approach this person with a view to getting a sample submitted in the next round going to the identification board.

He is the son of one of Ben's first cousins on his mother's sister's side and so would be a match on mitochondrial (mt) or intracellular as opposed to nuclear DNA.

Please contact me if you can assist me in this task.

Many thanks,

Howard

Submitted by maggie grenham on Mon, 2011-11-07 10:15.

Dear Howard

I am on the case because as I understood it the potenially match of Ben that Blaxhall Archive Group had discovered, had recieved the sample test kit and was sending his DNA sample to you. I have just heard from Pat Bridges that htis was not teh case and therefore I shall try and find out what has happened to the DNA sample. The Richardardson family that went to the cemetery unfortunately will not be a match for "Our Ben".

I wondered why it had gone so quiet!

You can contact me directly through Pat Bridges

kind regards

Maggie Grenham Blaxhall Archive Group

Submitted by Tjapaltjarri on Mon, 2011-11-07 12:24.

Thank you Maggie,

I have been trying for over a year now without success to contact you via Pat. The last message I had from her was that she was moving and having some difficulties because of that.

I do not handle DNA samples. They are dealt with by the Australian Department of Defense. I do have some limited communication with the DOD and forward the names and addresses of people I have managed to trace and contact. (14 of the 23 British born soldiers considered likely to be interred at Pheasant Wood and remaining to be identified) These are people with a likely DNA match to a specific soldier and who are prepared to assist the DOD in their endeavours to identify these men, so that the relevant samples can be submitted.

I do not wish to identify the individual I have traced but a brief discussion / email communication would clarify the position quickly.

my email is howard.eastcott atte btinternet.com tel 01444 881247.

Kind regards,

Howard