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Wednesday, 7 March 2012
VA016
UPDATE ON DAMAGE TO COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES, BENGHAZI, LIBYA
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, said a preliminary assessment indicates damage to 50 Australian headstones in the Benghazi War Cemetery in Libya.

“Forty-five marked Australian headstones were damaged during the attack,” he said.

“Five headstones of unknown Australian soldiers were also damaged.

“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will repair the headstones once the site has been secured. In the interim, identifying markers will be placed on graves.

“The Australian Government recognises there is a great deal of concern in the Australian community about this attack. This news will be distressing for Australians,” Mr Snowdon said.

There is no indication that Australian graves were targeted. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission estimates that 238 headstones of ten different nationalities have been damaged.

The Cross of Sacrifice, the central feature of the Benghazi War Cemetery, appears to have been the focus of the attack. The Cross has been damaged and will require replacement. Australian graves are located side-by-side in two rows close to the Cross of Sacrifice.

Attached is a list of the names of Australian soldiers whose headstones were damaged.

Relatives of those buried at Benghazi, wanting information or assistance should contact the Office of Australian War Graves on 02 6289 6474.

Media inquiries:
Minister Snowdon: Lidija Ivanovski 0407108 935
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203



BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY - Australian Damaged Headstones
Rank Forenames Surname
Lieutenant LEONARD CLAUDE ADAMS
Flight Sergeant ROBERT CHARLES ADDISON ASH
Lance Corporal LINDSAY RAYMOND ATKINS
Sergeant TOM ALLAN AULD
Sapper WALTER AYTON, MSM
Major ERIC BAILHACHE
Leading Aircraftman GEORGE MURRAY BARTSCH
Aircraftman 1st Class FRANCIS LEO BAXENDALE
Flight Sergeant HILARY ELDRED BIRK
Lance Corporal WILLIAM BLENCH
Private WILFRED HORACE BLOUNT
Private GORDON ALLAN BOYD
Private LLOYD CHARLES CALDWELL
Private THOMAS MINERS CLIFF
Corporal HENRY THOMAS COX
Private KELVIN CROKER
Lieutenant Colonel ARCHIBALD JAMES CUNNINGHAM
Sapper ARVON GRIFFITHS DENNEHY
Pilot Officer WILLIAM WALTER EVANS
Corporal HARRY FREEMAN
Leading Aircraftman BRIAN METCALFE GATES
Private JOHN LINDSAY GILMOUR
Sapper LAWRENCE WALTER HOPKINS
Leading Aircraftman LESLIE JOHN HORNE
Lance Corporal HUGH BENJAMIN INGLIS
Sergeant STANLEY NORMAN KEITH
Sergeant PATRICK FLEMING MATTHEWS
Private JUSTIN FRANCIS HUNTLY McCARTHY
Leading Aircraftman PERCIVAL ARNOLD ROY McFARLANE
Sergeant VINCENT DANIEL McQUILLAN, DCM
Gunner DAVID BURFORD MORGAN
Private SYDNEY ALBERT RICHARDSON
Corporal DONALD ARNOLD RILEY
Sergeant FREDERICK JOHN ALFRED SAUNDERS
Private ALBERT JOHN SCHORER
Sapper RONALD JAMES SPRAGUE
Private GEORGE ROBERT SUTHERLAND
Signalman JOHN RANDLE TAYLOR
Leading Aircraftman MAURICE BASIL THOMPSON
Private ROBERT THOMSON
Lance Corporal HUGH ALBERNEST TOUT
Private BERNARD ARTHUR TRIPTREE
Flying Officer RONALD HARVEY PEET TUCKER
Aircraftman 1st Class THOMAS FREDERICK WAUGH
Private JOSEPH WILLIAM WHEATON

Note: An additional 5 Australian graves were damaged. These Australian graves were engraved 'Known unto God'