Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

For almost 100 years, his 'missing' body lay in an unmarked, mass grave made by the Germans in northern France. In May 2008, after several years of investigation, five mass burial pits were identified at Pheasant Wood, just north of Fromelles. The pits, which had lain undisturbed for more than 90 years, were believed to contain the remains of between 250 and 400 British and Australian soldiers, buried behind German lines after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.After the discovery of this mass grave and thanks to the tenacity of his nephew and DNA technology, Private Harry Dibben has at last received a proper burial. Edwin Henry "Harry" Dibben was born to farmers Edwin Henry and Annie Dibben and was one of seven brothers and sisters. He was an apprentice motor mechanic and coach builder in Buckland Newton, Dorset, but left Britain to travel to South Africa before settling in Sydney, Australia, in 1912. After the war broke out he volunteered for the army. Days after arriving, the brigade went into battle.
The objective was to take trenches behind the German frontline. They achieved their objective but then the forces either side of them retreated and they were left cut off and subject to a German counter attack. Harry was shot in the chest while attacking a German trench in Fromelles in 1916. A soldier at the battle later stated that he dressed Harry's wound but had to leave him to die.
The mission had been designed to draw the enemy away from the Somme, one of the First World War's most infamous battles. But although the death was confirmed after the Germans removed his identity tags and sent them to London, Private Dibben's body was never recovered, leaving his family to wonder what had become of him. The only recognition of his death was an inscription added to his parents' grave in the village of Buckland Newton, Dorset and the recording of his name as 'missing' on the V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial.After the battle the Germans offered the Allies a ceasefire to retrieve the dead but the Allies refused. Had they done so it is likely Harry would have been identified and buried in a marked grave.

Taken from Find a Grave

Births Dec 1882 Dibben Edwin Henry Dorchester 5a 351.

Edwin Henry (Harry) Dibben  was born and raised in Buckland Newton but had moved to Australia where he had signed up for military service with the Australian Imperial Force.  A DNA check against his great-nephew, Richard Dibben, confirmed the identification and Harry’s remains were re-buried in a marked grave in the new cemetery.  Richard realised that Harry’s name was not on the War Memorial in the churchyard of Holy Rood Church l at Buckland Newton where he had lived and requested that it should be added. 

Member of the Unanimity 227 Lodge