Unidentified Canadian First World War soldier to be buried in France

August 16, 2017 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Media are invited to attend the military burial of an unidentified Canadian First World War soldier on August 23, 2017, at Canadian Cemetery No. 2 in Neuville-St. Vaast, France. In attendance will be representatives from the Government of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

On March 24, 2017, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF announced the conclusion of an investigation into a set of remains found at Thélus, Pas de Calais, France, as belonging to a Canadian First World War soldier whose identity cannot be determined, as he was found without personal or unit identifiers. The soldier would have died between the end of October 1916 and the end of July 1917, the nine-month period of action at Vimy.

When: August 23, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.; media to be in location by 1:30 p.m. (Central European Time). 

Where: Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas-de-Calais, France.

What: Military burial of unidentified Canadian First World War soldier.

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Notes to editor / news director: 
Media are asked to confirm attendance no later than 4 p.m. on August 22, 2017, by e-mailing Caroline Fyfe at caroline.fyfe@forces.gc.ca.

Cemetery directions: Canadian Cemetery No. 2 is within the Canadian National Vimy Memorial Park, which is 10 km north of Arras, 15 km south of Lens. Watch for signs indicating the main entrance to the park, on the road from Arras to Lens, the N17.

Imagery and video will be available on www.forcesimages.ca.

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca