The gesture will coincide with the opening in France of the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery on July 19 – the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles when the men lost their lives.

Newcastle-based military historian David Dial said the battle was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian military history with 5533 Australian soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

“About a thousand Hunter Valley men fought at Fromelles and 77 of them were killed in action. Many others later died of wounds or were taken prisoner,” Mr Dial said.

“The remains of 13 Hunter Valley men are among the 250 soldiers who have been reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery.”

They are Private James Balsdon, Weston; Private Harold John Bourke, West Maitland; Private Douglas Caswell, Stockton; Private Henry Alfred Cressy, Boolaroo; Private George Croft, West Wallsend; Private Charles Henry Hawcroft, Merewether; Private William Bruce Higgins, Gloucester; Chaplain Hassall Marsden Kendall, Singlerton; Private George Henry Lucre, Cooks Hill; Private Peter Shannon, Merriwa; Sergeant William Wass MM, Pelaw Main; Private John Cyril Wynn, Largs and Private Claude Yeo, West Maitland.”

Mr Dial encouraged schools,

ex-service organisations, historical societies, army cadets and the

families and descendants of those who fought and died 94 years ago to visit their town’s World War I memorial

and place a floral tribute in their

memory.