As part of the Centenary of ANZAC commemorations, Tasmanians across the State will have a chance to see Tasmanian World War One history meet modern science in an award-winning play called Dig for the Diggers.
To commemorate the Centenary of ANZAC the Government has provided funding to the Military Heritage Foundation to organise the play.
Dig for the Diggers commemorates the Battle of Fromelles, the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. The offensive at Fromelles was a diversion created in the attempt to draw German troops away from the Somme offensive.
The battle took place on 19 and 20 July 1916, and came to be known as the worst 24 hours in Australian history, with over five and a half thousand Australian soldiers killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
Those killed were buried in mass graves behind enemy lines. Not all burial pits were found in the aftermath of the war; and some graves were not discovered until 2007.
In 2008, a long process of exhumation and DNA matching began to identify those Australians who had died at the battle and give them the proper military burial that they deserved.
Dig for the Diggers tells the story of the DNA identification of Mick Feeney – a stubborn Australian miner from Bothwell, in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, who volunteered for World War One, and was one of those soldiers killed and buried at Fromelles in 1916.
The play will be performed by multiple award winning acting group Square Pegs. Performances will be held from 8 to 16 July in Devonport, Burnie, Deloraine, Scottsdale, Launceston, Swansea, Oatlands and Hobart.
Tickets are $5 each plus a booking fee. Children under 12 are free.
For further information or to book tickets visit www.centenaryofanzac.tas.gov.au or call 6232 7090.
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