Descendent emotional to see WWI digger in unmarked grave receive recognition
John Campbell's grand-uncle Lance Corporal William Ernest Ryan served in World War I. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
In short:
South Australian high school students have helped to uncover the legacies of five war veterans who were laid to rest in unmarked graves.
The descendent of one veteran says he is emotional to see the digger finally receive a formal recognition.
The Headstone Project SA says more than 2,500 World War I soldiers lie in unmarked graves across the state.
John Campbell knew little about his grand-uncle but was proud to see the digger formally honoured after lying in an unmarked grave for more than a century.
Lance Corporal William Ernest Ryan served during World War I, including time in Gallipoli.
Mr Campbell said his grandfather on his father's side was in the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment at the same time but both soldiers' "paths probably didn't even cross".
"He [Lance Corporal Ryan] had very little connection to Adelaide until he came back from the war and he was a bit of a lost soul," Mr Campbell said.
Lance Corporal William Ernest Ryan's new headstone at West Terrace Cemetery. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
He said he was emotional to see his grand-uncle, from his mother's side of the family, get a formal recognition on Wednesday.
"I was expecting a plaque and to see that is just absolutely amazing for a poor soul who died in a pauper's grave," Mr Campbell said.
"I think it's incredibly important really because time erodes memories."
A dedication ceremony for five WWI veterans and nurses was held at West Terrace Cemetery. (ABC News: Jody Kestle)
The war veteran was among five diggers and army nurses commemorated on Wednesday after their unmarked graves were uncovered at the West Terrace Cemetery.
Year 9 history students from St Mary's College researched the legacies of those veterans as part of a partnership with The Headstone Project SA.
Private Arthur Thomas Anderson and Private Frederick Alfred Parker served alongside Mr Campbell's grand-uncle in the 27th Battalion on the Western Front.
Also being honoured was Sister Isabella Louisa Parkinson, who enlisted after losing two brothers in the war and served at the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick.
Sister Christina Gordon McLean served with the Australian Army Nursing Corps at Gallipoli, France and Egypt.
Riri Cagialis (from left) and Georgia Alexander researched the stories of lost diggers in South Australia. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Students involved in the research alongside families of the veterans attended a dedication ceremony on Wednesday where some of the new headstones were unveiled.
"I think it's really special that our generation digs deeper and finds out what actually happened," student Riri Cagialis said.
Student Georgia Alexander said it was "meaningful" to find lost veterans and reunite them with living relatives.
"I think it's really important because we get to learn about how we get the freedom that we have today, about the people served our country and everything they did for us," Georgia said.
Loading...The Headstone Project SA estimated more than 2,500 World War I veterans were buried in unmarked graves across the state, some because they had no family or their relatives could not afford a headstone.
"Our belief is that they deserve better than what they got frankly, these are the men that have fallen through the cracks," the organisation's president John Brownlie said.
"It was left to families or even local communities to inter those guys and a lot of families don't even know which cemetery their relative is in, let alone the grave and plot number.
"It gives us a lot of pleasure to be able to research that and get it down to the minutest detail."
The partnership between the organisation and the school is in its third year and to date, students have researched 110 graves including 50 which were unmarked.