A French village is set to host a remembrance ceremony for the many hundreds of diggers who died in one of Australia's bloodiest military engagements - the World War I Battle of Fromelles.
The 99th anniversary commemoration will be held at Fromelles on Sunday attended by Australian military representatives, French officials and relatives of those who died in the failed Australian and British attack on German positions on July 19, 1916.
The battle is regarded as the worst loss of life in a 24-hour period in Australia's history - nearly 2000 men of the 5th Australian Division were killed in action or died of their wounds.
In 2009 the remains of 250 soldiers were uncovered from a rediscovered mass grave at Fromelles and reburied at a new war cemetery near the village.
Of those found, 144 Australians have now been identified by name and work continues to name the other 106.
Several thousand people are expected to attend next year's 100th anniversary of the battle.
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