 For at least 80 years, the remains of at least 399 Australian and British dead were to remain unaccounted for – even though soldiers' personal belongings had been returned to their families, and deaths had been independently investigated and confirmed by the Red Cross,

Following research in the Bavarian Army archives, between 2002 and 2007, by independent military historian Lambis Englezos, a large mass grave, on the outskirts of Fromelles, was identified.The "Bois de Phaisan" (Pheasant Wood) site, which was confirmed by archaeologists from Glasgow University in July 2007, was reportedly the largest mass grave of Western Allied soldiers to have been discovered since the end of World War I.A full disinterrment was carried out in May–September 2009, and the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers were recovered.