Searching for the missing soldier: Identifying casualties from the First World War

Authors

  • Nicholas Marquez-Grant Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).
  • Roland Wessling Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).
  • Angela Öfele Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).
  • Victoria Moore LGC Limited (UK).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.10.13839

Keywords:

World War I, human remains, forensic anthropology, archaeology, DNA

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increase in the numbers of archaeologists and physical anthropologists involved in searching, locating and assisting in the identification of war casualties. These scientists have played an invaluable role within a larger team of professionals, working together to provide a dignified burial to those who fell for their country and remembering them. This paper reviews some of the work undertaken in Europe with regard to World War I casualties and how the war missing are found and ultimately identified when possible, bringing also some closure to their living relatives.

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Author Biographies

Nicholas Marquez-Grant, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).

Senior Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology and Course Director on Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology at Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK). He is a specialist in human skeletal remains from prehistory to the present day. In recent years, he has had considerable experience in the recovery and identification of WWI and WWII soldiers. As a forensic anthropologist, Nicholas has undertaken forensic casework for a number of police forces in the UK.

Roland Wessling, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).

Lecturer in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology at Cranfield Forensic Institute (UK). As a forensic archaeologist he has worked in a number of countries excavating mass graves in human rights contexts. In recent years, he has been working on recovery and identification of WWI and WWII soldiers. 

Angela Öfele, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK).

Graduate in Forensic Anthropology and Master of Science in Forensic Archaelogy and Anthropology at Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University (UK). She has undertaken some work on WWI casualties during her time at Cranfield Forensic Institute.

Victoria Moore, LGC Limited (UK).

She is currently Commercial DNA Services Manager at LGC Limited (UK). She has considerable experience in DNA analysis in forensic cases in the UK and abroad. Since 2008, she has been working on the identification of WWI and WWII casualties through DNA analysis.

References

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Published

2020-01-08

How to Cite

Marquez-Grant, N., Wessling, R., Öfele, A., & Moore, V. (2020). Searching for the missing soldier: Identifying casualties from the First World War. Metode Science Studies Journal, (10), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.10.13839
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Issue

Shades of science (2020)

Section

The memory of bones. Science at the service of history

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