REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- An unknown Australian soldier has been given a funeral with full military honors on Thursday, more than 70 years after being killed while holding back Imperial Japanese forces in Kupang during World War II.
He was a member of the "Sparrow Force," and one of the 84 men who died defending a vital airstrip from advancing Japanese troops in Kupang. The soldier's remains were unearthed during local construction work in 2013, the Australian Embassy here revealed on its official website.
The man's identity remains a mystery despite an intensive two-year search being conducted by the Australian Army to find his family. DNA drawn from the remains has failed to find a match. As many as 94 people from 54 families have been tested. A recent public appeal has also proved unsuccessful.
Head of Australia's Defence Staff in Indonesia Brigadier John Gould noted that today's activity highlights the enduring relationship between Australia and Indonesia.
"We have just joined Indonesia to celebrate 70 years of its independence. We have been with Indonesia in spirit throughout that period. Both then and now, Australia and Indonesia have a shared interest in keeping our region safe," Brigadier Gould remarked.
The ceremony, held at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Tantui, Ambon, was attended by Head of the Political and Economic Branch at the Australian Embassy Dr Brad Armstrong who was accompanied by a contingent of Australia's Federation Guard and several local Indonesian authorities.
The site is the final resting place for two thousand Australian and allied troops who sacrificed their lives during several years of fighting to push back Imperial Japan during World War II.
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