Halifax Graves

[David Garley]

Hi everyone. This is my first posting, I hope I don't mess things up!
Anyway, here in the UK was a TV prog on 13/03/03 concerning the opening of 3 graves (1 the 'unknown child' & the other 2 unidentified bodies) & DNA sampling against possible living relatives.
As we all know, the little child was positively identified. However, the other 2 graves were flooded & no remains were found.
Can anybody shed any further light on this? Are all the graves now considered to be flooded & therefore empty? Is it sea water? Any more info?
Sorry for so many questions! Thanks in advance....

 

[Michael H. Standart]

David, you might want to read the discussions we have indexed HERE for just about everything that's been said on ET about this. As I recall, the water which corrupted the graves was fresh water. Ther graves which are above the local water table are, as far as I know, unharmed.

 

[Anne Osborn]

Hi, I am related to the Pianist W.Theodore Ronald Brailey who was lost. As there are so many unidentified graves, I am wondering if one of them could possibly be Theodore. Could anyone give me some pointers on finding out if he is buried at Halifax?
Thanks

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Anne, this is very unlikely. The musicians were few in number and wore a distinctive uniform which made it relatively easy to identify them. All of the recovered bodies were carefully documented, including details of their clothing, and none of the unidentified bodies buried in Halifax was wearing a musician's uniform.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Anne, I have to concur with Bob on this. Every effort was made to identify the recovered victims at the time, but thus wasn't always possible for a veriaty of reasons. The most recent I.D. of an unknown victim was possible only through a DNA test.

 

[Anne Osborn]

Thankyou both for your input, I will have to assume he was lost at sea. Although it would have been nice to trace the body, just to know there is a final resting place for him.
I'll continue to find out as much as I can about his life though as it's very important to our family.
Thanks again

 

[Hildur Panula-Heinonen]

The child was positively identified by my grandma, Magda, in 2002. He is Eino Viljami Panula, who is my great-great uncle.