Editing Missing in action (section)

===World War I===
[[File:Seringes-et-Nesles Oise-Aisne American Cemetery - Unknown Soldier.jpg|thumb|Grave of an unknown American combatant in [[Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial|Oise-Aisne Cemetery]]. Killed in 1917]]
The phenomenon of MIAs became particularly notable during World War I, where the mechanized nature of [[modern warfare]] meant that a single battle could cause astounding numbers of casualties. For example, in 1916 over 300,000 Allied and German combatants were killed in the [[Battle of the Somme]]. A total of 19,240 British and Commonwealth combatants were [[killed in action]] or died of wounds on the [[First day on the Somme|first day of that battle]] alone. It is therefore not surprising that the [[Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme]] in France bears the names of 72,090 British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] combatants, all of whom went missing in action during the Battle of the Somme, were never found and who have no known grave. Similarly, the [[Menin Gate]] memorial in [[Belgium]] commemorates 54,896 missing Allied combatants who are known to have been killed in the [[Ypres Salient]]. The [[Douaumont ossuary]], meanwhile, contains 130,000 unidentifiable sets of [[France|French]] and [[Germany|German]] remains from the [[Battle of Verdun]].

Even in the 21st century, the remains of missing combatants are recovered from the former battlefields of the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] every year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2018/07/19/09/58/burial-and-rededication-services-in-august|title=CWGC News accessed 27 July 2018}}</ref> These discoveries happen regularly, often during the course of agricultural work or construction projects.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Handmade-tag-offers-clue-to.2267079.jp |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh, UK | title=Hand-made tag offers clue to identity of First World War soldier | date=October 15, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftermathww1.com/laidtorest.asp |title=aftermathww1.com |publisher=aftermathww1.com |access-date=November 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk/fraser.htm |title=fylde.demon.co.uk |publisher=fylde.demon.co.uk |access-date=November 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftermathww1.com/pteclarke.asp |title=aftermathww1.com |publisher=aftermathww1.com |access-date=November 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/monchy.htm |title=hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk |publisher=hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927102923/http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/monchy.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/bosisto.htm |title=hellfire-corner |publisher=Hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927102959/http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/bosisto.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.daylife.com/photo/07OYcF36Y206d |title=daylife.com |publisher=daylife.com |date=2012-08-23 |access-date=2012-10-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318074653/http://www.daylife.com/photo/07OYcF36Y206d |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Typically, the remains of one or several men are found at a time. However, occasionally the numbers recovered are much larger e.g. the mass grave at [[Battle of Fromelles|Fromelles]] (excavated in 2009) which contained the skeletal remains of no less than 250 Allied soldiers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8247278.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Fromelles grave excavation ends | date=September 10, 2009 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/fromelles/ |title=defence.gov.au |publisher=defence.gov.au |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118052329/http://www.defence.gov.au/fromelles/ |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/SoldiersFoundInFromellesWwiMassGraveToBeReburied.htm |title=mod.uk |publisher=mod.uk |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607213748/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/SoldiersFoundInFromellesWwiMassGraveToBeReburied.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7430622.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Remains found at WWI 'mass grave' | date=June 2, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> Another example is the excavation which took place at [[Carspach]] ([[Alsace]] region of France) in early 2012, which uncovered the remains of 21 German soldiers, lost in an underground shelter since 1918, after being buried by a large-calibre British [[artillery shell]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9074336/German-soldiers-preserved-in-World-War-I-shelter-discovered-after-nearly-100-years.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9074336/German-soldiers-preserved-in-World-War-I-shelter-discovered-after-nearly-100-years.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=German soldiers preserved in World War I shelter discovered after nearly 100 years | date=February 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Regardless, efforts are made to identify any remains found via a thorough forensic examination. If this is achieved, attempts are made to trace any living relatives. However, it is frequently impossible to identify the remains, other than to establish some basic details of the unit they served with. In the case of British and Commonwealth MIAs, the headstone is inscribed with the maximum amount of information that is known about the person.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lyness-cemetery.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/known-unto-god.html|title=Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery|work=lyness-cemetery.blogspot.co.uk}}</ref> Typically, such information is deduced from metallic objects such as brass buttons and shoulder flashes bearing regimental/unit insignia found on the body. As a result, headstones are inscribed with such information as "A Soldier of The [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Cameronians]]" or "An Australian [[Corporal#United Kingdom|Corporal]]" etc. Where nothing is known other than the soldier's national allegiance, the headstone is inscribed "A Soldier of The Great War". The term "Sailor" or "Airman" can be substituted, as appropriate.
<gallery heights="160px" widths="200px">
Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery (September 2010) 2.JPG|Graves of unknown French soldiers killed during World War One. Each concrete cross has a metal plaque bearing the word "Inconnu" i.e. "Unknown"
Gallipolifrenchossuary.jpg|[[Ossuary]] at the [[Gallipoli]] battlefield, containing the remains of 3000 unidentified French soldiers who died in 1915
File:Tyne_cot_german_graves_01.jpg|Grave of 2 unknown German soldiers at [[Tyne Cot]] War Cemetery
</gallery>