Updated

Hundreds of people have attended a ceremony in northern France to rebury the first of around 250 unidentified British and Australian soldiers who died in a World War I battle.

Veterans Ministers Alan Griffin of Australia and Kevan Jones of Britain have joined soldiers and villagers for the ceremony on Saturday to rebury the remains.

The bodies of the soldiers — who are being given full military honors — were found in 2008 among mass graves. Australian experts believe they were first buried by German troops who fought them.

Similar burials are planned throughout February. A final ceremony is expected July 19 for the 94th anniversary of the battle of Fromelles, the first Australian combat operation on the Western Front.