In 2006, workers made a significant historical discovery during routine roadworks near Polygon Wood in Belgium: the remains of five World War I soldiers buried deep beneath the surface.
Battlefield archaeologist Johan Vanderwalle was summoned to the site, where one body, in particular, captured attention. Wrapped meticulously in a groundsheet, with arms crossed over his chest, this arrangement revealed a poignant narrative of love rather than mere chance.
DNA analysis identified the soldier as Private Jack Hunter, an Australian from New South Wales. The family subsequently shared an extraordinary account: Jack’s younger brother, Jim, had fought alongside him. After Jack’s tragic death, Jim buried him on the battlefield with his own hands.
In 1919, Jim returned to Belgium, hoping to provide his brother with a proper burial; however, the grave was lost to time until its rediscovery in 2006.
Moved by this profound story, Johan and his colleagues initiated the Brothers-in-Arms Memorial Project. Their vision was to create a sculpture depicting Jim holding Jack, just as he had done on the battlefield. Collaborating with an Australian artist, they brought this vision to life, a hauntingly beautiful monument that weighs 800 kilograms and costs €160,000.
On September 25, 2022, 105 years after the Battle of Polygon Wood, the sculpture was unveiled near Johan’s Café Taverne de Dreve in Zonnebeke. Within the café, Johan’s museum tells the story through an array of relics he has collected since childhood—rusted helmets, shattered shells, and two interlocking brass rings made from battlefield casings, symbolising the eternal bond between the two brothers.
Johan’s dedication reminds us that memory transcends history and embodies humanity’s essence. The ANZAC spirit continues to thrive where Jack and Jim now rest, side by side, forever remembered.
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