Crossen POW Camp

[Doggy]

Hi

I am now trying to find details of my great uncle John Mortimer JONES who according to the CWGC died 30/4/1918 whilst a POW.  John was in the Cheshire Regiment, 15th Batallion, (19599), and was an A/cpl according to the medal card.

I don't know much else if there is anything.  I suppose I'd love to know more about Crossen -conditions, photos etc.  Also where were the 15th bn active so as to guess where he was captured (longshot).

Anyone any ideas where I can go next?

Cheers

Doggy

[Wendi]

Hi Doggy !

I think Crossen is a bit like Hazel Grove it could be anywhere  but if you search on your favourite search engine for "Crossen Camp" there is a lot of info and pics out there.

I'm sorry your great uncle died in such circumstances.

Wendi 

[liverpool annie]

Hi Doggy !

The 15th and 16th Service Cheshire regiment were two battalions of soldiers whose maximum height was 5 foot 3 inches ........  raised in Birkenhead on 18 November 1914 by Alfred Bigland MP as a Bantam Battalion -  and moved to Hoylake.
June 1915  -  attached to 105th Brigade 35th Division at Masham and in August 1915 to Salisbury Plain - adopted by the War Office on 15 August 1915 - landed at Le Havre in January 1916.

there is a book that you may like to see if you can get a hold of .... that may give you a better idea of their movements ...

"Cheshire Bantams " by Stephen McGreal

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheshire-Bantams-15th-Battalions-Regiment/dp/1844153878

I'm not sure if the National Archives has the War Diary for the 15th battalion on line .... but if not - check out the Cheshires Museum & Archives ..... I think you have to go in person to take a look at their War Diaries for the 15th battalion but I know they'll have copies - if you can't get it from Kew !

http://www.chester.ac.uk/militarymuseum/archives.html

Annie 

[Doggy]

Hi Wendi and Annie

Thanks for your replies. 
Hazel Grove is a bit like being on the frontline on a Friday/Saturday night 

I suppose I'll have to see if he's got a record on Ancestry to see how tall he was  and when he joined etc.

Fascinating stuff.

Cheers

Doggy

[Berliner]

Doggy,

I don't know if you are still active here, but if so you may be interested to hear that I visited the grave of your great uncle, John Mortimer Jones, in the Berlin South-Western Cemetery.

I currently live in Berlin and my parents were visiting last weekend from Ruabon, North Wales, where John Mortimer Jones' name is proudly displayed on the war memorial. We therefore decided to take a visit.

The CWGC cemetery is beautiful and very well kept, coming into view after a walk through a peaceful wooded area with civilian graves.

As you may know, John Mortimer Jones' body is not there - he was buried in Crossen and the grave never found - but there is a gravestone in his memory. Please see the attached pictures (apologies for the dubious picture quality).

It was a real pleasure to be able to go and honour this young man from the borders.

Tom

[Berliner]

And a fourth picture.