Prisoner Of War

[melia]

Hi
My relative "Alfred John Dunham" it seems was buried originally in a German Military Cemetery(Morhange) quote  "by the enemy" after being a prisoner of war. It says he died 22nd December 1918 though.
Would this have been correct as the war would have ended by then.
Melia

[km1971]

Hi Melia

He may have been too ill to be repatriated.

You may find him here - http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Search

I believe they have not digitised all the cards. And it is possible that he was captured very late on, and he was dead before the Red Cross heard about him.


Ken

[McTalbert]

I have recently finished a library book on Prisoners of War in Germany during the Great War.

I had not previously given the repatriation of POWs any thought but was still surprised to read that after the 11/11 Armistice, to avoid any confusion, some prisoners (they were still serving soldiers until formally discharged) were ordered by the British authorities to remain in their prison camps until they were released by the allies. Some prisoners held in camps near the border ignored thia order and marched to meet the advancing allies.

Naturally it was the prisoners' wish to get home by Christmas 1918 but some did not arrive back in England until early January 1919.

McTalbert.

[km1971]

Did not know about that order. A large number marched to neutral Holland. Basically to get something to eat, as Germany was on starvation rations.

Ken

[melia]

Thank you for your replies.
Yes he is there Ken.
Not a lot of information sadly. He wasnt married an i used to visit his brother and sister in the 60s when i as a child.
Melia

[melia]

Just realsied more to see when you put the number!!!!
It appears he was captured 25th April 1918 at Kemmel. Unwounded apparently but then all the soldiers on surrounding page are apparently unwounded!
He is one of 11 soldiers whose bodies couldn't be found at Morhange cemetery even though a plot was given
Melia

[Rudolf H B]

Hi Melia,

Morhange had been French before November 21th.

Rudolf

[melia]

Now  i am confused. The paperwork i printed from the cwgc website says
"place of burial Morhange German (but with a line through it) military cemetery"
Also i have just noticed it says date of death 16/10/18 on this sheet and on the sheet that details individuals who have been exhumed. but on the first sheet i have mentiond someone has crossed the date out (and 3 others as well) and above his date of death have put 22/12/18.
It also does say "this cemetery has been re-numbered by the French authorities when reconstructed.

Melia

[melia]

Guess like so many other soldiers we will never know the whole story.

Melia