WW1 Death France/Flanders 1916

[pjg6666]

I am trying to find out any details regarding my Grandmothers Brother Frederick Holgate who died on 5th May 1916.   He was Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment    7th Battalion Regt number  G/1655. His Military record says he accidentally drowned France/Flanders  but that's  all I know about his death. I believe he was about 24. Would his death certificate be in 'the overseas section'  Thank You
Pam

[rosie99]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/deaths-first-and-second-world-wars/

Surrey history centre has records for Queens Royal West Surrey.
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/heritage-culture-and-recreation/archives-and-history/surrey-history-centre

CWGC
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/34508/HOLGATE,%20F

[Mean_genie]

The death certificate won't usually say anything more informative than 'killed in action' or 'died of wounds'. The Unit War Diary might be a better bet; other ranks aren't usually mentioned by name, but you will should find out what his unit was doing that day, which ought to shed some light on the circumstances surrounding his death.

[MaxD]

Sadly it appears to have been a simple accident.  The war diary records that the battalion were out of the line resting at Bray, very near to the River Somme (he is buried at Bray Cemetery).

The entry for 5 May 1916 says simply - 1655 Pte Holgate F accidentally drowned while working at the river.  Other entries say that the battalion were laying water pipes from Suzanne to Maricourt.

MaxD

[pjg6666]

Thank you for the details regarding Frederick Holgate, it  is much appreciated Pam

[MaxD]

You can download a commemorative certificate from the Commonwealth War Grave site here http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/34508/HOLGATE,%20F
You may want to ask Britishwargraves.co.uk if they have a photo of his grave, they don't charge for this.  I have also sent you a PM.

MaxD