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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: mareanna on Wednesday 01 April 09 15:57 BST (UK)
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I have a family member who is buried at the Rock Cemetary Nottingham (there are other family graves there). The grave has two headstones, one of which looks military and has the Royal Armoured Corps crest, his service number and rank Trooper. He died 31 August 1943, aged 18. The other headstone appears to be one provided by the family, and ends "killed whilst serving his country". Can anyone shed light on why he was buried in England? Did he die in training here before going abroad? Surely bodies were not repatriated during the war. Or were U21s brought back?
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What was his name??
Have you looked on CWGC ??
U21s were not bought home...He could have been killed in a raid, or in trg...Either way, he would be classed as "serving" if he was in uniform.
He may even have been taken ill and died in hospital, whilst serving...
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This'll be him then....
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2703213
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There were a lot of raids over the Midlands on the 27th...Could have been caught in that...
Perhaps worth a cross post on the Nottinghamshire board to see what was going on that week...?
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There might even be a death certificate for him as he was serving at home...
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Weston James T, GRO death regestered at Poole,Dorset, Q3 1943. Reg No 5a 215,
His death cert will tell you how he died,
Regrds Brian
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The RAC trg camp at Bovington is near Poole... ;)
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Weston James T, GRO death regestered at Poole,Dorset, Q3 1943. Reg No 5a 215,
His death cert will tell you how he died,
Regrds Brian
Nice one mate...
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Thanks to you all - J(ames) T(ansley) Weston 14428182 Trooper is my man. Being a bit new to all this, I wasn't sure how much detail to include. I'd already looked at the list of War dead and indices, but he wasn't there. Nothing on the Nottingham board either. A chilling note before searching the list of war dead explains that those executed by firing squad were excluded. As the lad was only 18 it crossed my mind ...... Looks like seven quid now being spent to get his certificate and opefully it will hint at the circumstances that led up to his demise. There must surely be Army records but until I have the certificate, will hold back on that. Had no idea about the training camp at Bovington. That could also explain why he has no regiment name on his headstone - he hadn't been allocated to one.
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Thanks to you all - J(ames) T(ansley) Weston 14428182 Trooper is my man. Being a bit new to all this, I wasn't sure how much detail to include. I'd already looked at the list of War dead and indices, but he wasn't there. Nothing on the Nottingham board either. A chilling note before searching the list of war dead explains that those executed by firing squad were excluded. As the lad was only 18 it crossed my mind ...... Looks like seven quid now being spent to get his certificate and opefully it will hint at the circumstances that led up to his demise. There must surely be Army records but until I have the certificate, will hold back on that. Had no idea about the training camp at Bovington. That could also explain why he has no regiment name on his headstone - he hadn't been allocated to one.
We are quite good at tracking on the most meager information!!
All those executed in WW1 are now on the CWGC site...due to a blanket amnesty the other year...
Only 47 soldiers were executed in the period 1941-1953....And most were for murder...One for treachery, three for mutiny...All the rest for murder..Your man was NOT one of them!!
The RAC are a Corps in their own right, and his sub unit would only rarely be mentioned...That is the badge worn.
I would suggest that his records, which are available for Next of Kin form Glasgow would also be a useful tool...Very thin I expect, but illuminating none the less.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step7.htm
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BTW
There is also an excellent museum at Bovington...
http://www.tankmuseum.org/home
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OK after much delay, we now have the certificate. Cause of death:
"Misadventure caused by internal haemorrages the result of multiple injuries caused by a rifle bullet - not suffienct evidence to show how the bullet came to be fired. PM"
Would there be public papers for the inquest? Does anyone know how to apply for them? Is PM for post-mortem or Provost Marshall?
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If you contact the Tank Museum in Bovington (Mrs V.Bedford) they hold the RAC W.3040's (Casualty Cards).
David.
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Hi Scimnet i have just been looking thru some back p/m.the reply to Mareanna a bit late iknow but the number of the trooper doesnt match RACs i was in the RAC at cattrerick and bovington .All of the in going men had numbers starting with 794and then onther 5 nu
His age and getting shot is puzzling.I didnt know of a rac camp there or a rifle range
bessingby
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In 1920 the old method of allocating a 'Regimental Number' was scrapped for new recruits and the numbering system of 'Army Number' was adopted as per Army Order 338. In 1942 the 'General Service Corps' were formed for the initial training of all new recruits. From then on the new recruits were allocated a number in a series beginning 14,000,000. In 1950 this system changed again to a series beginning 2,200,000.
Ergo he fits in with the GSC numbers, as did my dad who joined up age 18 in 1942
Up until 1942 the numbers allocated to the RAC were 7,891,869-8,230,000
He could have been the victim of a ND