Why is my g.grandad buried in Rangoon???

[Andreab]

Can someone help me?
I have found my great grandad listed amongst the WW1 war dead. These are the Casualty Details:

PHILLIP COATES, Rifleman 18th Bn Rifle Brigade, died 29 Nov 1918, aged 46
Service No 200553
Son of Alfred Coates.....
Buried Rangoon War Cemetery

The family story goes that he was killed whilst on a prison ship??? No other info about this I'm afraid. Could be a red herring. Also, who was fighting in that area at the end of November 1918???
Can anyone shed some light on this or point me in the right direction.
Thanks
AndreaB

[mmm45]

He may have died of accident, illness or disease there were 36 sevicemen buried in Rangoon during world war 1
Have searched Soldiers Died in great war database but hes not on it(not uncommon)

At least you have the CWGC entry you should also be able to find his Medal Index Card online which may give you a bit more information from the National Archives Documents online.

[mmm45]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=2010694&queryType=1&resultcount=1

Heres the link...By the looks of his  number he was a very early member of the unit probably an ex soldier or Territorial that would have been a national reservist.
The 18th Batt Rifle Brigade went to India in 1915ish to act as a garrison battalion over there and get involved in British government business in the region.

Ady

[Andreab]

Thanks for that. I have got his Medal Card, which tells me nothing really, he got the British War Medal, but no other info.

Is his death certificate likely to give me more info. If he died of disease, for instance, rather than in battle, will the cert say as much?

Why would he have been in that area? Who was the enemy in that part of the world? I know it was a world war, did it all end on 11th Nov?

Andrea

[aghadowey]

If you click on cemetery link from his CWGC listing it gives a little more information:
"Rangoon War Cemetery was first used as a burial ground immediately following the recapture of Rangoon in May 1945. Later, the Army Graves Service moved in graves from several burial sites in and around Rangoon, including those of the men who died in Rangoon Jail as prisoners of war. There are now 1,381 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 86 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials to more than 60 casualties whose graves could not be precisely located. In 1948, the graves of 36 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Rangoon during the First World War were moved into this cemetery, 35 of them from Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery and one from Rangoon (Pazundaung) Town Cemetery."

[mmm45]

Yes thats is correct for India service just the Brit War Medal which means he never went to France and Belgium.
The death cert may give you more info but a lot  issued during the war give very little except"died on active service"

Remember there was a worldwide Flu epedemic in 1918 which killed as many as the war did!!

If he was fighting it wouldve been localised against rebels not against  pro German forces as the war did end 11/11/18 apart from fighting in North Russia.

[mmm45]

The Battalion  war diary of the day which should be at the National Archives may give an insight (especially if its a possible murder on a prison ship..)

[mmm45]

Hi
Ive just done a trawl on Soldiers died In great War database of 18th London TF Batt Rifle Brigade for the whole of 1914-1918 and they had 20 casualties (yours is missing) but they all seem to be listed as "died" which usually meant accident,illness or disease

Ady

[Andreab]

Thanks everyone for all the info.
Is the fact that Philip's details are missing unusual. Would it make a difference if he did die on a prison ship? I will send for his death cert but not really expecting it to tell me much. Have also contacted NA for the war diary.
Andrea