RAC trooper burial at Nottingham

[scrimnet]

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

[scrimnet]

BTW

There is also an excellent museum at Bovington...

http://www.tankmuseum.org/home

[mareanna]

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?

[CHERRYPICKER]

If you contact the Tank Museum in Bovington (Mrs V.Bedford) they hold the RAC W.3040's (Casualty Cards).
David.

[bessingby]

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

[scrimnet]

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