RAC trooper burial at Nottingham

[mareanna]

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?

[scrimnet]

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...

[scrimnet]

This'll be him then....

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2703213

[scrimnet]

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...?

[scrimnet]

There might even be a death certificate for him as he was serving at home...

[briant]

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

[scrimnet]

The RAC trg camp at Bovington is near Poole...

[scrimnet]

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...

[mareanna]

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.