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Perhaps the person who wrote the record was aware of the relationship of T. Hampshire to the deceased. However, in my opinion it was not usual practice for the military to send sensitive information to anyone who was not nominated as n.o.k. The wife of the deceased was not informed
of her husband's death until 28th April 1918, 23 days after he was killed in action. She was still writing and requesting her husband's effects in 1921.
Sgt. Hampshire would also be unaware of his brother-in-laws death as he was fighting in France and was himself gassed and suffered gunshot wounds. I do not think he was in a position to request the
details of his brother-in-laws death. There is no date on the record so possibly it was quite some time after the event. Sgt. Hampshire was back in Australia less than a year later.
You mention that often a superior or ranking officer is the informant in the case of a death in action.
On 5th April, 1918 the day of Pte. Keys death, the superior officer of the 52nd Btn. was also killed in
action. Perhaps this could explain the lack of information with regards to his burial.
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Regards,
Jen.
You may say it is complete but I cannot let this incorrect statement pass without correction.
' However, in my opinion it was not usual practice for the military to send sensitive information to anyone who was not nominated as n.o.k'
In both wars I had uncles lost. In the case of the latter one in WW2 his three brothers were overseas at the same time and in the same conflict. His mother, in NZ, was NOK. All three were advised of possible death/missing within days. One, my father was given leave to meet every ship that was bringing survivors from Crete to see if his brother was there. In his case they were all told of the circumstances of him going missing, and in fact another brother had met him, in the thick of battle in Crete. This would have been before his mother would have been told.
My other uncle, who put up his age and ran away to join AIF, was killed in France in April 1918. Several of his fellow soldiers had seen where he fell, rescued him but he later died. All of them wrote to my grandmother about what had happened. My grandmother was advised relatively soon after his death 8-10 or so days, and the letters followed. She was in contact with AIF up until mid 1920s over aspects of his death and getting his effects forwarded.
My thoughts are that it is quite probable that if a soldier, doing the admin knew of another's relationship to the deceased the suggestion may be made that they be advised .......even in the thick of battle the admin back from the lines were still working and if a letter had been sent it would have been sent in the reasonable expectation that it might get there to Sgt Hampshire.
It does not read as if Sgt Hampshire 'requested', more that someone knew of the relationship and made a recommendation. Just as in WW2 word had got back even from Crete if the three brothers fighting there had not yet and so my father was told and able to be deputed to meet the ships.
The people on this board are so helpful and I would welcome any tips that others have .......it sounds a little churlish to dismiss ideas from others.
Hopefully the military board will be able to advise what the initials stand for.
