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#1
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CWGC double headstones
Spotted the attached on our exercise walk and cant remember having seen anything like it before.
The headstones have details of two apparently unrelated soldiers with close but not the same dates of death. Can anyone please say why this happens? Thanks P.B.
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
#2
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Found this post on GWF:
"The following is from 'The Somme Battlefields' by Martin and Mary Middlebrook. If burials were so close that there was insufficient place for each body to have its own headstone, then one headstone would contain the details for two or even three men; if two men then the cross had to be omitted; if three, the regimental badges also."
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#3
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Basically same response from official CWGC account on Twitter :
" the double graves happen when the bodies are buried too close together to be marked by individual headstones. We try to avoid multiple names when possible, but sometimes its the best option. Thanks, CWGC."
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#4
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Thanks Mike,
Most interesting as these are in the main Cemetery in Chester with plenty of CWGC individual headstones around these headstones. Peter
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
#5
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Perhaps they were initially buried in a 'shared' battlefield grave , then when they were reinterred it was not possible to identify the individual remains .
No DNA testing in those days , so possibly the decision was made to to use a double headstone.
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British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative. Poppy and British Legion Wanted |
#6
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Quote:
Stay safe Tony. https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=49365
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For Christopher night night son. |
#7
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I would have thought that these are unlikely to be ‘battlefield’ deaths as repatriation to the UK was not permitted during and after WW1? They are perhaps soldiers killed in training accidents, perhaps victims of an explosion or who died of wounds in UK hospitals following medical evacuation. If that is the case why would there be any confusion over identification?
Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm" "Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!" "Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest." |
#8
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Here are 3 band boys of the Manchester Regiment buried in my local graveyard who disappeared one evening in Ireland in the troubles post WW1.
Murdered by the IRA, dumped in a hedgerow ditch and lay buried until their fate was revealed some years later. Skeletal remains, jumbled up, no way of separating for individual burials. regards
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Simon Butterworth Manchester Regiment Collector Rank, Prize & Trade Badges British & Commonwealth Artillery Badges |
#9
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Thanks everyone for your input.
Tony that’s the same Cemetery. Will have a look on the CWGC website later to see more possible info about the circumstances of their deaths. Peter
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
#10
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Quote:
First Name: M Surname: Carson DOB: Circa 1903 Age: 18 Nationality: British Date of Death: 05/06/1921 Information: Parents: Robert and Ellen Carson, of 45, Hope Rd., Sale, Cheshire. Rank: Boy Service Number: 3513561 Service: British Army Regiment: Manchester Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion Commemorated: Britain First Name: C A Surname: Chapman DOB: Circa 1904 Age: 17 Nationality: British Date of Death: 05/06/1921 Information: Parent: William Edward Chapman, of Birch Lea, Lees, Oldham. Rank: Boy Service Number: 3513058 Service: British Army Regiment: Manchester Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion Commemorated: Britain First Name: John Initials: J Surname: Cooper DOB: Circa 1905 Age: 16 Nationality: British Date of Death: 05/06/1921 Information: Parents: John and Ellen Cooper, of 22, Retiro St., Oldham. Rank: Boy Service Number: 3513044 Service: British Army Regiment: Manchester Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion Commemorated: Britain Last edited by leigh kitchen; 24-04-20 at 03:43 PM. |
#11
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Quote:
To be found in the CWGC section at the 'Marble Church' [itself well worth a visit] in North Wales. T |
#12
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How very interesting indeed.
Andy
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Leave to carry on Sir please. |
#13
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Quote:
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#14
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First Name:
Walter Initials: W Surname: Jones DOB: Circa 1883 Age: 35 Birth Town: Barnston, Cheshire Resided Town: Saltney, Flintshire Nationality: British Date of Death: 05/11/1918 Fate: Died at Home Information: SON OF WILLIAM AND HANNAH JONES, OF STORETON BRICK FIELDS, BIRKENHEAD. Rank: Gunner Service Number: 221393 Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery Battalion: 2nd/1st North Riding Heavy Bty Commemorated: Britain First Name: Albert Ernest Surname: Wildman Birth Town: Chester Resided Town: Chester Nationality: British Date of Death: 06/11/1918 Fate: Died at Home Rank: Driver Service Number: 745515 Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Field Artillery Battalion: 37th Bde Commemorated: Britain |
#15
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In the case of the two Cheshire Regiment soldiers ,R Jones was a member of the 1/5th Battalion. Nothing further about the circumstances of his death that I could see on the CWGC website.
According to the website Charles Henry McLaren was a member of the 14th Battalion and died of Dysentry at Chester Isolation Hospital. Presumably both died in this country but makes it even more strange that they share a grave. Thanks again everyone especially to Leigh for the info on the Artillery men. Peter
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
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