CWGC double headstones

[Peter Brydon]

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.

[mike_vee]

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."

[mike_vee]

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."

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks Mike,

Most interesting as these are in the main Cemetery in Chester with plenty of CWGC individual headstones around these headstones.

Peter

[mike_vee]

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.

[tonyb]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

Thanks Mike,

Most interesting as these are in the main Cemetery in Chester with plenty of CWGC individual headstones around these headstones.

Peter

Yes Peter interesting , here's a triple headstone I photographed a few years back, again in a Chester cemetery.
Stay safe Tony.
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=49365

[grey_green_acorn]

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

[manchesters]

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

[Peter Brydon]

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

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by manchesters

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

Three young off duty squaddies murdered by the IRA - wasn't the last time that happened.



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

[crest-insignia]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

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.

This one [attached] has always puzzled me. Definitely not explained by the 'battlefield death's' suggestion.
To be found in the CWGC section at the 'Marble Church' [itself well worth a visit] in North Wales.
T

[grenadierguardsman]

How very interesting indeed.
Andy

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

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

Possibly the explosion option hampering identification?

[leigh kitchen]

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

[Peter Brydon]

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