Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Finding of The Kings Soldier 28.02.2006 Langemark


frans

Recommended Posts

As promised I am going to show how De Diggers recoverred this soldier.

Normally we don't publish any photo's of any soldiers we find. We don't think it is in good taste and secondly we only have a duty to recover, not a duty of identification. We therefore chose not to interfere in the ID process in anyway and let the respective authorities do their work.

The procedure regarding the ID process has been finished by the MOD/CWGC and we are waiting for the regiment to come and put this soldier to rest in his new place at Cement House Cemetery.

The images are not meant to shock, afterall it was a human being. I look at them taking account this was a young man doing his duty and paid the highest price.

Nearly all the soldiers we find are in and around no mans land and will have died on the spot they are found.

The Kings soldier was found 25.02.2006 10 meters away from the main road in Langemark next to the entrance of the football club FC Langemark. We were asked by the mayor of Langemark to screen the ground because they were going to build a sportinghall on the site.

The red arrow is of the Enlish monument of the 20th light division. The road from the bottom left is the road from Boezinge. The red dotted area is where the soldiers was found.

494060118_2e13771d00_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While detecting the week before we had good reason to think there could be a soldier burried in this area.

We had located some bones. These are covered up again and the procedure is started to recover the remains with the police present. The police first look if it is not a crime scene and when this is done we can proceed.

Most soldiers will carry some kind of metal on them that is why we can find soldiers using metalldetecting.

The first photo show a couple of rifle grenades only six inches under the surface.

494124447_d69b40d0fb_o.jpg

Rifle grenades close up.

494122865_6611b32229_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just above Gaby's right knee are the rifle grenades.

494093146_a354868677_o.jpg

Now for the first time it is clear that we have found the remains of a soldier.

If you look closely you will see the teeth.

494126953_be37931dbd_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The area to be uncovered is increased. The main road from Langemark to Boezinge is in the background.

494132617_eb1b7c6a68_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These photo's are taken after about one and a half hours of digging.

The soldier appears slowly and we get our first clue the regiment of the soldier.

On the top of the left shoulder is the badge of the Kings regiment.

494106708_08c7bc48fe_o.jpg

Clise up from the other direction.

494108908_af65d4152d_o.jpg

Blown up in size.

494142527_4d69da1c5d_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

More and more gets uncovered.

Clear to see are the two rifle grenades from the first photo's.

494156253_316c8dca3e_o.jpg

The remains are pritty complete, the only thing mssing is the soldiers right leg.

It looks like the soldier was blown away with a big explosion.

He will have stood about around six meters from the impacrt, if he would have stood closer we would have found nothing of him.

The bag he carried with the rifle grenades has shot up to head hight.

494156315_0fcdf19fe7_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where one of the top pockits would have been we found this cap badge.

Although we understand that this soldier died most likely around half of august 1917 in the third battle of Ieper he must have kept his old cap badge as momento as by now the steel helmit was standard issue.

494155858_7a5b5ef789_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another item that was found is this penknife.

All the items you see and the remains are removed by the police and kept in a secure room at the Houthulst barracks.

494194021_a4a6a30f46_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans.

All I can say is thankyou for finding him. Another lost soul brought in from the cold soil he has lain in all these years. I hope and pray that his remains will be laid to rest in a nearby cemetary, among his comrades in arms.

God rest him.

A Soldier Remembered With Honour.

Terry W.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans,

I have watched De Diggers from afar and am amazed at their discoveries; clearly the best thread on this forum.

I find this thread absolutely fascinating, and would love to see more of it. What a wonderful job the Diggers do,

one that many on this forum would love to do, or even assist.

You are providing an excellent service to these men who paid their sacrifice, so that we may live.

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans,

That we could treat each one with dignity and the care you show them

It is tough looking and very sad, but he will be remembered and we trust at peace

Shirley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A very informative post.

And a job well done, Frans.

As always.

Roel

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans - you and the Diggers hold my greatest respect.

Thank you for what you do and the caring way it which it is done

Stephen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A great piece of work. I'm wondering if the cap badge, when cleaned up, shows signs that it had been blackened (it looks like it from the photo) - I'm fairly sure that this might help identify the battalion of King's Regiment. The 5th battalion had black cap badges and were in that area in July/ August 1917.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thankyou, very moving. May he rest in peace. Frans I think a more likely explanation for the cap badge is that he removed it from his soft cap which may have been left with his large pack behind the lines (common practice) perhaps with batalion transport. He probably did not want someone to pilfer his kit whilst he was in the trenches, again a common practice.

Thankyou again

TT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans

Absolutely fascinating stuff, many thanks for posting.

Take care mate

Glyn

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans,

Thank you very much for posting these photographs and for bringing another one in from the cold. Keep up the good work.

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Frans for posting this thread and thanks to all the De Diggers for their great work.

identify the battalion of King's Regiment

Ian from the location, I would think he was 12/King's but it would be hard to know for sure.

Annette

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Frans - most interesting. Do you keep records like this on each soldier found, and are they deposited with IFF, Document centre, MMP, or somewhere similar?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans

Although I have been a member of this forum for several months now and kept up with your diggers thread with great interest, with one thing and another I have not posted any reply or comment. But I was very moved by this series of pictures, which really brings home the fact how war affects human beings like ourselves, and is not just maps, materiel and politics.

Thank you very much for your efforts on behalf of these men.

cheers Martin B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frans, and all De Diggers,

Excellent work and another excellent set of posts. I will wear my De diggers badge with pride! (Trust everyone's got one?)

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well done Frans and all De Diggers. As always an interesting set of photos to explain your work.

I do not have the De Diggers badge but wear my cap everywhere and am often asked - who are they then.

stevem

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...