How do I find out where and how someone was injured

[andyclarke78]

I am researching a friends great Grandfather by the name of Pte. George Osler who died 9th March 1918. I have letters from which he wrote to his sister during the war, he tells her that he injured his leg and he is in hospital, it is dated 4th Jan 1918, another letter dated 21st Jan he tells her he is out of hospital and in a convalesant Camp. By 16th Feb he says he is back at his base and his last letter was dated the 8th March 1918 he died the next day.

Can anyone tell me how to find out where and how he was injured. And where he was fighting when he died or even how he died?

We have his Medal Index Card did doesn't have date of entry, what would I benefit from personally going to national archives?

His details are :

Pte. George Osler

No. 32861

7th Bn Norfolk Regiment

Many thanks. Andrew

[jay dubaya]

Hi Andrew,

No entry date on his MIC would suggest that he didn't arrive overseas until 1st January 1916 at the earliest and would probably have been sent out in a draft of reinforcements.

SDGW lists George as being born in Southery and enlisted in Attleborough and was killed in action on the 9th March 1918. I've had a quick online search at the NA and this would suggest that his service papers were part of the two-thirds that were destroyed during the Blitz of 1940.

Finding out where the battalion was around the dates that you have shouldn't be too difficult, the actual war diaries for the battalion are available for download from the NA with a total cost of £7.00 for the period December 1917-January 1918 here and February 1918-March 1918 here.

If you download the diaries let us know the locations and I'm sure we'll find you a relevant trench map,

cheers, Jon

[andyclarke78]

Jon

Thanks downloaded those, very interesting read. From the letter he wrote to his sister from hosital are from 13 General Hospital, which i have looked up and based at Boulogne. Are there any records obtainable for this hospital??

If you have a trench map for the FLEURBAIX area including SAILLY SUR LA LYS, MERVILLE that you could send me I will be greatly appreciative.

Cheers

Andrew