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Error on Headstone & CWGC Database


SteveE

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Terry

CWGC Database has this detail online...

Name: BRAIN

Initials: T

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment/Service: Royal Fusiliers

Unit Text: 25th Bn.

Date of Death: 22/06/1915

Service No: 13148

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 8. D. 1-4.

Cemetery: DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY

The same detail is also recorded on his headstone (photo courtesy of Harry Fecitt aka bushfighter)

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Steve

what is the mistake?

Chris

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All the evidence however points to this soldier being J(ohn) Brain not T. Brain.

I have copies of his Medal Index Card, Medal Roll entries, GRO Index Record, Times Obituary and Times Casualty Report that all give his forename as John or with the initial J.

Can you please check to see if this was a scanning error in the first place and if not please advise what I need to do to correct this man's record/headstone.

Regards

Steve

edit: Sorry Chris I pressed the button too early :blush: .....

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Happens mate

Chris

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Terry

Many thanks, I'll collate all the information tonight and send it to you.

As an aside, is it possible to get scans of the original East African burial registers? I'd be interested to find out where the 25th Royal Fusiliers men were buried prior to being brought into the ones they're now in.

Regards

Steve

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OK Terry, understood.

Just a quick (hopefully) one then. I assume all the 25th's casualties for 22nd/23rd June 1915 were buried in Mwanza?

13148 Sgt. J. Brain.

12936 Pte. P. Ashworth.

12946 Pte. G. Griffith.

13387 C.S.M. J. W. Bottomley.

13033 Pte. W. H. Dimmock.

14900 Pte. F. Mucklow.

13016 L/Cpl. A. W. Rumsey.

12994 Pte. A. J. Wandless.

Regards

Steve

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A little side note for you,

On the Soldiers Died disk the young soldier is listed as 13148 Sergeant John Brain. He was formerly in the Coldstream Guards with the service number of 15369. John was born in London, lived in Islington and -- here we go -- enlisted in Le Havre, France. Eventually he was assigned to the 25th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and was killed in action on 22 June 1915 in East Africa.

So, there you have it.

Cheers Andy.

P.S. How many British soldiers enlisted in France? There can't be that many.

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Terry

The same detail is also recorded on his headstone (photo courtesy of Harry Fecitt aka bushfighter)

The Debt of Honour Register will generally have the same info as the headstone as the records are both from CWGC - if you can find a mistake write to the CWGC with proof and they will generally amend their records and re-engrave the headstone - but it will take several months and you will need very good official documentary proof - say so will not do.

We found several errors and even got a man added to Thiepval

regards

John

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A little side note for you,

On the Soldiers Died disk the young soldier is listed as 13148 Sergeant John Brain. He was formerly in the Coldstream Guards with the service number of 15369. John was born in London, lived in Islington and -- here we go -- enlisted in Le Havre, France. Eventually he was assigned to the 25th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and was killed in action on 22 June 1915 in East Africa.

So, there you have it.

Cheers Andy.

P.S. How many British soldiers enlisted in France? There can't be that many.

Andy

Thanks for that, I did have that information but I also have a little bit more that will hopefully explain. John Brain attested for the Coldstream Guards in Le Havre because he was already in France, he was serving as a Corporal with the Sec. Mitrailleuse, Batn. B. Irc. Regt. Etranger. I assume he transferred from the Foreign Legion as part of an agreement to release 'foreign' nationals to their own respective national armies.

I do have another soldier who attested in Le Havre, namely Joseph Pagani. His service appears identical to that of John Brain, i.e. Foreign Legion to Coldstream Guards (# 15372) to 25th Royal Fusiliers (# 13150). He attested to the Coldstream Guards on 7/2/1915, joined them at Windsor on 13/2/1915 and transferred to the 25th Royal Fusiliers on the 23/2/1915 (a total CG service of 16 days). Judging by the service numbers I assume John Brain's service was the same.

Regards

Steve

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  • 2 weeks later...

Terry

Did you receive my email about John Brain OK?

Regards

Steve

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Terry

Again, many thanks for confirmation.

Regards

Steve

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