Hamburg POW Cemetery

[Gary Jucha]

Whilst trying to track some details of a soldier W.H Hogg of the HLI (Died 03/10/18), the detail arose from the CWG that the said was buried in Hamburg cemetery.

Quote from the CWG :

During the First World War, Hamburg Cemetery was used for the burial of over 300 Allied servicemen who died as prisoners of war. In 1923, it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Hamburg was one of those chosen, and burials were brought into the cemetery from 120 burial grounds*

.. From this I presume that Hogg was indeed a POW of the Germans, and was wondering if there are are direct or indirect files that I could check for possible further details concerning his capture or imprisonment.

As always .. any pointers would be most appreciated ..

Gary J.

[Doug Johnson]

The date of death would certainly signify a PoW. There would be no interview but he may have been mentioned in one so it is worth putting his name into TNA on line search for WO161. Also put his name into a search of the on line index to FO383 in case he is mentioned there. TNA also has a file of death certificates for PoWs. These are incomplete and mostly in French but worth a search if at TNA as it might be more specific than the GRO certificate. There are some lists of PoWs in FO383 but only accessible from there and lengthy to search. I presume you are not related to him so a free enquiry to the Red Cross in Geneva is not possible but you could try a paid research. Results are mixed and the timescale uncertain but if you know nothing at all it is worth trying but it does cost.

Doug

[Gary Jucha]

Doug,

Many thanks for the pointers .....

The thing that at first I could not make out was the burial in Hamburg !!!. Then of course reading on that Hamburg was more or less a POW cemetery clarified the matter.

.. Again, correct in that I am not a relative, ...but it's my first time round trying to research a medal grouping to Hogg which surfaced after being "stored" in an old tobacco tin for nearly 90 years !!

Cheers again !!

Gary J.

The date of death would certainly signify a PoW. There would be no interview but he may have been mentioned in one so it is worth putting his name into TNA on line search for WO161. Also put his name into a search of the on line index to FO383 in case he is mentioned there. TNA also has a file of death certificates for PoWs. These are incomplete and mostly in French but worth a search if at TNA as it might be more specific than the GRO certificate. There are some lists of PoWs in FO383 but only accessible from there and lengthy to search. I presume you are not related to him so a free enquiry to the Red Cross in Geneva is not possible but you could try a paid research. Results are mixed and the timescale uncertain but if you know nothing at all it is worth trying but it does cost.

Doug