John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Whilst out walking this morning I popped into Castle Church (St. Mary) Churchyard in Stafford and found a headstone that was a good 4-5 inches wider than the standard. It belonged to Captain Humfrey Thomas Bostock MC who died in 1929 "after long illness caused by war wounds". There is no listing on CWGC (it lists another 15 burials in the churchyard), but to all intents and purposes it is a CWGC headstone. I've attached a photo. Has it been created in the style of a CWGC headstone or can anyone shed light on the reason for its width? Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 His death would be outside the cut off period for war deaths. Probably the family had a CWGC look alike stone for him. Stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 As he died outside of the CWGC remit, it isn't a CWGC headstone. It'll be a private headstone done to the same layout (bar the width).... that's why he isn't and won't be listed. EDIT - DOH!! Beaten to it by a minute! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Thanks Chaps. Beaten by a minute but still pretty good! When was the cut-off time? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 The period is 4th August 1914 to 31st August 1921. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Thanks! You got that one in first. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 I just happened to have another site open at the same time that listed the dates So all credit goes to In From The Cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Multi-tasking. I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Copies of the official CWGC headstone in the 1920s are not unknown. Mostly they are for 'old soldiers' or servicemen who died outside the qualifying period. The post-1921 date usually gives away the fact that it is not an official war grave with a CWGC stone (though cases do exist with unofficial copy headstones which do fall inside the qualifying dates - and that can be confusing!). It was not until after WW2 that various 'Non-World War' styles were developed for such cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Thanks Terry, The extra width must have been to get the name on. It was rather long! My next job will be to find out when Captain Bostock was wounded and when he got his MC. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinEndon Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Is it possible that the headstone wasn't erected until after ww2? I don't know if the churchyard records would indicate when this was done. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 I could certainly check that out. There was a service on when I was there this morning, but I make contact with the vicar. Another intersting thing I noticed was two Bloor brothers side by side. One a WWI 2 Lt in the D.L.I. The other was a WWII Flight Lieutenant. Two other brothers are buried in France and Italy. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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