Tom Morgan Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Does anyone know the identity of the person who has the earliest date of death in the CWGC records? (Not counting mistakes!) The earliest it could possibly be is August 4th, of course. But who was the very first? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 7 July , 2009 Admin Share Posted 7 July , 2009 There is this chap in the East Surreys buried in Landrecies communal cemetery, the original register (which Dad has) I think gives cause of death. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=581543 Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Thanks, Michelle. I have two soldiers who died in an accident in the UK on 12th August and was wondering if they might be the first. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Hi Tom Technically there are many, from the 5th onwards, who qualify for CWGC status, being service men who died after War was declared - mostly 'Died at Home' or in India. Last year we were at St Symphorien Cemetery which purportedly has the grave of the first k.i.a. - Pt John Parr, 4th Bn., Middlesex Regt. who was killed by a German patrol at Obourg, NE of Mons on the 21st. SDGW has others listed for 17th and 18th, e.g. Joseph Nixon (17th) but not supported by CWGC records, so probably wrong year. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Hi Tom Technically there are many, from the 5th onwards, who qualify for CWGC status, being service men who died after War was declared - mostly 'Died at Home' or in India. Graham Absolutely, Graham, and I'm including these men in my question. I'm after the first qualifying death, from whatever cause or location. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Private Bai, Gold Coast Regt, 15th August 1914 - Kumasi memorial, Ghana Steve M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 There is this chap in the East Surreys buried in Landrecies communal cemetery, the original register (which Dad has) I think gives cause of death. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=581543 Michelle SDGW gives cause of death as 'Died'. The first match-up I can see where SDGW and CWGC agree is Pt Thomas Forrester, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, who died at home on the 5th, and is buried in Larbert Cemetery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 7 July , 2009 Admin Share Posted 7 July , 2009 I think (a long time since I saw the register) that he drowned. Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 There's a cemetery in Mons with burials for the last 4 men to be killed and 4 (or 5) of the first men..... right next to each other. I only know this from having watched a Timewatch prog recently about the "Last day of the war" (it had our own Paul Reed in it!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izzy Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 2nd Lt Edward Molyneux Cohan died 05/08/1914 while serving in the Royal Field Artillery [West Lancashire Brigade] he is buried in my local, churchyard St Nicholas Halewood. He died when his Horse bolted after being startled by a Steam Traction Engine the Horse caught its Hoof in a Rabbit hole and threw the officer who later died of his injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bantamforgot Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Tom. I understood the first & last to be kia are buried in St. Symphorien , Mons. the records should show this. Or are you looking for the earliest death, regardless of cause? Colin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Tom. I understood the first & last to be kia are buried in St. Symphorien , Mons. the records should show this. Or are you looking for the earliest death, regardless of cause? Colin. That's right, Colin, the earliest death qualifying for War Grave status, regardless of cause. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bantamforgot Posted 7 July , 2009 Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Thanks Tom for clarifying the position, I suppose I knew that you would be aware of the kia aspect, I was guilty of the usual problem, not reading previous posts! Cheers. Colin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 7 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2009 Thanks Tom for clarifying the position, I suppose I knew that you would be aware of the kia aspect, I was guilty of the usual problem, not reading previous posts! Cheers. Colin. I'm often guilty of that too, Colin. there's just too many new threads to take in sometimes! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 7 July , 2009 Admin Share Posted 7 July , 2009 How about this one? http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=723050 Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Have a look at this one http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=359590 This man is my great uncle, he was with the transport section and was killed in an accident with a horse during mobilization. The coroner took the unusal step of allowing written statements from the witnesses, as the men had by the time of the inquest already been mobilized. By the way if anyone has the opportunity the photogragh his grave in Aldershot I will be very grateful. Many thanks. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Have a look at this one http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=359590 By the way if anyone has the opportunity the photogragh his grave in Aldershot I will be very grateful. Stuart, not brilliant but I'm reasonably certain that the 2nd headstone up in the column to the extreme left is your Gt. Uncle's grave (it corresponds to the AF1711 location given by the CWGC and does, as far as its possible to tell, look like the Coldstream Guard insignia) Here's a detail of the headstone taken from it. Unfortunately not sufficient detail to make out the name even when magnified; next time I'm in the area I'll endeavour to get a better shot - not sure when that'll be at the moment though. NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Hello, Two members of the RFC, probably killed in a flying accident on 16 Aug 14, lie near Amiens. They were 2/Lt Copland-Perry and 2nd Air Mech Parfitt. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 The earliest RFC men killed (and earliest RFC officer) were Airman RK Barlow & Fl.Lt. R Skene when their fully laden plane crashed shortly after take off from Netheravon enroute for France on August 12th. (as can be seen below, Barlow's CWGC entry gives his death as the 11th, but as both men were killed together, and reports indicate that the accident happened on the 12th not the 11th, any claim that Barlow was the earliest RFC man to be killed shouldn't be taken too seriously.) Name: SKENE Initials: R R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps Date of Death: 12/08/1914 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: West of Church. Cemetery: SEND (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD Name: BARLOW, RAYMOND KEITH Initials: R K Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Airman 1st Class Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps Unit Text: 3rd Sqdn. Date of Death: 11/08/1914 Service No: 331 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. 4. 9. Cemetery: BULFORD CHURCH CEMETERY I would be interested to see a picture of Barlow's grave if anyone could oblige - here's one of Skene's It's a pity that Geoff's '14-18 Search Engine can't be accessed at the moment; it might have helped to determine the earliest deaths listed by the CWGC NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Poulton is recorded in the coldstream register for those killed - his name being added to the top of the list - confirms he died accidentally but cant read the rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Here is a candidate - a TF officer at annual camp, recalled to mobilise with his Brigade, accident. Name: COHAN Edward Molyneux Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment: Royal Field Artillery Unit Text: West Lancs. Bde. Date of Death: 05/08/1914 Grave Ref: N. New. 11/12. Cemetery: HALEWOOD (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD, near Liverpool D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaywalker Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Name: VILES, JOSEPH Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 27 Date of Death: 04/08/1914 Service No: 7297 Additional information: Son of Joseph and Sarah Viles. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: O. B. 2. Cemetery: BATH (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY Surely this chap has to be in with a shout. I know his name has cropped up several times in the past.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Surely this chap has to be in with a shout. I know his name has cropped up several times in the past.. In with a shout, that's a bit of an understatement - more of a scream I would have thought ! I can't better that, but the CWGC give an earlier one than that of Poulton (8th) at Aldershot Military Cemetery at discussed in posts #16 & 17 http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_detail...8800&mode=1 There are 690 First World War graves in the cemetery, the earliest bears the date 5th August 1914, and the latest 11th August 1921. Many of these graves are in plot AF and here he is: Name: WHITTINGTON, ARTHUR JAMES Initials: A J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Serjeant Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps Unit Text: "A" Coy. Age: 33 Date of Death: 05/08/1914 Service No: S/15790 Additional information: Son of John and Kate Whittington, of 4, Broadway Cottages, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1710. This is the first of the graves in the left hand column of those shown in #17 (ie immediately in front of Poulton's), as before, apologies for the quality. Here's the detail: It looks as if the earliest WW1 graves at Aldershot are almost in chronological order, running up the hill, in the left hand column: following on from Whittington, they run: Name: POULTON Initials: E Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Coldstream Guards Unit Text: 1st Bn. Date of Death: 08/08/1914 Service No: 9836 Additional information: Brother of Herbert Poulton, of 34, Grove Rd. West, Enfield Wash, Enfield, Middx. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1711. Name: STOWERS, FREDERIC Initials: F Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Age: 30 Date of Death: 10/08/1914 Service No: 7070 Additional information: Husband of Emma Prudence Stowers, of 173, Holland Rd., Kensington, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1712. Name: WADD Initials: B A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps Unit Text: "A" Coy. Date of Death: 14/08/1914 Service No: S/32281 Additional information: Son of Mr. T. Wadd, of Kings Cliffe, Peterborough, Northants. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1713. Name: HAY Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps Unit Text: Depot, Date of Death: 17/08/1914 Service No: 8157 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1714. Name: AYRES Initials: W T Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Reserve Cavalry Regiment Unit Text: 3rd Date of Death: 07/09/1914 Service No: 18282 Additional information: Brother of Mrs. S. Allen, of 54, Linford Rd., Wood St., Walthamstow, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1715. Name: EWINGS, HAROLD WILLIAM Initials: H W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) Unit Text: 4th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 20/08/1914 Service No: 1534 Additional information: Son of George Thomas and Sarah Jane Ewings, of 21, Russell Rd., Holloway, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1716. Name: BOYLE, ROBERT HAMILTON Initials: R H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sapper Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers Unit Text: 1st Signal Coy. Age: 29 Date of Death: 11/09/1914 Service No: 13740 Additional information: Son of Mr. R. H. and Mrs. Sarah Anne Boyle, of 13, Portland Rd., Gillingham, Kent. Native of Chatham. His brothers, Alec and John Thomas, also died in service. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1717. Name: ALLEN, WILLIAM Initials: W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: Rifle Brigade Unit Text: 7th Bn. Age: 47 Date of Death: 29/09/1914 Service No: B/252 Additional information: Son of Fred Allen; husband of Alice Edith Allen, of 3 Court, 7 House, Adam St., Birmingham. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1718. Name: MIDDLETON, GEORGE Initials: G Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) Unit Text: 11th Bn. Age: 38 Date of Death: 19/09/1914 Service No: 12606 Additional information: Husband of Mrs. M. Middleton, of 18, Hodson St., Salford, Manchester. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: AF. 1719. NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Two more for Aug. 4th 1914 from Naval-History.net (Don Kindell) RMLI, Chatham Division DAVIES, George, Private, RMLI, 8671 (Ch), illness in UK CWGC Link Victory BRACKLEY, Ernest A, Boy Servant, L 4914, illness. CWGC Link Cheers, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Hi NigelS, Many thanks for the photos, and if you do get the opportunity to take a photo of his headstone next time you are there I will be very grateful. All the best. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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