New CWGC Commemorations

[Terry Denham]

CWGC made a further attempt to fix its software today and, as a result, many new casualties were added to the database. It remains to be seen if the fix has worked. If it has, the regular posting of all new WW1 casualties will resume as they occur – hopefully, in more manageable numbers!

As there are so many new names and to save space, only the non-IFCP names are added here with the rest being on the IFCP website.

Pte Francis Edward BRIMACOMBE

38586 650 Agric Coy, Labour Corps

Died 28.12.18 Age 18

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

Sgt James BROWN MM

2880 51 Bn, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

Died 21.04.18 Age 29

Buried: Clermont Cemetery, Qld, Australia

PO Stoker George Frederick RALPH

30014 Royal Navy, HMS Lowestoft

Died 09.03.18 Age 34

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

Pte James William WEST

G/1431 8 Bn, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Died 27.03.19 Age 34

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

Stoker 1st Class Sidney James WEST

K/19572 Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke

Died 08.01.19 Age 26

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

NOT FORGOTTEN

The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that CWGC is now listing some names to appear on a brand new memorial to the missing - FRANCE (1914-1918) MEMORIAL.

This is a proposed new memorial to be sited in an existing CWGC-owned cemetery or memorial site (as yet undecided) in France. It will bear the names for which there is no longer any room on other such memorials in France. So when the addenda panels are full on these existing memorials, any new names will appear on this purpose built structure (An exception will be Thiepval where more addenda panels are due to be added). [Edit 17.06.10: It has now been decided that there are sufficient names in hand to fill the eight new panels due to be added to Thiepval that this memorial will not be an exception after all]

The actual building of the memorial will be some time off yet as the various approvals are to be obtained etc but architects are working on the design now. As a temporary measure, the names added to this memorial will be kept in a register at CWGC headquarters and so the memorial is listed as being located in Berkshire, UK for the time being. That will obviously be amended when it is completed.

[stevem49]

Never Forgotten

[chrisharley9]

All but Brown are Neil Clarke's cases

May They Rest In Peace

[Guest KevinEndon]

Here is a link to the home page of the IFTC website, just scroll dowm to "latest news" to find the new names,

http://www.infromthecold.org/index.asp

Well done everyone who has brought someone in from the cold, both on here and on the IFTC site.

Fingers crossed the CWGC site is fixed, it's nice to see these missing folks names back.

Kevin

[Hywyn]

Well done all those concerned both here and on the IFTC.

Not Forgotten

Hywyn

[grantowi]

Well done all concerned

RIP

Grant

[River97]

Rest in peace, gone and no longer forgotten.

Some time ago there was banter and jokes about the possibility of a new memorial after the Roll of Honour was gathered for the New Zealand fallen. I never thought it would actually happen. That's outstanding. Well done to all.

Andy.

[Neil Clark]

BRIMACOMBE F.E

Sutcombe Civic War Memorial, Devon

FOUND BY: Shawn Dymond

Private 38586 Francis Edward BRIMACOMBE. Headquarters, 650th Agricultural Company (Bodmin), Labour Corps. Died 28 December 1918 (Pneumonia) at Tucking Mill, Warbstow, Launceston, Devon. Son of William Augustus and Laura Annie Brimacombe of Verworthy, Near Holsworthy, Devonshire. Born 20 May 1900. Baptised 23 February 1914 at Sutcombe (aged 14 years) along with 8 brothers! Buried St Andrews Churchyard, Sutcombe, Devon. Grave reference not known at this time.

Francis father William was by profession a trapper and labourer around the Holsworthy area of Devonshire. Francis often helped his father at work as well as working on his uncles farm at Verworthy.

Called to the colours sometime circa December 1917. Posted to a small farm at Warbstow, Canworthy Water near Launceston, Cornwall. Contracted Spanish Influenza in early December 1918 and eventually died of same 19 days later on 28 December 1918 (Pneumonia). It is believed that Francis died whilst still in service therefore he is entitled to have his name commemorated as a casualty of the Great War.

After death Francis body was returned to his parents and was buried at Sutcombe on 30 December 1918.

It is without doubt a fact that he WAS in the army when he died and it is also without doubt that he should be remembered by the CWGC – he appears on the village war memorial at Sutcombe, and I have an extract from the local parish newsletter of his death and burial at Sutcombe.

The Brimmacombe’s were a long established Sutcombe family. All the following were buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard, Sutcombe.

Charles BRIMMACOMBE 1878-1950 72

Charles 66

Charles 1833-1866 33

Edward 1840-1868 28

Emily Died 1977

Jane 1907-1981 74

Richard 1788-1852 64

Rebecca 1799-1865 66

Richard 1821-1888 67

William 1830-1892 62

William 1825-1876 51

RALPH G.F

Been waiting ages for this one!

Stoker Petty Officer 300114 George Frederick RALPH. HMS Lowestoft, Royal Navy (RN). Died T.B (Tubercolosis) 9 March 1918 aged 34 years. Died at 19 Alfred Street, Chatham, Kent. Born 21 January 1883 Sittingbourne, Kent. Occupation on Death Certificate – Naval Pensioner. Husband of C.L Ralph of 19 Alfred Street, Chatham, Kent.

George served in many warships throughout his naval career which commenced in 1906. When discharged (27 September 1916) he was on the roll of HMS Pembroke in Chatham, Kent. George was admitted to the Naval Hospital in nearby Gillingham for a medical assessment.

Awarded a full war disability pension by the Ministry of Pensions upon being discharged from the Royal Navy unfit for further war service. When he was kicked out the navy 27 September 1916 he was clearly suffering from T.B as evidenced by his service paper, he died of the SAME disease only 18 months later!

We found this man by the fact his name appears on various civic war memorials in the Sittingbourne area. His name isn’t recorded officially (yet).

A STRAIGHTFORWARD CASE OF APPROVAL!

WEST J.W

Lyminge Civic War Memorial

Private G/1431 James William WEST. 8th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 27 March 1919 aged 34 years at Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone, Kent. Born 1886 Margate, Kent. Enlisted 7 September 1914 (volunteer). Resided 4 Rose Cottages, Peene, Newington, Folkestone, Kent. Formerly Mill Cottage, Lyminge, Kent. Later (1918) resided “Ivydene”, Station Road, Lyminge, Kent. Husband of Edith Clayson (married Margate 1911).

GRO Death Reference

1919, MAR, West James W, 34 Elham 2a 1983

Upon enlistment James was posted to the Buffs Depot at Canterbury to start his training with the 3rd Buffs. On 12 September 1914 James finished his basic training and was drafted to the 8th (Service) Battalion, of the Buffs. It is with this battalion that James saw action during the Battle of Loos. He was posted Missing in action on 26 September 1915 with a note stating he had been taken Prisoner of War (POW) by the Germans at Hulloch. During this engagement James was very severely gassed and wounded in the left leg – Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to abdomen and left leg (fractured femar). It is documented in the Buffs Regimental History (Col Moody) that during the Battle of Loos the 8th (Service) battalion, Buffs came under heavy and sustained gas attack on more than one occasion. The Germans used Gas extensively at Hulloch where James unit was fighting. It appears that soon after the “missing in action” report James was found terribly wounded on the battlefield and was recovered through the medical evacuation chain to the UK. James was taken from Dover to the Naval Hospital in nearby Gillingham where he remained for some considerable time. James was eventually discharged from the army on 23 June 1916 unfit for further war service (retired as an invalid). James was awarded a full Army Disability War Pension (assessed at 80% for both his gunshot wounds and his lung problems). He continued to suffer from the effects of gas and his family state he received treatment for various respiritory conditions in Folkestone throughout 1917 and 1918. His abdomen wounds eventually healed although he was prone to hernia and although the fracture had healed, the missile was still in situ and his left leg was 2 inches shorter than the other! He walked slowly with a limp but distance was a problem because he became out of breath very quickly. It seems that he never recovered from these serious war wounds and that the gassing weakened his lungs! After the war ended James went to live at “Ivydene”, Station Road, Lyminge, Kent. James continued with his treatment but his lungs were terribly damaged. On 18 March 1919 James was admitted into hospital suffering from shortness of breath and what looked like influenza. He was dead by March 1919. His Death Certificate gives cause of death as Influenza and Pneumonia (obviously the gassing had a detrimental effect on his lung capacity which in turn contributed towards his death). It would seem that poor James NEVER really recovered from his wounds and that in his final days suffered terribly! Had James lungs been in good health he may have survived the Spanish Flu.

On the balance of Probability James died as a direct consequence of his war service – His Death Certificate gives cause of death as Flu/Pneumonia. The gassing 2 years earlier had a profound effect on his lungs and he was unable to fight off the effects of influenza which in 1918 and 1919 was a very virulent strain.

James saw action in some furious battles and engagements including –

1. Battle of Loos

2. Hulloch Operation September 1915.

WEST S.J

Brenzett Civic War Memorial

Another one thats taken too long to approve.....

Stoker 1st Class K/19572 Sidney James WEST. HMS Pembroke, Royal Navy. Died 8 January 1919 aged 26 years from Pulmonary Tubercolosis (T.. Born 13 March 1892 (St Mary in the Marsh, Romney Marsh, Kent). Son of Stephen and Ellen West of Brenzett, Ashford, Kent. Brother of Alice West of 3 George Street, Brenzett, Ashford, Kent (Present at death).

Sidney died in Brenzett.

His Death Certificate records his occupation as – Invalided Stoker H.M’s Navy. Cause of death T.B and Exhaustion. Poor Sidney must have suffered terribly in the last few months.

Before enlistment in 1913 Sidney was working locally in Ashford as a Cab Driver.

Enlisted 11 June 1913 at Chatham (HMS Pembroke) on a 12 year engagement. Sidney contracted Pulmonary Tubercolosis whilst serving in the Royal Navy like thousands of other sailors. He was discharged on 17 October 1917 unfit for further war service on the grounds he had contracted T.B whilst on active service. Sidney was awarded a disability war pension by the Ministry of Pensions and was given a Silver War Badge (SWB) to signify his status as a invalided sailor. He died from Pulmonary Tubercolosis (T. on 8 January 1919.

GRO Death Reference – 1919 Romney Marsh 2a 1998

SHOULD BE A STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROVAL – He died of the same disease he had been invalided with 15 months earlier.

[Andrew P]

Well that's great news. In february this year I contacted the Office of Australian War Graves regarding James Brown MM of the 51st Battalion so rapt to see he's been included.

He was from Clermont in Queensland. He left Brisbane as part of the Australian Army Service Corps. When his transport ship arrived in Fremantle WA he overstayed his leave and missed his ship’s departure. He was therefore assigned to the 9th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion with the service number 2880.

In Egypt in March 1916 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion. During the war he rose to the rank of Sergeant & was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Messines in June 1917.

In October 1917 he was in Hospital in England due to nervous strain & suffering epileptic fits. The examining doctor in England found that his condition was ‘aggravated by the strain of active service’. Ruled unfit for further military service, Sgt James Brown was invalided home. He left England in January 1918.

Returning to Queensland, James still unwell was sent to Toowoomba Hospital and he died on the 21st April 1918. At the time of his death James Brown MM was still a member of the AIF as he had not yet been discharged. He was officially discharged from the AIF on the 25th April 1918, four days after his actual death.

His father was present at James’s bedside & brought his body back to Clermont where James was buried on the 25th April 1918. (The same day his old 51st battalion mates were helping to recapture Villers Brettoneux)

Regards

Andrew

[Will O'Brien]

Raising a glass to their memory

[Neil Clark]

Well done Andrew P. Keep looking for more.....

[chrisharley9]

RALPH, GEORGE FREDERICK

Rank:Petty Officer Stoker

Service No:300114

Date of Death:09/03/1918

Age:34

Regiment/Service:Royal Navy

H.M.S. Lowestoft.

Panel ReferenceAddenda Panel

MemorialCHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Husband of C.L. Ralph, of Chatham, Kent.

Grave Found Chatham Cemetery

With thanks to CGM

[chrisharley9]

Pte Francis Edward BRIMACOMBE

38586 650 Agric Coy, Labour Corps

Died 28.12.18 Age 18

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

 

Commemoration moved to Sutcombe St Andrew's Churchyard, Devon.

[chrisharley9]

Pte James William WEST

G/1431 8 Bn, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Died 27.03.19 Age 34

Commemorated: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK

 

Commemoration moved to St. Mary and St. Ethelburga Church, Lyminge..