Stanley_C_Jenkins Posted 23 May , 2010 Share Posted 23 May , 2010 On 22nd February 1921 the bodies of three members of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5374617 Private H Morgan, 5374675, Private W.S.Walker and 5373002, Private David John Williams, were found by a farmer near Woodford in County Galway. They had been reported missing from Strand Barracks in Limerick on 13th February. The IRA had placed the following message around the neck of one of their victims: "Spies. Tried by Court Martial and found Guilty. Let all others beware." Their bodies were brought into Limerick, and subsequently sent to England for burial. The Oxon & Bucks regimental Chronicle subsequently reported that Private Morgan had enlisted into the Regiment on 23rd May 1919, having previously served in the Labour Corps during World War I. Private Walker, whose home was near Bicester, had re-enlisted into the Regiment after wartime service on 5th August 1919; he was twenty-three years of age at the time of his death. Private Williams was, similarly, a veteran of the Great War who had served for about fourteen years in the Gloucestershire Regiment and re-enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 4th December 1919; he was thirty-three years old when he was killed.. Further details of this incident can be found on the War of Independence Net site. I have been told that David Williams, a Forest of Dean coal miner, was never commemorated - I have not checked the other two victims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 23 May , 2010 Share Posted 23 May , 2010 Williams certainly has his CWGC commemoration Name: WILLIAMS, DAVID JOHN Initials: D J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Unit Text: 1st Bn. Date of Death: 22/02/1921 Service No: 5373002 N.B.: Recent research has shown that Private Williams is buried here. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: West side of the entrance path. Cemetery: VINEY HILL (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD As does Morgan... Name: MULLETT, THOMAS LEONARD Initials: T L Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Unit Text: "B" Coy. Bucks Bn. Age: 32 Date of Death: 22/02/1921 Service No: 5374617 Additional information: (Served as MORGAN). Son of Edward Mullett, of 11, Mile End Rd., Colchester. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: R. 15. 63. Cemetery: COLCHESTER CEMETERY and Walker Name: WALKER Initials: W S Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Unit Text: 1st Bn. Date of Death: 22/02/1921 Service No: 5374675 N.B.: This casualty has been recently accepted for commemoration by the Commission. However, it will not be possible to add his name to this Memorial immediately. Please contact the Commission before planning a visit, for more information. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Addenda Panel. Memorial: BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL All three were added in the past few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley_C_Jenkins Posted 23 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 23 May , 2010 I understand he has no CWGC gravestone, but attempts are being made to obtain a plaque (that is what I meant by "non-commemorated"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 23 May , 2010 Share Posted 23 May , 2010 If an adequate private headstone already exists, CWGC will not erect one of their stones but will do so if the grave is unmarked. This process can take several years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley_C_Jenkins Posted 23 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 23 May , 2010 If an adequate private headstone already exists, CWGC will not erect one of their stones but will do so if the grave is unmarked. This process can take several years. Pte Williams is said to have been buried with his 10 month old daughter in an un-marked grave, but this sad story has attracted some attention from a local history group, who are attempting to get him properly commemorated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 23 May , 2010 Share Posted 23 May , 2010 CWGC's UK Area Office will give the state of play regarding the grave if you email them. They can only erect a stone on an unmarked grave if they get all the official permissions from the grave owner, local authority etc. Something may well be in hand already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 24 May , 2010 Share Posted 24 May , 2010 Stanley do you have any further details on Walker as he is one of the graves that Im trying to track down Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley_C_Jenkins Posted 24 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 24 May , 2010 Stanley do you have any further details on Walker as he is one of the graves that Im trying to track down Chris Here is the obituary from the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Chronicle. I think Pte Walker was the son of a tenant farmer. Other details can be found in the War of Independence.Net site. (I have also sent a private message). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 24 May , 2010 Share Posted 24 May , 2010 Stanley thanks very much for the info Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Deeks Posted 25 May , 2010 Share Posted 25 May , 2010 Terry, A small local group have been researching Pte David John Williams since we discovered he was buried in All Saints churchyard, Viney Hill, Forest of Dean. His death in 1921 was not commemorated anywhere locally and little was known about the circumstances. The research by Stanley and further information from Ireland has been a revelation. His Great War service is also significant, a pre-War Glouc Regular he was wounded at First Ypres, posted to the 7th Glosters and was in Galliopli long enough to get frostbite, he was then badly wounded on the Somme with 10th Glosters. Discharged in 1917, lack of employment led him to re-enlist in 1919. Eric Nicholls, who does a lot of good work in the Forest, has liaised with you about DJW and the CWGC have been very quick to respond, showing his place of burial as Viney Hill almost immediately. There has also been contact with the church and the main obstacle to a headstone is that both he and his daughter were buried in unmarked grave(s) and the records are insufficient to locate him. His wife re-married and left the area which is another reason he has not been publicly remembered. The local vicar is on board and talking to the CWGC. Thanks to Stanley and you for your help. Any information from Forum members about the Woodford incident or DJW appreciated, Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley_C_Jenkins Posted 25 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2010 Padraig Og O Ruairc has posted a fairly lengthy article about the Woodford incident on the War of Independence site. This is inspired by a persistent local legend that the three missing soldiers were spies posing as deserters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 31 May , 2020 Share Posted 31 May , 2020 Is at Vinny hill all saints church, Gloucestershire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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