Heath British Cemetery

[Peter Woodger]

Hi

3802 Pte Francis Richard Herbert 3rd Batt. Australian Infantry died of wounds on 23rd August 1918.

On 15th September 1923 his NOK was informed that on concentration of Morcourt CCE to Heath Cemetery it was impossible to trace his grave so a memorial headstone would be placed in Heath.

2461 Sgt. M W Pearse 53rd Batt. Australian Infantry was originally buried in Morcourt CCE but his body was “lost” during the concentration to Heath. After representations from his father, the owner of a periodical magazine, the authorities carried out an investigation and reported.

After careful scrutiny of reports for Heath it was ascertained that 47 of the 49 bodies originally buried in Morcourt CCE were identified which left Sgt Pearse and Pte Bailey of the Manchester Regiment to be accounted for. There were 2 graves concentrated from Morcourt CCE marked “Unknown Australian”. Both of these graves were reopened and one was found to contain the remains of a soldier of the Manchester Regiment and was accepted by IWGC as Pte Bailey.

The other Unknown proved to be a member of the AIF and the following description was given by the exhumation company. “Bedford cord breeches, no tunic. Upper body wrapped in canvas, no badges or buttons”

The report concludes “there is scarcely a doubt that the remains are those of Sgt Pearse and IWGC have ruled that the grave will be accepted as his”

But what about Pte Herbert who was also buried in Morcourt CCE? It is interesting to note that all 49 men buried in Morcourt CCE are said to be accounted for.

I believe the answer is that he was never buried there. His service record shows, in a letter dated 11th Feb 1919 to his NOK, that he was buried Morcourt Church, it does not say CCE.

Now the question is did they look in the churchyard and fail to find him in which case the only error is to state CCE on the stone or was he not sought, or is there an unknown Australian in Heath who is ex Morcourt Churchyard.

Strange what things you can find in the service records

Peter