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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Sailors in from the Cold


Terry Denham

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The Forum has seen several posts announcing that a previously non-commemorated casualty has been accepted by MoD/CWGC for war grave recognition after eighty years or so - usually through the work of researchers or relatives.

Recently, just such a group of researchers has achieved an outstanding success in getting twenty-one naval casualties added to CWGC's database in one go. This was the result of dedicated research and determination. They are remaining anonymous but I think their efforts are worthy of praise on this Forum.

Most of the men died after discharge through service related illness or wounds - usually the hardest category to get accepted due to the level of proof required. There is also a further naval group under consideration by MoD.

For anyone who has a possible 'non-com' in their records, this has to be an encouragement to press forward with putting a case to MoD/CWGC.

The men listed below now have their recognition after so long out in the cold and twenty of their names will appear on the United Kingdom 1914-1918 Memorial as their grave locations are unknown as yet. The last in the list is buried in West Coker (St Martin) Churchyard, Somerset, UK.

ROYAL MARINES

Pte Norman Charles CLATWORTHY Died 21.01.17

Spr Cornelius Henry CURRELL Died 28.03.21

Pte Frederick Montague DEAN Died 01.11.19

Spr Harold FOX Died 26.11.17

Saddler Charles Walter HALL Died 11.05.18

Spr James William HART Died 21.12.17

Pte Thomas Winder HAYDOCK Died 16.03.18

Pte Ralph SIMPSON Died 24.03.18

L/Cpl William WARREN Died 02.03.16

ROYAL MARINE LIGHT INFANTRY

Pte Edwin Bedford AMBLER Died 31.03.17

Pte Theophilus BURTON Died 25.02.18

Cpl Joseph BUSH Died 13.03.19

Sgt John William COOK 02.06.19

QMS Herbert Collis FINCHAM Died 17.12.20

Pte Albert Henry GILFOY Died 11.07.19

Sgt William LAW Died 29.12.20

Pte George James NELSON Died 24.09.20

Pte Thomas RAMSDALE Died 24.09.20

L/Cpl Arnold SMITH Died 11.01.19

L/Cpl William John WALKER Died 05.06.17

Pte Lot HAYWARD Died 18.11.17

May they rest in peace.

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Recently, just such a group of researchers has achieved an outstanding success in getting twenty-one naval casualties added to CWGC's database in one go. This was the result of dedicated research and determination. They are remaining anonymous but I think their efforts are worthy of praise on this Forum.

Whoever they are, they've done a wonderful job.

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"They" did'nt forget these forgotten heroes.

Jimmy

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Last Thursday I heard another good piece of news. A medal collector researching a 1914 star discovered that this man was one of the first two Glosters killed in the First World War, 26th August 1914. Both had no known graves. However, while looking for a grave at Landrecies, where the Glosters fought their first action of the war, someone noticed two graves at the back of a small cemetery. 'Unknown private of the Gloucester Regiment, killed August 1914' and 'Unknown L/Cpl. of the Gloucester Regiment, killed August 1914'. It was clear from all the evidence (War Diary, Battalion history etc) that these could only be L/Cpl. C.H. Hackling and Pte. G.F. Cole. Putting all the evidence together he wrote to the CWGC and they have accepted his evidence and so, 90 years after their deaths, L/Cpl. Hackling and Pte Cole now will have identified graves and are no longer missing.

Steve

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Well done to all concerned.

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  • 4 years later...

Name: GILFOY, ALBERT HENRY

Initials: A H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late of 2nd R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 11/07/1919

Service No: PO/16706

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Memorial: BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

Grave Found

Southampton Old Cemetery Section Q130 Grave 36

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Name: LAW, WILLIAM

Initials: W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Sergeant (Acting)

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late of Deal Bn. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 29/12/1920

Service No: PO/13196

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel.

Memorial: BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

grave found

Gosport Ann's Hill Cemetery Plot 120 space 25

Name: RAMSDALE, THOMAS

Initials: T

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late of 2nd R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 28/12/1916

Service No: PLY/832(S)

N.B.: Recent research has shown that Private Ramsdale is buried here.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: CC. Con. 446

Cemetery: MANCHESTER (GORTON) CEMETERY

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John

more to come - I have sent about 50 emails so far this week

Chris

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  • 4 weeks later...

QMS Herbert Collis FINCHAM Died 17.12.20

Grave found by Izzy

Liverpool Kirkdale Cemetery CofE Sect 8 grave 183

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L/Cpl William John WALKER Died 05.06.17

Grave found by Izzy

"West Derby Cemetery Liverpool section 3 No 2259

"

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  • 1 month later...

Spr Cornelius Henry CURRELL Died 28.03.21

Grave found

Willesden New Cemetery grave 906 section Q

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I have just seen this thread for the first time, amazing job done.

Congratulations to the anonymous team of researchers and to Terry Denham, Chris "Gravefinder General" Harley and their friends in locating the graves.

Not Forgotten :poppy:

Best regards,

Ian.

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  • 2 years later...

L/Cpl William John WALKER Died 05.06.17

Grave found by Izzy

"West Derby Cemetery Liverpool section 3 No 2259

"

Name: WALKER, WILLIAM JOHN

Initials: W J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late Plymouth Bn. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 05/06/1917

Service No: PLY/11958

N.B.: Recent research has shown that Lance Corporal Walker is buried here. The Commission is in the process of producing a headstone to mark his grave.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Section 3. CE. Grave 2259.

Cemetery: LIVERPOOL (WEST DERBY) CEMETERY

Commemoration Moved From UK BOR

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As this was a very old post some of the grave finds have slipped by unnoticed so will update this thread

Name: FOX, HAROLD

Initials: H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Sapper

Regiment/Service: Royal Marines

Secondary Unit Text: Late of 1st Field Coy. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 26/11/1917

Service No: Deal/1109(S)

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Memorial: UNITED KINGDOM BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

Skegness St Clements

Name: HALL, CHARLES WALTER

Initials: C W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Saddler

Regiment/Service: Royal Marines

Secondary Unit Text: Late of Div.Train, 63rd R.N. Div.

Age: 33

Date of Death: 11/05/1918

Service No: Deal/2577(S)

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Western II.YP. 5

Cemetery: LEWES CEMETERY

Name: SIMPSON, RALPH

Initials: R

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Marines

Secondary Unit Text: Late of 1st Field Ambulance, R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 24/03/1918

Service No: Depot/3660(S)

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel.

Memorial: BROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

Harton Cemetery

Name: SMITH, ARNOLD

Initials: A

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late of Plymouth Bn. R.N. Div.

Age: 26

Date of Death: 11/01/1919

Service No: PLY/40(S)

Additional information: Son of Sarah E Smith, of Brownroyd, Bradford.

N.B.: Recent research has shown that Lance Corporal Smith is buried here.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Cons. L. Grave 640

Cemetery: BRADFORD (SCHOLEMOOR) CEMETERY

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Name: FINCHAM, HERBERT COLLIS

Initials: H C

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Quartermaster Serjeant (Acting)

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: Late of Chatham Bn. R.N. Div.

Date of Death: 17/12/1920

Service No: Chatham/7870

N.B.: Recent research has shown that Quartermaster Serjeant (Acting) Fincham is buried here. The Commission is in the process of producing a headstone to mark his grave.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. C/E. 183.

Cemetery: LIVERPOOL (KIRKDALE) CEMETERY

Moved From UK BOR

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NELSON, GEORGE JAMES

Rank:Private

Service No:CH/19375

Date of Death:24/09/1920

Regiment/Service:Royal Marine Light Infantry

Late of 2nd R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.

Panel ReferenceAddenda Panel

MemorialBROOKWOOD (UNITED KINGDOM 1914-1918) MEMORIAL

Norwich Cemetery Norfolk

With thanks to Liz & Kevin Crow

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