Michael Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Aurel and Jacky. Thanks for the additional info. It could not have been easy for the authorities to trace John's descendants, but it's nice that they have some of his personal items. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Aurel. Many thanks for the photos and good to see such a great turnout. Probably a question for Terry but does anyone know why he would be buried in this small cemetery rather than the much larger one over the road? Thanks. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Neil, polygon wood cemetery is a battlefield cemetery, so it is normal that they bury them there, my opinion. Strange enough it isn't an "open" cemetery. But they decided to place them as close as possible to their "finding" spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.r.f Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 THANKYOU I will be there on the 11/11/2004 to visit them. CHEERS. JOHN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Thanks to all, I appreciate seeing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hangleton Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Thanks for posting the pictures. What happens if a serviceman is discovered after all this time, but they are commemorated on, say, the Thiepval memorial as missing? Does the name stay on the "missing" memorial, even though the person is now identified? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 The names will be removed! You can see that at the Thiepval monument and on a few spots on the Menin gate too. There is a new piece of portland added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Thanks to all our pals from Ieper for sharing the events of today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 What happens if a serviceman is discovered after all this time, but they are commemorated on, say, the Thiepval memorial as missing? Does the name stay on the "missing" memorial, even though the person is now identified? The name will be removed from the database under (in this case) Tyne Cot Memorial and added to Polygon Wood Cemetery immediately. (Remember that the on-line database will not reflect this as it is a static copy now eighteen months out of date and not 'live'). The name will be removed from the memorial stonework as soon as the relevant panels are replaced due to wear or damage. CWGC no longer replaces individual names as they occur due to cost. However, examples of when this was the case can be seen on Thiepval etc. This means that the name could take many years or even decades to disappear. However, the casualty still only has one official commemoration location - that shown in the database. Any remaining name on a memorial does not officially exist (eg. It is not counted in statistics etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 So i was quite close this time Terry. Are the renewed strips on the thiepval memorial really erased names??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnethmont Posted 21 October , 2004 Share Posted 21 October , 2004 Aurel, Jacky and others. The Medal Index Card of 235495 John R Thomson ( note the Scots spelling, no p in Thomson ) confirms he was previously with the Royal Highlanders ( Black Watch ) before transfering to the 2nd Gordons. He was awarded the War and Victory medals. It is a bit ironic that on the day he is laid to his eternal rest his present day comrades in the Black Watch are heading into battle in Iraq. During the summer of 1917 2nd Black Watch were stationed at Samarrah, Mesopotamia. Mesoptamia is now known as Iraq. History repeats itself. Remembering all Gordon Highlanders who fell in the Ypres Salient " Donside Forever " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat McLachlan Posted 22 October , 2004 Share Posted 22 October , 2004 Thanks for posting these excellent photos. It is heartwarming we treat our fallen soldiers with so much respect, even after 90 years. Mat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 23 October , 2004 Share Posted 23 October , 2004 Bkristof Yes, they are. They were either removed because the person had been found or possibly the name appeared due to an error and should not have been there in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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