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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

4081 - is this a code number for 'reported missing'?


Andy Wade

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Hi folks,

I'm looking at the service records of 7462 Private John Earnshaw who served with the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment and was missing presumed - killed in action on 8th November 1914. He's remembered on the Menin Gate and his name will be read out tomorrow at Oakworth War Memorial as one of the fallen for 1914.

There's a Statement of Services sheet in his Army records which has the number 4081 in brackets under the note that he was reported missing on the 8/11/14. See image below:

I've not seen this before and was wondering if anyone knew if this is a code number for being reported missing?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

post-9980-0-47989300-1415456705_thumb.jp

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He wasn't missing for long as he was struck off same day. Was this usual or would they wait a couple of days in case he was sheltering somewhere or at a dressing station and fit to return to duty?

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Hmm, not sure...

It says 'Struck off under WO letter 121/4342 of 17/7/1915' so I'm assuming that they struck him off strength on that date in 1915 and backdated it to 8th November the previous year when he was first posted as missing?

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