Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor VC, DSO, MC*, DFC

[Frank_East]

Regarding the graves of those deaths outside the qualifying periods of both world wars and those who qualified for the CWGC register and CWGC tombstone,the RAF local units look after maintenance...grass cutting etc of the cemetery plots in their area on behalf of the CWGC together with those service personnel who died outside the qualifying periods.With the rationalisation of RAF bases in the last 20 years or so.it has meant that the arrangement is discharged from relatively long distances

 

Outside the qualifying period,particularly before 3 September 1939,it is not unusual to see RAF military graves having their own civilian type tombstone with military detail inscriptions of personnel who met their deaths while training and working up the new aircraft being rushed into service,some a few weeks before the outbreak of war and commencement of the WW2 qualifying period.

 

At Lapugnoy Military Cemetery there is a RFC casualty who has a quite elaborate civilian tombstone.He was killed before the IWGC was established and lies in the midst of CWGC graves.The cemetery was first established in September 1915 from the nearby No 23 CCS and his NOK must have preferred their own tombstone to a IWGC one.

 

The CWGC/MOD tombstones are similar and have been illustrated on the forum in the past.I have also seen RAF dependants having the non CWGC qualifying tombstones in RAF predominately postwar plots....father a F/L and son both killed in a road accident with identical tombstones. 

 

The grave of Cadet J N Bates RNR would have the same status (NWG) as the ATC cadets who were killed while experiencing RAF service life on RAF station visits. Most of these young cadets were victims of RAF aircraft crashes while flying with aircraft on appropriate training exercises, a usual feature of ATC visits to operational units. (Just a point.....difficult to relate RNR status to Cadet J N Bates, assuming that the casualty was a Sea Cadet)

[Stoppage Drill]

The stone calls him "Naval Cadet"

 

The RN were still accepting and deploying boys of 14 in WW2.

 

Could he be in that category?

[Frank_East]

J N Bates was not in a regular RN service category, being a Sea Cadet .ie designated as a Naval Cadet with a rank of Midmanship RNR.

 

Incidentally,the present day rank, Midshipman (SSC) RNR is an Adult Officer rank of the Sea Cadet Corps.The rank of Midshipman appears to be redundant for Sea Cadets.

 

 

[chrisharley9]

On ‎24‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 12:40, Stephen Nulty said:

Thanks Chris. He's already in their care so it looks like a case of administrative changes only

 

Hello Stephen,

 

case is on hold at the moment as CWGC require the aircraft accident card. Any ideas on how to get that?

 

Chris  

[Stephen Nulty]

Sorry Chris, they're not a resource I'm familiar with, though my old pal Google suggests that they are at TNA

 

[David_Underdown]

I think they're actually at RAF Museum, and online in their History Vault or whatever they call it.

[David_Underdown]

Storyvault apparently, several cas card entries for him http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/pages/raf_vault.php?&RAF-titel=Beauchamp-Proctor&van=1 top entry seems to be the one relating to his death.

[chrisharley9]

BATES, JOHN NAUNTON

Rank:

Civilian

Date of Death:

10/09/1943

Age:

14

Regiment/Service:

Civilian War Dead

 

 

Reporting Authority:

AMESBURY, RURAL DISTRICT

 

Additional Information:

Son of the Rev. H. N. Bates, of Brightwalton Rectory, Newbury. Died in aircraft crash near High Post.

 

Accepted as civilian war dead on the 15th July.