Ypres Town Cemetery Extension: Case #1 - Gunner James Whitticase, 224th Siege Battery RGA

[laughton]

This is a child topic of: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/278701-ypres-town-cemetery-extension/

Quote

COG-BR 2763703: a UBS at 28.I.4.b.7.7 with a "Shirt" or "Sheet" bearing 155498

• that number belongs to Gunner James Whitticase, 224th Siege Battery RGA, 10 November 1917
• there is a known gunner Reginald Buttle of the same unit found at the exact same location on COG-BR 2763775 date 28 October 1917
• question is whether it is a SHIRT or a SHEET as I never trust an identification based on a ground sheet
• it does look more like SHIRT, clearly a "dot" on the "i" and and "ir" not an "ee"

 

I showed the image to a group of unassociated people, about a dozen, no hints - they all said "Shirt bearing No. 155498".

 

Of the eight (8) men lost from that battey in Belgium, Gunner Buttle is the only one with the location of his remains marked on a COG-BR. Gunner Whitticase is the only one of the eight that has no known grave.

 

2763703 - Unknown at 28.I.4.b.7.7

2763775 - Buttle at 28.I.4.b.7.7

 

[laughton]

For future reference:

• There is a GWF topic concerning the availability of RGA War Diaries on Ancestry, so that explains why I could not find them
• They have been digitized by the UKNA and are available as Army Troops. 224 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery May-Nov 1917
• GWF Topic - 224th siege battery, RGA, sep1917, however no details that are relevant
• @Graham Stewart posted some information 224th siege battery RGA: "224th(Siege)Bty,R.G.A. - 6x 6inch Howitzers"
• Interestingly, this topic deals with Gunner Buttle, the lad that was found in the same location as Whitticase: Please help...searching for more info on Reginald Buttle, Gunner 93911
• Gunner James Whitticase on "Find A Grave"