Frank Gilliver, 107244 Royal Engineers, died April 1918

[Mighty Sparrow]

Record shows him with 212 ‘Tottenham’ Company RE when he died of wounds on 11.04.1918. No location of death, or relevant action is given. Buried at Lapugnoy Cemetery, France.

Actions on that day were Battle of Estaires and Battle of Messines. Long Long Trail lists 33 Division (containing 212 RE) as only being at Messines. However, Messines to Lapugnoy is twice the distance as Estaires to Lapugnoy. If Gilliver was at Messines, why would he be buried at a cemetery almost 50km away?

Another option is that he he was injured sometime earlier and then later succumbed to wounds. However, LLT has no mention of earlier 1918 action for 33 Division.

Any help, as ever, much appreciated.

[alf mcm]

The Register of Soldiers Effects shows that he died of wounds at 23 Casualty Clearing Station {C.C.S.}  UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 - Ancestry.co.uk

The war diary will show where 23 C.C.S. was located.  Army Troops. 23 Casualty Clearing Station (First Army) | The National Archives

The diary is free to download if you register.

Regards,

Alf McM

[Mighty Sparrow]

Thanks Alf. I had the Effects document but had missed the CCS reference. 23 CCS was at Lozinghem, which is only 4km from Lapugnoy, so the cemetery now makes sense. However, the CCS is 50km from Messines. Were wounded soldiers transported this sort of distance to the nearest CCS? Or maybe others were at capacity. I note 23 CCS had 680 admissions the day Gilliver died, with 754 the day before and 931 the day after. Obviously German Spring Offensive, so high casualties.

[Terry_Reeves]

1 hour ago, Mighty Sparrow said:

Record shows him with 212 ‘Tottenham’ Company RE when he died of wounds on 11.04.1918. No location of death, or relevant action is given. Buried at Lapugnoy Cemetery, France.

Actions on that day were Battle of Estaires and Battle of Messines. Long Long Trail lists 33 Division (containing 212 RE) as only being at Messines. However, Messines to Lapugnoy is twice the distance as Estaires to Lapugnoy. If Gilliver was at Messines, why would he be buried at a cemetery almost 50km away?

Another option is that he he was injured sometime earlier and then later succumbed to wounds. However, LLT has no mention of earlier 1918 action for 33 Division.

Any help, as ever, much appreciated.

The answer lies in 212 Field Company war diary for the 11th April 1918 when, amongst others, three drivers were killed and three wounded by shell fire.  Frank Gulliver’s rank in Soldiers Died is shown as Driver.

TR

Edited 4 July , 2022 by Terry_Reeves

[Mighty Sparrow]

Puzzle solved. Thanks Terry. The location of the train shelling was less than five miles from where 23 CCS was located. That puts his wounding, death and burial all in close proximity.

[Chris Bent]

I am trying to find the location of 23 CCS at Lozinghem as a relative was treated there after the battle of Lys. I can not find any details in the war diary other than it was at the back of the chateau. There are a few chateaus in that area, the nearest being N of Lozinghem. Have you been able to get an exact location? Many thanks. Chris.

[WhiteStarLine]

1 hour ago, Chris Bent said:

There are a few chateaus in that area, the nearest being N of Lozinghem

Chris, this one on a January 1918 French map seems to show the Chateau within Lozinghem.  The other 5 maps on TrenchMapper show it here too.  Cheers, Bill

[Chris Bent]

Thanks a million Bill. Looking at Google Maps, the chateau does not seem to be there anymore. Appreciate the support. Chris.