JCCC Reports on Rededications 2024

[MelPack]

The JCCC is commencing the new season of Rededications/ Burials with five Rededications in Belgium and France between 19-21 March next.

Full details have been posted in the Events Column.

Congratulations to the researchers who have played the crucial role in successfully identifying the graves.

[Andrew P]

Thanks for the update Mel. Well done to those involved in these successful submissions for identification.

[andrew pugh]

Hi 

Does anybody know what the names and the case numbers are for these casualties

Regards

Andy

[Andrew P]

Andy, looking at the CWGC spreadsheet for cases which was last updated in 2021, Sgt Bott was Case No.462; Culling & Green were case No.441; Stanley Harvey was Case No.487 and Cedric Daggett was case No.413.

Lt Cautherley at Poelcapelle was Case No.512

Edited 8 February by Andrew P

[David Tattersfield]

On 06/02/2024 at 12:03, MelPack said:

The JCCC is commencing the new season of Rededications/ Burials with five Rededications in Belgium and France between 19-21 March next.

The story behind the Cedric Daggett identification is here >>>

https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/the-lost-raiders-found-the-tyneside-scottish-at-armentières/

 

[MelPack]

News story

Graves of two World War One soldiers identified in France

The graves of two World War One soldiers, one whose gun jammed while being attacked in freezing conditions and another who died trying to save his wounded men, have now been marked by name more than a century after their deaths.

From:

Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK

Published

20 March 2024

 

Lance Corporal Edward Watts plays the Last Post Crown Copyright

The rededication services for Private (Pte) Harold Stanley Harvey of The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), and Captain Cedric Hunton Daggett MC of The Northumberland Fusiliers were organised by the Ministry Of Defence (MOD)’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’.

They were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery this morning, and Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, this afternoon (19 March 24).

Private Harold Stanley Harvey

In January 1917, Harold was in service with the Lewis Gun section of his battalion. They were trying to hold a line near Fauquissart and establish a number of outposts. The battalion war diary records that at 06:00 hours on the 13 January, their position was attacked. The men were numb with cold and the gun jammed leaving them defenceless. Following the incident, one man was missing, this was Pte Harvey.

Records held by the International Committee of the Red Cross indicate that Pte Harvey was captured by the German Army, and that he subsequently died. Whilst the Germans communicated that they had captured Pte Harvey, information about his burial was lost, and he was commemorated on the Loos Memorial following the end of the war.

We now know that he had been buried by the Germans at Fournes Cemetery in 1917, as an unknown soldier of the 7th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment. He was moved from there to Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in 1923, and now his grave can finally be recognised.

JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, said:

Being involved in finding out what happened to Pte Harvey all those years ago has been such a privilege. I am grateful to the researcher who brought the case to our attention, and proud to have been able to finally give Pte Harvey’s family some answers.

Three generations of Private Harvey's family attended the service Crown Copyright

Members of Pte Harvey’s extended family were in attendance at the service.

Captain Cedric Hunton Daggett MC

Capt Daggett, of 23rd Battallion The Northumberland Fusilliers (4th Tyneside Scottish) arrived on the Western Front on 16 April 1916.

On the night of the 11 to 12 February 1917, 23rd Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers raided enemy trenches in the Bois-Grenier area, southeast of Armentieres. The party of 12 Officers and 257 other ranks, split into four groups. One of these was led by Capt Daggett. At 22:30 hours they rushed through gaps in the enemy wire but Capt Daggett’s group found the wire in front of the enemy trenches in their section was uncut and so they suffered heavy casualties.

Capt Daggett was seen standing on the parapet of the enemy trench, having said he was going to assist his men who were under heavy fire. Shortly afterwards, three of the raiding party were seen leaving the enemy lines pursued by German soldiers. Capt Daggett rushed to the German wire with some of his men and began clearing the wounded. They continued until bombs began to drop on them. Capt Daggett ordered everybody to jump clear and said, ‘everyone for himself.’ Capt Daggett did not return. He was 27 years old.

Capt Daggett’s body was recovered and buried by the Germans in Lambersart Communal Cemetery German Extension along with 11 of his men who were also killed during the raid. After the war, his remains were moved to Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery where he was buried as an unknown British Officer. Capt Daggett was commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the missing. His grave has now been identified after further evidence was submitted to CWGC by a researcher.

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron, said:

It has been a privilege to have organised this rededication service today and to have played a part in the identification of Capt Daggett’s grave. He was clearly a very popular, capable and brave young Officer, who lost his life whilst assisting his wounded men. It is important that the memory of men such as Capt Daggett is kept alive, and his sacrifice is not forgotten.

A relative of Captain Daggett stands behind his headstone, Crown Copyright

The services were conducted by the Reverend Thomas Sander CF, Chaplain to The Household Cavalry and were attended by representatives from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

The Reverend Sander said:

There is something of profound importance rededicating the graves of fallen soldiers. Even though many years have passed we once again commit Private Harvey and Captain Daggett to God’s care and keeping and to our sacred memory. In doing so we give thanks for the courage of all those who died in the cause of war and we continue to pray for peace in our world.

Head of Commemorations at the CWGC, Mel Donnelly said:

To learn about the final days of these brave men is truly heart-breaking, but such was the fate of many of their comrades. We give our thanks to all those who have helped in identifying their final resting places. It is our privilege to help honour their memory and to care for their graves in perpetuity.

[MelPack]

WW1 soldiers buried in unknown graves identified

Image source, Edward "Joddy" Chapman

Image caption,

The Tyneside Scottish sustained heavy losses in World War One

Jonny Manning

BBC News, North East and Cumbria

 

• Published
  20 March 2024

Soldiers who died in World War One and were buried in unnamed graves have been identified.

Twenty-two men who served in the 4th Tyneside Scottish battalion died during a trench raid in France, in February 1917, but only nine were buried in named graves.

But the final resting places of the remaining 13 men have been discovered in Rue-Petillon cemetery in France.

The grave of the battalion's captain, Cedric Daggett, was rededicated to him at a ceremony at the cemetery on 19 March.

Image source, David Tattersfield

Image caption,

Capt Cedric Daggett was buried in a grave with no name

David Tattersfield, from The Western Front Association, an organisation for those interested in World War One, has identified the missing soldiers after spotting their graves while in France.

Mr Tattersfield became interested in the men when he noticed several unknown graves all marked with the same date, including one belonging to an officer.

"I did the research and discovered that there were only one particular group of men who this could possibly be," he said.

"There were not an awful lot of over-the-top, big, set-piece battles that took place in the First World War in the winter.

"I narrowed it down to this particular unit, which were known as the Tyneside Scottish, or more particularly the 23th Northumberland Fusiliers."

The Tyneside Scottish

The Tyneside Scottish was originally formed of men of Scottish descent from in and around Newcastle.

It was expanded to include men from outside of the area, after the battalion suffered heavy losses.

The soldiers were initially buried in a German cemetery near Lille, in France.

The men's remains were later moved to Rue-Petillon by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

"A hundred years later I rocked up and identified that there was a story here, because they were all connected," said Mr Tattersfield.

Image source, The Register, Adelaide, via www.trove.nla.gov.au

Image caption,

A ceremony to rededicate Capt Cedric Daggett's grave took place on Tuesday

Mr Tattersfield contacted the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) with his research.

The department then confirmed the unnamed officer's grave belonged to Capt Daggett.

As an officer, Capt Daggett's grave is the only one to be formally rededicated by the MoD.

But Mr Tattersfield said the other unknown graves belonged to those who served with the captain in the Tyneside Scottish.

Relatives of the men were invited to attend the rededication ceremony at Rue-Petillon.

Image source, The Crown

Image caption,

Liz Ashforth, a relative of Capt Daggett, by his grave at the rededication ceremony

Cedric Daggett was born on 3 December 1890 and his family lived at 20 Victoria Square, Jesmond, Newcastle, according to Mr Tattersfield's research.

He worked as a solicitor and enlisted to the Army on 5 September 1914.

The Tyneside Scottish fought at the Battle of the Somme and suffered heavy losses.

Capt Daggett was one of the few officers in the battalion to survive the battle, Mr Tattersfield said.

Liz Ashforth, 83, from Nottinghamshire, is a distant relative of Capt Daggett and attended his rededication ceremony.

She said: "It matters to everyone that their relatives are honoured in this way.

"They are people, not just forgotten people."

JCCC caseworker, Rosie Barron, said it had been a "privilege" to have organised the service.

"He was clearly a very popular, capable and brave young officer, who lost his life whilst assisting his wounded men," she said.

"It is important that the memory of men such as Capt Daggett is kept alive, and his sacrifice is not forgotten."

Image source, Findmypast.co.uk

Image caption,

Pte David Walling's relatives were contacted

Ruth Abel, 63, from East Riding of Yorkshire, was contacted by Mr Tattersfield.

Ms Abel is a distant relation of Pte David Walling.

After researching her own family tree, she found 12 men in her family had served in World War One, but only one had returned home.

"I was over the moon to think that there was a possibility of knowing where [Pte Walling] was," Ms Abel said, as she said her mother had an uncle whose resting place was unknown.

The rediscovered soldiers

The missing soldiers from the Tyneside Scottish believed to be buried at Rue-Petillon are:

• Capt Cedric Daggett, from Newcastle

• Pte Robert Banks, from Patrington, East Yorkshire

• Pte Robert Charlton, from Monkseaston, Northumberland

• Pte Henry Clarke, from Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria

• Pte John Collett, from Leeds

• L/Cpl John Dockerty, from Bedlington, Northumberland

• Pte Frederick Hammond, from Hollow Meadows, South Yorkshire

• Pte John Hart, from Hull

• Pte Edward Jenkins, from Leominster

• Sgt Albert Robinson, from Durham

• Pte John Stamper, from Huddersfield

• Pte Joseph Storey (who served under the alias Robson), from Gateshead

• Pte David Walling, from Barnoldswick, Yorkshire

Pte Reginald Thomas is also buried in Rue-Petillon. He died of his wounds a few days after the military action and was buried with a named headstone.

John Sale and Pte Richard Dillon died as part of the same action, but are buried in other cemeteries.

[MelPack]

News story

Graves of lost World War One soldiers identified in Belgium

The graves of three World War One soldiers, from Somerset, London and Staffordshire, have now been marked more than a century after their deaths.

From:

Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK

Published

21 March 2024

 

Members of the military party and local dignitaries at the service for Sjt Bott Crown Copyright

The rededication services for Private (Pte) Albert (Wilfred) Culling and Pte Charles William Green, both of 1/24th Battalion The London Regiment (The Queens), and Serjeant (Sjt) John Harold Bott DCM, of 11th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) were organised by the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’. 

The services were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Buttes New British Cemetery this morning, and Hooge Crater Cemetery, this afternoon (20 March 24). 

Pte Albert (Wilfred) Culling and Pte Charles William Green 

On the night of the 24 August 1917, the 1/24th The London Regiment entered the frontline trenches near Westhoek. The diary records show several episodes of shelling throughout the 25 - 26 August, including a 90 minute artillery bombardment beginning at 23:00 hours on the 25 August in which three soldiers were killed and 14 wounded.  

The three men who died in the bombardment were Pte Albert Wilfred Saunders Culling, Pte Charles William Green and Pte Albert Henry Hale. They were buried in a shared field grave until March 1920, by which time any marker which might have recorded their names had been lost. As a consequence, they could not all be identified when they were reburied in the CWGC’s Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. 

All three wore regimental insignia identifying them as members of the 24th Battalion The London Regiment, and one had an identity disc which allowed him to be identified as Pte Hale. All three were reburied next to each other at Buttes New British Cemetery, the two unidentified men were buried with the inscription: ‘A Soldier of the Great War – 24th Bn London Regiment – Known Unto God’. 

Separately, the names of Pte Culling and Pte Green were engraved on the CWGC’s Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing. More than 100 years later, research has now proven the two previously unidentified burials are those of Pte Culling and Pte Green. 

Kelly Salter, great-niece of Pte Green, stands by his headstone with members of the military party. Crown Copyright.

Members of Pte Green’s family were at the service, the Culling family were sadly unable to attend. 

JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, said: 

I am grateful to the researcher who submitted this case. Their work has led us to recognise the final resting place of Pte Culling and Pte Green, to restore their names to them and to allow their families to honour their sacrifice. It has been a privilege for me to have contributed to this case and to have organised the service for the rededication of these graves today. 

Sjt John Harold Bott DCM 

In the spring of 1917, 11th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers fought in the Battle of Arras before moving to Flanders. On 31 July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battalion went into action again. On 10 August 1917, they took part in an attack on the Westhoek ridge with the aim of taking Inverness Copse, Glencorse Wood and the southern end of the ridge. The two attacking companies followed a barrage at 04:35 hours after which they and the support company reached the Jargon Support Line north of Fitzclarence Farm.  

Having come under machine gun fire, the advance halted and their position remained the same until around 06:00 hours, by which stage most of the Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, including Serjeant Bott, aged 21, had become casualties. The enemy counterattacked from Inverness Copse and the Battalion was pushed back to a strong point on the crest of the Westhoek Ridge. The position was consolidated and held until they were relieved.  

After the war Serjeant Bott’s body was recovered and he was buried as an unknown soldier of The Royal Fusiliers in Hooge Crater Cemetery. It was noted that the Serjeant had received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). As he was missing, Serjeant Bott was commemorated on the CWGC’s Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing. His grave has now been identified after research was submitted to CWGC by two separate researchers. After further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC, the findings were confirmed. 

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron, said: 

Sjt Bott lost his life in one of the most notoriously horrific battles in history, the Third Battle of Ypres. It has been an honour to have played a part in identifying the location of his final resting place and to have been present today as we remember this brave soldier’s sacrifice and service.

Captain Jordan Whiteman of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers stands with members of the regimental association behind the headstone of Sjt Bott. Crown Copyright

Both services were conducted by the Reverend Thomas Sander CF, Chaplain to The Household Cavalry and were attended by representatives from The London Guards, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, and The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. 

The Reverend Sander said: 

Today we have rededicated the graves of Pte Culling, Pte Green, and Sjt Bott in sure and certain hope that they have found rest among all those who we love but see no longer. We continue to cherish the memory of all those who were lost in the cause of war and pray for peace among all nations and families.

The headstones over both graves were replaced by CWGC who will care for them in perpetuity.  

Mel Donnelly, Head of Commemorations at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said:  

For decades, the names of these three brave men have been engraved on our Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing. So, it is a special and poignant moment for everyone today, to be able to mark their final resting places with headstones at Hooge Crater Cemetery and Buttes New British Cemetery respectively. We will care for their graves in perpetuity.

News story

Grave of Yorkshire Soldier identified in Belgium

The grave of Leeds-born World War One soldier, Lieutenant (Lt) Charles Stewart Cautherley of 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, has now been marked more than a century after his death.

From:

Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK

Published

22 March 2024

 

Bugler Lance Corporal Edward Watts plays the Battalion Bugle Call to herald the start of the service. Crown Copyright.

The rededication service, organised by the Ministry Of Defence (MOD)’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Poelcapelle British Cemetery this morning (21 March 2024). 

In 1923 the remains of an unnamed officer of the Hertfordshire Regiment were recovered from a field burial around 400 metres south of Voormezele, the partial identification being made from his uniform and buttons. The remains were reburied at Poelcapelle British Cemetery and new research has now shown they are those of Lt Cautherley. 

Lt Cautherley served with the Honourable Artillery Company between 1909 and 1915 and was made an officer in the Hertfordshire Regiment in October 1915. He joined the 1st Battalion in April 1916 and in September 1916 was reported as suffering from shell shock, although he returned to the Battalion soon afterwards. 

Lt Cautherley then spent time in the First Army Provosts, returning to the Hertfordshire Battalion on 10 April 1918. He was killed two weeks later in a defensive battle in the Voormezele area. His burial was not recorded, and following the war he was commemorated by name on the CWGC’s Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. 

JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, said: 

I am pleased to have been involved in identifying the final resting place of Lt Cautherley. In rededicating his grave today, we have reunited his mortal remains with his name, ensuring that his sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Simon, the cousin of Lt Cautherley, stands behind his headstone with members of the military party. Crown Copyright.

The service was conducted by the Reverend Tom Sander Chaplain to the Household Cavalry and was also attended by representatives of the Royal Anglian Regiment. 

The Reverend Sander said: 

Today we rededicate the grave of Lt Cautherley, in recognition and in memory of the sacrifice made in the cause of war. We commend him into the hands of Almighty God and continue to pray for the peace which the world cannot give.

The standards are lowered as the Last Post sounds. Crown Copyright.

The headstones over both graves were replaced by CWGC who will care for them in perpetuity.  

Mel Donnelly, Head of Commemorations at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said:  

We are deeply honoured to rededicate the grave of Lieutenant Charles Stewart Cautherley. His memory shall endure eternally under our watchful care and commitment. His sacrifice and service are indelibly etched in both history and stone at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Poelcapelle British Cemetery.

[MelPack]

Five York, Lancaster Regiment Soldiers' Graves Identified

 

Rededication services for Private (Pte) George Galloway, Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Albert Hutchinson, Pte Charles Ernest Lane, Lance Corporal (LCpl) Thomas Gustafson and Corporal (Cpl) William Swan, were organised by the MOD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the 'MOD War Detectives' and were attended by serving soldiers of The Royal Yorkshire Regiment.

The services were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension (16 April), Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension (16 April), Auberchicourt British Cemetery (17 April) and York Cemetery, Haspres (17 April), all in France. The families of 2ndLt Hutchinson, Pte Lane and Cpl Swan attended.

By October 1918, weeks before the end of the conflict, the stalemate on the Western Front had lifted and the German Army was rapidly retreating eastwards across open ground. All but Pte Galloway, were killed during this fighting.

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron, said:

All five of these men enlisted early in the war and it is hard to imagine how their families would have felt on hearing the news of their deaths, especially those killed so close to the end of the fighting when the news may have come through after the Armistice. It has been a privilege to have played a part in their stories and to know that their families finally have answers as to what happened to them.

The graves of these men came to light after researchers submitted evidence to CWGC hoping to have identified them. After further research carried out by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC, these findings were confirmed.

 

Pte George Galloway

Pte Galloway from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was serving with 14th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment, known as the 2nd Barnsley Pals, when he went missing on the night of 3 June 1916. At midnight an intense bombardment came down on the enemy line near Serre on the Somme, and the raid began. It failed and saw the deaths of three men. Efforts were made to recover the wounded, but Pte Galloway remained missing, he was 30 years old. Following the raid his body was recovered by the Germans who buried him as an unknown soldier of The York and Lancaster Regiment in Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension. Because he was missing, Pte Galloway was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

2ndLt Albert Hutchinson

2ndLt Hutchinson from Hull, East Yorkshire, enlisted into 4th Reserve Battalion The East Yorkshire Regiment at the age of just 16 on 19 November 1914. He spent most of the war with 5th (Cyclist) Battalion The East Yorkshire Regiment (a mobile coastal defence unit which carried out defence duties along the east coast of the UK) before being Commissioned. Having only arrived on the Western Front on 15 September 1918, aged 20, he was killed on 8 October 1918 when 2nd Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment took part in an attack towards the village of Mericourt, north east of Saint Quentin. After the war his remains were recovered and buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension as an unknown second lieutenant of The York and Lancaster Regiment. Because he was missing, 2ndLt Hutchinson was commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

 

The family of 2ndLt Hutchinson stand with the military party at his graveside in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension. Crown Copyright.

Pte Charles Ernest Lane

Pte Lane from Aston, Warwickshire, had served with both The Worcestershire Regiment and The Hampshire Regiment before being transferred to 1/4th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment. On the morning of 2 November 1918, the battalion was in the line near Aulnoy, south of Valenciennes. Patrols were sent out that morning before at 3pm and A and D Companies were ordered to advance. They advanced under a heavy barrage and machine gun fire, but their objective was met at 03:30 hours One Officer and nine other ranks were killed. Pte Lane, aged 28, was among those who died. He left behind a widow and young daughter. After the war, his remains and those of 34 other men were moved into Auberchicourt British Cemetery, from Aulnoy British Cemetery. He was buried as an unknown soldier 1/4th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment. Because he was missing, Pte Lane was commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

LCpl Thomas Gustafson

LCpl Gustafson from Willington Quay, Northumberland, was the son of a Swedish migrant. He arrived on the Western Front on 20 April 1915 and served with 1/5th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers until he was wounded in the spring of 1918. Upon his return to action he was transferred to 1/4th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment. On 13 October 1918, the battalion took part in an attack on Haspres, north east of Cambrai. They came under heavy machine gun and artillery fire on the ridge to the west of Haspres suffering heavy casualties. The attack was held up nearly a kilometre from the village. Lance Corporal Gustafson was amongst those killed in the fighting that day. Afterwards his remains were recovered, and he was buried as an unknown lance corporal of 1/4th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment in York Cemetery, Haspres. Because he was missing, LCpl Gustafson was commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

 

LCpl April Farthing of The Band of The Royal Yorkshire Regiment plays the last post during the rededication service for LCpl Gustafson and Cpl Swan at York Cemetery, Haspres. Crown Copyright.

Cpl William Swan

Cpl Swan from Dunfermline, Scotland, enlisted on 11 January 1915, and was posted to 3rd Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers. On 18 July 1915 he arrived in Egypt and was posted to 1st Battalion who were fighting in Gallipoli. In March 1916, 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers left Egpyt for France. He transferred to 8th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment and on 8 October 1916 and was wounded on the Somme. By 13 October 1918, he was serving with 1/5th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment which was also involved in the attack on Haspres. D Company, to which he belonged, fought its way into Haspres suffering around 70 percent casualties. Cpl Swan, aged 22, was recorded as wounded and missing. Following the fighting his remains were recovered and he was buried as an unknown corporal of 1/5th Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment in York Cemetery, Haspres. Becausehe was missing, Cpl Swan was commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

The services were conducted by the Reverend Robert Desics CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment.

 

The Reverend Desics said:

It was a wonderfully moving honour to rededicate the graves of these five fallen comrades, and to restore their names to them after more than a century. Names mean so much because names carry our identity and our history, and so in knowing the names of these brave soldiers we now know their histories and are able to share in the telling of their stories. But we must never forget that even though these men who made the ultimate sacrifice were unknown to us for so long they have always been fully known to God in whom they rest awaiting their eternal reward.

The headstones over the graves were replaced by CWGC.

Xavier Puppinck, CWGC Area Director for France, said:

It is both an honour and a privilege for the CWGC to care for the graves of these five valiant soldiers of The York and Lancaster Regiment, who made the ultimate sacrifice during the final weeks of World War One. Their stories, unearthed through meticulous research and shared through these rededication services, serve as poignant reminders of their courage and dedication. CWGC stand committed to ensuring that their memory lives on in perpetuity, providing a place of reverence and respect for generations to come.

 

 

 

[Matlock1418]

Though I frequently get quite very upset by CWGC and their general lack of full transparency plus their habit of failing to mention or credit researchers [so rather looking like they are grabbing all the credit] it is very good to see these CWGC rededication events. 

= Well done to all the researchers who bring these men to the attention of CWGC and thus get the ball rolling. 

May those lads all Rest in Peace 

M