Brit in South African Infantry

[Ali Hollington]

Researching my family I have found James Francis Hollington, on CWGC. He was from East Ham area and died there in October 1918, the strange thing is CWGC has his service details as; 20058 4th Regt South African Inf.

I know in the later stages of the war soldiers could be sent to almost any unit, but would James have been in the British Army? He has no MIC or service record at the NA at Kew, though his two brothers have MICs. Nothing in the famly history indicates him going abroad.

Any thought on researching him further would be great.

Regards

Ali

PS One of his brothers was also killed, the other wounded (his service record is at Kew)

[Terry Denham]

Ali

He was in the South African army. Many Brits were.

He may well have been discharged and returned home before he died or he died in service in the UK and his relatives reclaimed his body.

Remember that you cannot tell from the CWGC entry whether the casualty was still in service or died of war related injuries/illness after discharge when they died in the UK or other home country.

[Ali Hollington]

thanks Terry,

At a recent WFA meeting there was a speaker from CWGC, he was showing that some extra info is held on some entries. Is it likely that the above info is held by CWGC just not on the online Register?

Ali

[Terry Denham]

Ali

The only other information on each casualty held in the CWGC database is in the 'Cause of Death' field. This information, where it exists, did appear in the old printed registers and still does appear on any print-out you may order from CWGC.

However, beware...

The majority of records have no information in this field - none at all for WW2. Those WW1 entries that have data usually have simply 'killed in action', 'died of wounds'. 'died of pneumonia' (or other illness). Some do give a little more - 'died of wounds received at Mons' etc.

Naval entries tend to have more complete details such as 'Died when HMS xyz was torpedoed/mined' etc.

The information on soldiers is not necessarily reliable as it was supplied by the next-of-kin rather than from official sources. They, of course, were not always in possession of the true facts.

The CWGC database does not record whether the man was still in service or discharged and this fact cannot be gleaned from that source. Only reference to any military-supplied documents still in CWGC hands or to non-CWGC sources could tell that.

CWGC treat 'in service' and 'post-discharge' deaths in exactly the same way and so the information is of no relevance to them.

Should you want to check whether a particular man has extra info, just let me know - but remember - most don't.

(Hollington has no further info - very common for SA men).

[Ali Hollington]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for taking the time to explain this one.

Regards

Ali