Classification of cause of death.

[jo.36]

Could anyone tell me if 'killed in action' is also used on records for soldiers who died of illness in WW1. I see kia and died of wounds on records, but don't know if there are other classifications for those who died from non-military causes.

[Roxy]

I believe that I have seen 'died' in SDGW, but I'll check when I get home.

Roxy

[ian turner]

Jo

For Soldiers Died there are the categories:

KIA

DOW

Died

Died at home

The first two are obvious. The 'died' I believe covers such events as accident or illness. 'Died at home' implies a death in the UK (not necessarily in the personal home) and can cover a death as result of wounds or accident or illness, but only after having been transferred to the UK.

So, to answer your original question - Killed in Action means just that, and not due to illness or disease.

Ian

[jo.36]

Thanks Ian and Roxy for your help.

We always believed my grandfather died of pneumonia, but on one record I found 'KIA'. Shall delve into this a bit further!

jo

[Muerrisch]

at risk of yet another accusation of pedantry:

b. born

e. enlisted

d. died

d. of w. died of wounds [this includes d. of wounds in UK]

k. in a. killed in action [officially dated every 24 hrs up to 0900]

F. and F. France and Flanders [includes Italy] etc.

to which were added as appropriate:

Home

at Sea

there may be a few more, rarities.

As ever, grateful to be put straight if necessary.

[jo.36]

To langleybaston1418

Thanks very much for the extra info. I am fairly new to delving into my grandfather's life and death in WW1, so it is good to get help.

jo

[Nick Cooper]

We always believed my grandfather died of pneumonia, but on one record I found 'KIA'.  Shall delve into this a bit further!

It's entirely possible that his death might have been mis-classified as KIA, but circumstantially theer are numerous ways of checking if it was likely. Sight of his unit's War Diary, for example, will show where they were on the day he died. If they were all in billets behind the front line, and nothing out of the oridinary was reported beyond a inter-battalion football match, any KIAs are unlikely. Likewise, if they were involved in something "major" and there are a large numebr of KIAs on the same date, it's possible a death from natural causes were "lost" amidst the battle casualties. Needless to say, if his actual personal records have survived, they might solve the mystery.

[jo.36]

Thanks Nick!

I am tring to get the relevant part of the unit's War Diary to check, and a visit to the NA soon will reveal if I am one of the lucky ones whose relative's records were not destroyed by fire. Hopefully these will throw some light on the issue, and I appreciate the suggestions you have made.

jo

[Gordon Caldecott]

Hi Jo,

I wonder was your GGF, a Canadian? As they lost a lot of men after the war to the flu, and I wonder if they chalked these up to KIA`s for the sake of the families?

Do keep us up to date of your findings won`t you!!!!

Gordon.

[ceebee]

langleybastion1418

Are you able to shed some light on how the k. in a. recording worked, particularly in relation to the time being "officially dated every 24hrs up to 0900". I'm researching a fellow whose date of death is recorded on SDGW as being between 15/09/1916 and 16/09/1916 (Battle of Flers-Courcelette). Was the recording done as part of a roll call or some other process? All assistance appreciated.

Chris

[jo.36]

Hi Gordon

Thanks for the suggestion re Canadian nationality. He was a Bedfordshire man, living in Middlesex, conscripted in Bedfordshire and serving in 2nd Bn Middlesex Reg.! Trying to work out how that all hangs together! I will post any news I get of kia or died due to illness if records shed any light.

jo

[Terry Denham]

b.          born

e.          enlisted

d.          died

d. of w.  died of wounds [this includes d. of wounds in UK]

k. in a.  killed in action [officially dated every 24 hrs up to 0900]

F. and F. France and Flanders [includes Italy] etc.

to which were added as appropriate:

Home

at Sea

there may be a few more, rarities.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also remember that quite a number of entries in SDGW given as died in F&F actually died in the UK (of wounds sustained in F&F).

[jo.36]

Thanks Terry!

There seem to be so many variations - which I suppose is not too surprising giving the scale of casualties and the various areas where troops might be deployed.

My grandfather is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetary nr Ieper, so at least I know the area where he died, even if I haven't been able to clarify whether he was kia or died due to illness. The family sentiment was that he died of pneumonia, although the official record I have seen says kia -but I realise that in families unintended misinformation is sometimes conveyed due to it passing through different generations. I shall press on looking into it - and am grateful to all those who have given suggestions and ideas.

jo

[Muerrisch]

The battalion I am most familiar with appears to have classified all kia between 0900 one day to 0859 the next as belonging to day one. Of course, in the stress of battle and indeed of losing men one knew, mistakes happened, and the timing was not as strict as might be implied. To the orderly room sergeant and the adjutant, timing was not of the essence: dead is dead, no matter when.

[John_Hartley]

The battalion I am most familiar with appears to have classified all kia between 0900 one day to 0859 the next as belonging to day one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

David

Was this, generally, how all battalions would/should record it?

I have in mind the many accounts I've read of "dawn attacks" (i.e. well before 0900) where casualties are recorded to the actual calendar day. And, in similar vein, shouldnt one have expected that very many of the deaths on 1/7/16 would be recorded as 30/6?

John

[Muerrisch]

I have a nasty feeling I have read that the practice was official, or recommended, or whatever, but darned if I can turn anything up. Brain dead today.

[ceebee]

langleybaston1418

Thanks for your responses. When writing my initial post on this topic I had the same thought as John (even to the point of 1 July 1916)! Perhaps there was a reason for the 0900 - 0859 system, although it does seem strange when a dawn attack is clearly in the current day rather than the preceeding day. I wonder what it did to the statistics?

Chris

[clairec79]

Maybe when they were planning a dawn attack they did roll call early? Or is that too logical for the army?