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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Any one able to do me a look up please


Coldstreamer

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Hello

After a big favour.

Could some one please look up a CSM W J Black - 7846 - Coldstream Gds - in the Brighton newspapers

He was deocorated with a MM, twice MID and killed in action. I suspect he should get a mention somewhere in the papers, His name is on the Brighton war memorial but was added at the bottom (later addition?)

If this is possible, I will post the dates of the decorations etc (killed February 1918) to narrow down the search

Thanks in advance

Ian

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I'm sitting at my desk in the centre of Brighton with the museum visible out of one window and the library out of the other.

Tell me more......

Mark

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Hello

Thanks very much -its greatly appreciated

Here are all the details I have - please let me know if I owe you any photocopying costs (thats if he's there)

Ian

Company Sergeant Major W J Black

7846 Coldstream Guards

William James Black was born in St. Bartholomew, Sussex and enlisted in Brighton. He

went to France on the 12th August 1914.

His first Mention in Despatches was whilst a Sergeant in Field Marshall French’s of the

17th February 1915 for “...gallant and distinguished services in the field”. This was with

the 2nd Btn. The second mention was in Field Marshall Haig’s despatch on the 15th June

1916, possibly with the 4th Btn. He was awarded the Military Medal with the 4th

Battalion (for France as CSMjr 4/C.GDS) and was gazetted 27th October 1916

He died on the 5th February 1918 whilst Acting Drill Sergeant and is buried in

Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, Pas de Calais, France, grave number

III.C.1. (I have a picture)

The war diary for the 9th February 1918 says “news received of the death of Drill

Sergeant WJ Black MM (No 2 Coy).”

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No probs - I'll try and have a look next week in my lunch hour. Can you guide me as to what i'm looking for,as I have little experience of look-ups in papers?

Going by the dates above, when should I look? -assuming there's a gap between the events and when they'll make it in to the paper.

Mark.

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Ian

You probably know this already, but with that number he would have enlisted in 1908 - After April that year is as close as I can get from the information on my database.

Paul

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Paul

Someone else with a CG data base!

Mine indicates joined 16-20 May 1908 so we are in agreement

I will send you a PM about data bases to keep this thread nice and tidy!

Ian

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Mark

I will reply in full later as got to go out now in time for the football as things to do before hand and been on the forum all morning!

Cheers

Ian

No probs - I'll try and have a look next week in my lunch hour. Can you guide me as to what i'm looking for,as I have little experience of look-ups in papers?

Going by the dates above, when should I look? -assuming there's a gap between the events and when they'll make it in to the paper.

Mark.

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Ian

I'm sure mine is a lot smaller than yours! Nevertheless I may have some dates to help you fill in gaps.

Cheers

Paul

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Hello

as he died and is buried, I would expect him to be in the paper a week from his death to a month or so - it can be longer but pls dont spend hours searching - when I search papers I just look at all the photos of soldiers first as I scan the fiche as its quite a lot easier that way than reading it all

The MM was probably for September 1916 so any time after that.

Its hard to generalize as it varys so much

Cheers

Ian

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Ian, I'll give it a go and see what I can find: will let you know how I get on,

Mark

(Hoping to have a look next week)

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Hello

anything you can do is appreciated

Good luck

Ian

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  • 3 weeks later...

No luck yet but i've only had limited time in Brighton archives to look. I'll keep going and hopefully report a 'find' in due course......

Mark

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Hello

Thanks for what youve done so far.... :D

Ian

No luck yet but i've only had limited time in Brighton archives to look. I'll keep going and hopefully report a 'find' in due course......

Mark

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Hello

I read his papers yesterday. The reason I think I am not having much luck is that he committed suicide - probably explains the lack of story in the papers and why his name was added later to the war memorial in Brighton

A sad end for a thrice decorated SNCO

Ian

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Ian,

A sad story by the sound of it. Don't give up all hope though as i'll do a bit more digging in the archives when I get a minute. You never know.........

Mark

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mark

thanks. I think you might have more luck with the gallanty awards - as his name was added later on, due to the circumstances I cant see the family wanting to put how he died in the paper

Ian

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