Change in Missing in Action Status

[perfectos]

Hello: Just found you all and my first post is a question. I'm trying to find a death notice for a British casualty initially reported as missing in action. To shorten search time, can anyone tell me how much time usually elapsed after a soldier was reported missing in action until he was officially declared dead? Thanks,perfectos

[centurion]

I have a feeling that he stays MIA until an identifiable body or other evidence of death (for example eye witness accounts of returning POWs) is discovered. Legally recorded dead for purposes of re marriage, inheritance etc probably different and separate.

Wellcome aboard by the way

[John_Hartley]

As a rule of thumb, I find official presumptions of death being made (and, presumably, death certificates being issued) twelve months after. However, at Gallipoli, they all seem to have been made veyr soon after the evacuation at end 1915/beginning 1916.

Welcome to the Forum

John

[Chris Henschke]

For British missing, about six months.

Courts of Inquiry on prisoners and on missing officers and soldiers were held at the end of six months. I have always assumed this period was given to allow for prisoner of war lists to be released, etc.

'When an officer or soldier is reported to be missing and cannot satisfactorily be accounted for, a court of inquiry will be assembled to collect all evidence of the case, and will record an opinion as to whether it is reasonable to suppose that the officer or soldier is dead.

The court will be convened after such time as the commanding officer may consider necessary to allow of the circumstances of the casualty being cleared up, but, if not previously held, the court will be convened in any case at the end of six months.

The proceedings will be forwarded through the A.G.’s office at the base as follows :-

i. In the case of officers, to the military authorities concerned.

ii. In the case of soldiers, to the officer in charge of records.

When the officer or soldier is declared by the court to be dead, the same procedure will be adopted as if he had been killed in action.'

Field Service Regulations. Part II.

Organization and Administration. 1909. (Reprinted, with Amendments to October, 1914)

As with anything on the subject, there are always exceptions. If evidence could be presented before that time, they were listed as killed in action. (previously reported missing).

After finding, a Field Service Report of Death Army Form B. 2090 A was issued.

Chris Henschke

[perfectos]

Thank you very much.