can someone explain to me what the word casualty actually means in the following info about my Dad. To me casualty means injured. Now the second part in 1943 I know he was repatriated due to a burst ulcer but he never mentioned any other injury. So does casually actually mean injured or just captured ? WO 417/19 British Army Casualty List No 339 dated 17 Oct 1940 Reported POW WO 417/68 British Army Casualty List No 1285 dated 8 Nov 1943 Previously reported POW in German hands now repatriated
Hi, The official casualty lists contained details of various occurrences related to U.K. service personnel - not just “casualties” ie injured, wounded. It reports personnel Missing In Action, POW, No Longer POW, Died, Accidentally killed etc. Steve
The term casualty relates to (e.g. non-disciplinary) means by which a Unit was deprived of the 'use' of a man as in: POW, Missing, Wounded, Battle Accident, Illness, Killed, Died of Wounds, Died (on active service) and all points in between. The War Office changed some criteria periodically during the war but essentially that's what the lists cover. So, the first entry (Reported POW) does not refer to any injury. As for the second entry (Now Repatriated), no reason would have been supplied as to repatriation on official lists, so I'd go with what you were told by your Dad. Good luck with your research.
Ok thanks, it's not just what my Dad says I also have official info in his war book and from newspaper articles saying he was repatriated due to ill health. He was one of those POWs who were exchanged for enemy POWs under an agreement
Hi I don't doubt you would have other sources - it was the norm to be repatriated for something that'd be incapacitating in some manner - it's just particulars of illnesses, injuries etc are not given on casualty lists. That's why I said: "go with what you were told by your Dad." i.e. burst ulcer. Nothing was intended as a criticism, just as clarification.
I think that the meaning of 'casualty' has been explained above - if you wish to read more have a look here (no subscription necessary) British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 | findmypast.co.uk
