Trying to research a man for whom I have some evidence that he served with the DLI - Headstone and newspaper memorial reference to him being a Pte with the DLI. However I can find nothing to substantiate these references. Pte William Scott Baty D.L.I. 1916 - 1943. He is remembered on a shared headstone with his father also William Scott Baty 1893 - 1938 at Holy Trinity Church South Hetton Durham. Anyone got any ideas as to how I might progress this? Thanks in advance for any help given.
This casualty has some of the connections required although his number is for the Green Howards: Casualty
Noticed that one Bamboo43 and it seems to be very close - however the date of death and age of the casualty don't match. Thanks anyway.
Sorry to double up there. There are a couple of DLI orientated forum members on WW2Talk, hopefully they might pick this one up soon.
I believe that his parents were William Baty and Margaret Wood who married Houghton Le Spring in 1911. If you get hold of a death certificate for William Scott Baty (Jnr) you can apply for his service records. Possible birth: Name: William S Baty Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep 1916 Registration district: Houghton Inferred County: Durham Mother's Maiden Name: Wood Volume Number: 10a Page Number: 981 Possible death: Name: William S Baty Death Age: 27 Birth Date: abt 1916 Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep 1943 Registration district: Durham Western Inferred County: Durham Volume: 10a Page: 166 The 1939 Register gives an address of 17 James Street, Easington and his birth date as 21 August 1916
Thanks for that Tony I've already applied for death certificate. It would seem that he was a Pte with the DLI at time of death.
Cannot find the cause of death but he isnt on the Durham Light Infantry Roll of Honour held in Durham Cathederal though he `does` appear on those memorials below? The headstone in Holy Trinity Churchyard is a family headstone which reads (Just for confirmation of those details kindly posted by Tony) In loving memory of my dear husband William S. Baty, who died 9th Nov. 1938aged 53 years Also his son Pte. William S. Baty D.L.I. who died Aug 4th 1943 aged 27 years Until We Meet Again William Scott Baty is remembered at South Hetton Holy Trinity Church, Front Street,Hetton on the War Memorial Tablets within the Church and was also included on the parchment memorial which used to be in the Royal British Legion Club last known location within the South Hetton Independent Methodist Church, Front Street, South Hetton ? William Scott Baty death on 4th August 1943 was registered in the Durham Western District? Kyle
Death certificate states TB as cause of death with no reference to the military. Headstone says he was a Pte in the DLI and the war memorial honours his service. He was living at home at the time of the 1939 census and still there at the time of his death in August 1943. I'm struggling to think of a scenario that would explain his association with the DLI.... Anyone else got any ideas?
Hello Russ, I spoke with Jim (DLI 20-46) a while back he said he had another guy DLI (actually added to a CWGC Memorial wall in error) who has no entry on the CWGC register but appears on war memorials . Subsequent investigations by Chris Charley revealed he was diagnosed with lung cancer during training ,he was subsequently discharged and died one week later . Technically a civilian but his family and the CWGC (for a time) believed otherwise. His family still do regard him as DLI. I posted previously #10 on this thread Willie Imrie Scottish footballer died serving in RAF Kyle
Thank you Kyle I've been thinking along similar lines... Would any documents regarding his initial enlistment still exist?
Contacted the Durham County Record Office who were very helpful. William Scott Baty enlisted in 1940 and assigned service number 4463471 with the DLI. He was discharged on the 17/8/1941 presumably due to his ill health.
Hi Russ, it's a funny world, my Dad who I'm researching, his mother was a Tobin from Tow Law. good luck with your research. Richard Makinson.
