Hope someone will be able to advise me on this. If I order an Army death cert for a man who died in France in 1939, is it likely to give much detail on the cause and circumstances of death? I ask because I know that the WWI equivalent tends to be very vague. The case I am interested in is a one-off, and seems most likely to have been the result of an accident.
Usually just state died on war service. Would the War Diaries if they survive or newspaper obituary [if any] be a better bet.
Oh, thanks, Izzy. There doesn't seem to be a diary for his unit in the NA catalogue, and no obit. I don't think it would have been thought desirable to draw attention, as he was part of an RE docks unit preparing bases in W. France.
Try the R.E museum they have some War Diaries. They told me the circumstances on how one of the casualties im researching died.
As your subject died in France, if you go for the death certificate then you would have to apply to the GRO Overseas Section, well worth telephoning them, they are very helpful. 01514714801. Regards Peter.
Greyhound I found a couple of RE Dock Unit related WD's for France in the NA catalogue. Maybe one of these is the one you are looking for. 1 Docks Group - WO167/875 - Sep 39 to Jun 40 2 Docks Group - WO167/876 - Sep 39 to Jun 40 3 Docks Group - WO167/877 - Sep 39 to Jun 40 D Docks - WO167/859 - Sep 39 to May 40 4 Docks Group (Det) - WO 167/878 - Apr to May 40 Good luck Robert
Oh lovely, some leads, thanks everyone. Izzy, I will try contacting the RE museum. Might be lucky. Robert, you clever thing, I tried searching with "docks" in, and never found those. It was 12 Docks Labour Corps, but could fall within one of those maybe. If RE museum can't help, I can try those if I can get to the NA, or pay someone to have a look now it's narrowed down a bit. Peter, thanks for the phone no, I have the cert ref so may try that if all else fails. This is the last one on my war memorial project, I've written up all the others except for a couple of small loose ends. Very little known about this chap, but I still want to do him justice.
Been to Kew (after the RE Museum told me I might have to wait six months for a reply from them ) and the diary was indeed in one of the files that Robert found. My man was killed when a petrol ship, MV Pacific Coast, blew up in Brest harbour. Strangely he wasn't named, although an officer, but no doubt at all that the mystery's solved. Thanks to all who have helped; our war memorial site should be online soon and I'll post a link when it's up and running.
Pacific Coast MV was a British Coaster of 1,210 tons built in 1935 by Ardrossan Dockyard and powered by 2 x 2S CSA 5cy, giving 10.5 knots, Twin Screws, engines built by British Auxiliaries Ltd, Glasgow for Coast Lines Ltd. On the 9th November 1939 she was destroyed by an internal explosion while in Brest harbour. Captain H.E. Williams and three of the crew were killed. SOURCE : MV Pacific Coast (+1939) WRECK
According to the war diary, there were 35 killed in total, mostly French dock workers. I think there were some more of the ship's crew lost too, I put the date into Geoff's search engine and there were about 9 names for Pacific Coast, I think. Lt Mount seems to have been the only Army fatality.
HQ Transportation Brigade, GHQ Division, 1st Echelon, No.2 Docks Group, Royal Engineers. Awarded DCM. Supplementary Reserve. On the 18th June this Warrant Officer under heavy bombing carried out the dangerous task of removing a quantity of grenades and explosives which were a source of considerable danger while on the quay. Gazetted 27.8.40 I remember this thread and thought the citation may be of interest. Looking at the date (18th June) I'm guessing he was further to the west possibly the west coast. Cheers Andy
Thanks for that, Andy. That's reminded me that I haven't posted the link to the war memorial site - so here it is. Names Familiar To All
