Incorrect CWGC Headstones

Has anyone found incorrect information on a headstone and tried to get it amended.

2 Men of my Dad's regt are recorded as being 102 Anti-Tank Regt, RA and should be 102 LAA Regt. I've already contacted the CWGC and got the impression it was too much hassle for them to do anything.

Should I just leave it alone.

 

Robert,

I do not think that you should leave it alone as the CWGC do change the headstones as and when required due to extreme weathering.

It may well be that they will ammend the text when a new headstone is planned.

On my last visit to the Berlin CWGC cemetery there were several headstones removed for weathering reasons and are in the process of being replaced.

I hope that this will be the case.

Regards
Tom

 

I concur with Tom, Robert. I have been working with our Veterans Affairs here on this side of the pond and they seem open to hearing about mistakes and recitfying them. At least on the Virtual Memorial. I have not tried the CWGC on a couple of their errors, but that is on my radar. Keep us posted on your success.
phil

 

If you have alerted CWGC then they will correct the error next time the headstone is replaced.

Are you sure that's what it says on the headstone as opposed to what's in the database? I have found mistakes on the db that are not on the actual headstones, for example. Lots of mistakes crept in when the db was originally made as they did it by scanning the original registers using not too brilliant OCR software (eg there was once many soldiers whose Christian name was recorded as 'Adjutant'...)

 

Some years ago I visited Medjez el Bab Cemetery and while walking round there were several Sherwood Foresters Headstones. Knowing Cliff Housley the Regiments Historian is always pleased to receive anything S.F. I photographed all I saw.
When the photos were printed the Inscription on the Headstone of Pte.Gill read Pte. Grill.
The C.W.G.C. were informed and sent a copy of the photograph. The reply said thanks for bringing it to our attention and that the inscription would be corrected.

Three years later I paid a second visit and was dismayed to find that no change had been made.
It was reported again with the same response.

No further visits have been made so I am not sure if the error has been corrected yet.

 

Thanks for your comments, one and all. I will plod on.

Although I have the headstone details, the only way to actually prove the details are incorrect, is to get their service records. No way I can get these as I am not the next of kin.

The war diaries record a death and what happened, but as you know the names of Other Ranks are not shown here. For example, 2 are killed in October 1944 when their vehicle is blown up by a land mine during an advance. The offices headstone is correct, the OR headstone shows another regiment which is in the 50th Division's area of operations quite a distance away.

Do you have any suggestions as to another route of investigation?

 

Hi All,

Yes I did Glider Pilot Regiment Soldier that was killed at Arnhem and owning to family wishes which you have to respect there is nothing to show. I guess at some point his woman was going to do something but she is the only find your find him now. I send a letter to the CWGC asking about this and they told me about it they said that if the family wanted a CWGC headstone or you could have a family one.

TomTAS

 

Hi All,

Yes I did Glider Pilot Regiment Soldier that was killed at Arnhem and owning to family wishes which you have to respect there is nothing to show. I guess at some point his woman was going to do something but she is the only find your find him now. I send a letter to the CWGC asking about this and they told me about it they said that if the family wanted a CWGC headstone or you could have a family one.

TomTAS

Sorry mate, you've lost me there. :mellow:

 

Me too!!

 

Family had a Choice of a CWGC headstone or a private one, family choose none? Graves now unknown?

If it's not that i'm lost

Neil

 

Excuse the pun, but I think this threads now "lost the plot", literally.

 

Ah that's a good one.

My only experience has been the correcting of errors on the CWGC website. In 2007 i infomed them of an error on this chaps date of death. Listed 43 should have been 44. They corrected it, but, i've no idea what the headstone said.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

Thanks for your comments, one and all. I will plod on.

Although I have the headstone details, the only way to actually prove the details are incorrect, is to get their service records. No way I can get these as I am not the next of kin.

The war diaries record a death and what happened, but as you know the names of Other Ranks are not shown here. For example, 2 are killed in October 1944 when their vehicle is blown up by a land mine during an advance. The offices headstone is correct, the OR headstone shows another regiment which is in the 50th Division's area of operations quite a distance away.

Do you have any suggestions as to another route of investigation?

If I can go back to the point before we "lost the plot". If you would kindly reread the above.

Thanks for your patience.

 

Consider for a moment the fog of war. Collecting bodies along the route of the battle. A great mate of mine is buried many miles from where he died, I do know as he was along side me when he died. And by a huge coincidence he is buried at the Monastry we stopped at earlier on out way North.
I don't think it matter where or what just as long as we keep their memories in our hearts.
Sapper

 

I don't think it matter where or what just as long as we keep their memories in our hearts.
Sapper

Beautifully put.

Thanks - Robert

 

Take a look at the Great War forum which routinely deals with getting the CWGC to make changes like this (Great War Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board)). Especially look for posts by Terry Denham, who I believe works for the CWGC, and is a fount of wisdom on dealing with them. Bottom line, though, is you have to give the commission evidence that the stone is wrong-- they will not take action just based on your assertion that it is wrong. However, if you have evidence, they will make changes-- I have seen quite a few changed stones as I tromp through graveyards. It might take them a while-- if it is a change which can be made by correcting one letter, it might not be too long, but if it will require redoing the entire stone (eg wrong unit, needing new crest and all), it gets put into a queue and might take a long time. But, they are very interested in getting it right, and are great to work with.

I think TomTAS's comment is a situation in which the family said they did not want a CWGC headstone installed. Only the family can change that decision, not interested outsiders. The family can leave it like it is (i.e. no stone), or ask for a CWGC headstone, or put up a family memorial--- not up to us outsiders, nor to the CWGC. Doc

 

TomTas is referring to a GPR grave from 1947 (died of wounds suffered at Arnhem). Grave is a family one with no CWGC headstone as per the families wishes and is almost unknown/overgrown

Not that it has anything to do with this thread I dont think! (Tom get a grip)

Andy

 

TomTas is referring to a GPR grave from 1947 (died of wounds suffered at Arnhem). Grave is a family one with no CWGC headstone as per the families wishes and is almost unknown/overgrown

Not that it has anything to do with this thread I dont think! (Tom get a grip)

Andy

Out of interst Andy, which cemetery is ir in?

P

 

EP
Its in Luton, about 5 minutes from the station, on a slight! hill

Dont know the exact name as all details on my Laptop but GPrs name was Minards

Andy