Hi May be a total red herring here but My Great Uncle Pte James Henry Rimmer 3776768 Served with Kings Own Regiment, then Green Howards 6th Battalion Killed in Action 8/9/44 James Rimmer finally recieved service records According to XXX it was reported in 26/9/44 his date of death I happened to find a record of the following J Rimmer - Kings Own Regiment 3776769 with a POW Number of 155657 Stalag 17A Location Kaisersteinbruck Bei Bruck (Leitha). Very confusing, could it be the same person ? could it be an admin error ? or was my Great Uncle a POW Thanks in advance (I have his service records for 3776768 and no mention of POW [mod edit: added link to service records thread]
Hi Email FWR and ask if you can see the original record. It could be their error, admin error, or something else. Is there a date for that as well?\ regards Robert
Yes - there is a web site that purports to provide service records and all things great but do not be deceived. Errors can and do happen when details are transcribed Its probable that he died on 8th Sep but was not reported until 26th - like being born in Jan but your birth was not registered until Feb UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: James Rimmer Given Initials: J H Rank: Private Death Date: 8 Sep 1944 Number: 3776768 Birth Place: Southport Residence: Southport Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment) Branch at Death: Infantry Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current Name: Private James Henry Rimmer Death Date: 8 Sep 1944 Cemetery: Geel War Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Geel, Arrondissement Turnhout, Antwerp (Antwerpen), Belgium Has Bio?: N Private James Henry Rimmer (Unknown-1944) - Find A... TD
I assume this would be the POW record you found UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: J Rimmer Rank: Private Army Number: 3776789 Regiment: King's Own Royal Regiment POW Number: 155657 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: XVII-A Camp Location: Kaisersteinbruch, Austria Record Office: Infantry Record Office, The Public Hall, Lune Street, Preston, Lancashire Record Office Number: 18 Interesting as you note that the service numbers are only 1 different, it has been known that some soldiers used false details when being registered as POW's to help confuse the Germans I would suggest maybe you apply for your relatives service records - these are ONLY obtainable from the MOD via the forms on this link Request records of deceased service personnel I guess it is possible that 2 x J Rimmer joined up and where given consecutive numbers - screwier things have happened TD
Mods can we remove any mention of that other site please it disturbs me. did you get the records from the official site as would and has been suggested by this forum if not i suggest you do it immediately Get a copy of military service records
TD is quite correct, it is the casualty list that is dated 26 September. Note the 'confusion' on service numbers, 3776769 looks like it should be 3776789, that is why it is important to stick to actual documents. 3776789 J Rimmer was reported missing 16.11.43 later confirmed POW, the theatre was 'Middle East - Aegean'.
As Tony has stated Two different soldiers ;- 3776768 Rimmer Killed in Action 3776789 Rimmer PoW liberated 1945 Transcription error by `They Who Must Not Be Named` not FMP Kyle
There are those amongst our happy band who can ascertain more from Service Numbers, but as an example WAKELIN, RICHARD. Private. Service Number 3776756. Died 06/05/1944. Aged 24. 1st Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) Son of Walter Thomas Holmes Wakelin and Margaret Ethel Anna Wakelin; husband of Margaret Wakelin, of Byker, Northumberland. Buried at SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY. Plot IX. Row D. Grave 45. RENSHAW, ARTHUR. Lance Corporal. Service Number 3776777. Died 14/05/1944. Aged 27 2nd Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) Son of James and Ellen Renshaw, of Hulme, Manchester. Buried at TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY. Plot 6. Row C. Grave 21. PRICE, WALTER. Private. Service Number 3776709. Died 26/04/1944. Aged 28 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment Son of Nathaniel Dawson Price and Chrissey Price, of Hoylake, Cheshire. Commemorated at RANGOON MEMORIAL Face 15. NOONAN, HERBERT. Sergeant. Service Number 3776784. Died 02/12/1943. Aged 23 Small Arms School Corps attd. 7th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Son of Stephen Noonan and of Louisa Noonan (nee Hocking), of Moss Side, Manchester. Buried at GREAT HARWOOD CEMETERY Grave 3686. CONNOR, ANTHONY. Private. Service Number 3776716. Died 25/09/1944. Aged 24 1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment Son of John and Mary Connor; husband of Thelma Connor, of Nottingham. Buried at VALKENSWAARD WAR CEMETERY. Plot II. Row E. Grave 18. would all appear to have enlisted in KO R R before being posted to other units after basic training. What I find a little curious is that there are TWO J Rimmers with so close Service Numbers that they didn't know of each other and may perhaps be related? EDIT: I notice that the CWGC have managed two typo's both for his wife, shown as France. Mary and then again with his headstone being IN OUR HEARTS IS HIS MEMORY. WE LOVED HIM TOO DEARLY TO EVER FORGET. WIFE FRANCIS AND MOTHER. Perhaps you might want to request they amend to Frances?
Kevin, Theres another RIMMER, 3776765 Pte R Rimmer wounded 7th Jan 45 serving 1st East Lancs Regiment! Good luck getting the name amended too. I pointed out an error where they put a soldiers Father as John instead of Jackson and in the CWGC reply it was suggested to me that " perhaps John was his preferred name" . Will not be bothering them again every reply I have had has been negative. Clive, On this occasion he has the service records he was just confused by "They who must not be named " James Rimmer finally recieved service records Kyle
