CWGC Archives, Exhumation & Re-burial returns: Maps, Map References Help requests

Thanks dbf! I didnt realise they were avail on the cwgc as well

 

I've been working on my Recce guys only got 390 to go

Cheers
Paul

 

as well as where else?

 

Sorry geoff. I forgot about your website. Im only just getting back into my research

 

Hi Diane - Happy new year!

I was just wondering, did you find out whether or not this was a traceable map reference?

 

Okay, thanks I'll see if I can find anything that might help. I did wonder if it might be a reference to a square on the tunisia map. I have a similar type of reference for a concentration form regarding Italy - cassino map. I'm probably way off though - so close and yet still no closer to finding the location!

 

Hi Diane,

I contacted the CWGC today and after speaking to a very helpful lady there, I think that the reference you have was issued by the Graves Registry. If you contact the CWGC, they should be able to cross reference it and give you a map reference.

 

Whilst looking for a casualty at ENFIDAVILLE WAR CEMETERY It was noticed an entry for a soldier named RIGGS of the Durham Light Infantry had his number etc apparently wrongly copied from the soldier above? The entry for RIGGS was later changed to an `Unknown Soldier ` as neither the number nor the name apparently corresponded with any known casualty? The CWGC`s attention was drawn to the following soldier with both similar number and name who was never found and who was killed at Mareth alongside those listed alongside the unknown (RIGGS).

BRIGGS, HENRY BRANCH
Rank: Private
Service No:4461250
Date of Death:20/03/1943
Age:23
Regiment/Service: Durham Light Infantry 8th Bn.
Panel Reference: Face 29.
Memorial: MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL

The following reply was received from the CWGC.

The information regarding Briggs was only raised with them to give them a possible starting point however from their very defensive reply I don't think they are really interested No signature either just `Enquiries team`. I think the quality of reply depends on whose desk the email lands on.

Kyle

 

Lucky to get a reply, I'm still waiting on my last one ( December 2̶0̶1̶4̶ 2015). I find their response to many things are variable.


EDIT: Date corrected, reply now received after 48 days!

 

They've been 'variable' since I first ever enquired about anything some 30 years ago, can never quiet pin down what sort of organisation I'm talking to - if I get to talk to them that is....

 

Am hoping someone here is able to give me some help in locating a ww2 officer.

Lt. Alastair Montgomery Loudon, 2nd Glasgow Highlanders was killed during Operation Epsom on 29th June 1944. He is remembered on the Bayeux Panels but doesn't have a marked grave.

When he was killed the germans overan the area he was in. A member of his Bren gun team, Archie Mason, witnessed him being shot but had to vacate the area. When the counter attack was pushed back shortly afterwards Archie brought the Highlanders padre, James Taylor, back to where Lt. Loudon had fallen. Archie identified him as the germans had taken his watch, id discs and compass. Padre James Taylor buried him where he lay which was in a ditch in a corner of an orchard in Mondrainville, France.

James Taylor was killed on 30th June 1944 by a mortar hit on his truck, dying the next day.

Because Lt. Loudon is remembered on the Bayeux Panels I think you can assume that the padre reported the night of 29th the casualties to his commanding officer as was required.

The three avenues I am following in the hope of finding my wife's uncle are:-
1. That the padre didn't manage to tell the Graves Detachment, before he was killed, where Lt. Loudon was buried so he wasn't picked up and therefore may still be lying in that corner of the orchard.
2. That the padre did tell the Graves Detachment but when they went to the spot they were unable to identify him (for a variety of reasons) and so he was buried in a grave marked "Known unto God" or similar.
3. The Graves Detachment were unable to find his remains.

The help I am looking for is the location of any documentation that the Graves Detachment received or gave from the padre or commanding officer that may detail the co-ordinates of the temporary grave, or bodies uplifted at that time and location.

I am in the process of trying to locate Padre James Taylors notebook which I am told many padres kept where they detailed grave locations, personal belongings collected from the fallen that were passed back to families.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

Are there any CWGC cemeteries close to where he was killed? If so I suggest you look through the burial returns and concentration documents for each man buried there to see if there is any mention of unknown's picked up at the same time and buried there too. There maybe map reference coordinates given but you will obviously have to know the map reference of this orchard.
Lionboxer

 

Hi
My wife and I looked at every gravestone in all the cemeteries near where he was killed including Bayeux. I sobering job. In the hope of finding a gravestone with Glasgow Highlanders Badge on it, or HLI, or Scottish Soldier or Scottish Officer as we noticed some gravestones had been marked. But nothing fitted around the date he died.

When you say look through burial returns and concentration documents, what do you mean? Are these the one in the booklets at the cemeteries or are they elsewhere?

I am also trying to find any other soldiers killed near him around the same time that were identified, in the hope that they might have been picked up with him and maybe buried next door in an unmarked grave. The truck was only a 15cwt so not many bodies would be lifted at one time. Just one iffy line of research!!

Thanks
Nigel

 

You need to go online and checkout the CWGC website for the cemeteries nearest the orchard at Mondrainville. Search through the records of each man buried there to see if there is a concentration report. This may have alongside the report for a specific man the details of an unknown or unidentified man who was interred in the cemetery at or near the same time.
Lionboxer

 

Now the concentration cards of CWGC are on line, they seem to have two ways of referencing original burials
a GRU sheet number or what looks like a modern day map reference. Where though do we find these maps.?
Any ideas welcome

Tony

 

Tony

There are many maps available online: depends very much on which location you are researching. The latter determines what maps are available and at what scale.

Lots of WW2 maps also come up on eBay if you are interested sufficiently and you are prepared to wait for the appropriate map to appear!

Physical copies of various maps are also available in various Libraries: that again depends on your location etc etc