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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: riverrat on Sunday 08 July 12 01:54 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
Just a General question.
If an Australian soldier for instance, was injured in France, transported to a hospital in England, where he died as a result of his injuries, would his death be registered in England or Australia.
Regards
riverrat
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The death would be registered in England.
Next of kin would be advised and lists of the deceased placed in Newspapers.
Often the families too would place a death notice in the papers.
Sue
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Hi All,
Thanks Sue.
Regards
riverrat
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Hi there,
In Australia, BDM registrations are the responsibility of the States and Territories, as Australia is a Federation. Deaths during WWI for Australians in the AIF are noted on the service records for each person, and their service records are free to search online at the National Archives of Australia's website.
http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/index.aspx
The State of Queensland has provided registrations for the Fallen for Queensland born/based lads and lasses who Fell, including in several instances those who succumbed after being sent to England, and for whom English dcs are found. These Qld dcs are indicated by the letter "F" as part of the online registration number at this link
https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au/IndexSearch/queryEntry.m?type=deaths
The names of all those who Fell are also honoured on various Memorials, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission continues to care for the cemeteries and headstones for these Service Men and Service Women. But rest assured, even in this century, even if you cannot locate a civil registration of a death, the CWGC continues the work of identifying the last resting place for those who Fell.
http://www.cwgc.org/
http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IALnBw95LWs
LEST WE FORGET
JM
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hi
Some of the War deaths are registered in the State that the men or women embarked
from.
I have one who lived in NSW, died in France, death is registered in Qld.
The Defence Services did not issue a death certificate. When one required for legal reasons , I was told it was issued by the state of embarkation.
So if you have a death registered during the war years check to see if the death happened overseas.
Muss
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During WWI, the AIF forms relating to a Death of a Soldier included:
Army Form B. 2090A, Army Form B.213 and Army Form A.36.
Reading directly from FIELD SERVICE Army Form B.2090A, The Report of a Death of a Soldier was “to be forwarded to the War Office with the least possible delay after receipt of notification of death on Army Form B.213 or Army Form A.36, or from other official documentary sources.”
I have received similar info to Muss :) and add that where the deceased estate involved property in NSW, that the Probate Courts accepted the written evidence from AIF Base Records confirming the death of the Soldier.
Adding, Many of those at AIF Base Records had been clerks in the public service before WWI. Some of those were clerks who had been NSW BDM Registrar General's staff at NSW BDM head office.
Cheers, JM
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Hi there,
Just to follow up a little further, here is an example that may help explain how the ‘system’ worked in Dec 1916.
Among those who died while in the AIF was a young chap, Alfred Stanley ATKINS, 5970A, born Urunga NSW died in a Military Hospital at Fargo, (Wiltshire) England of Pneumonia at 1: 10 am 27 December 1916. His death was registered at Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, GRO ref Vol 5a, page 212, 4th Quarter 1916. His CWGC headstone is at the Durrington, Wiltshire cemetery, where there is a separate Memorial for the Australians.
His AIF service records cover some 41 pages (digitised, free to search online as per earlier link), and show that due to his illness, he never reached the FRONT, and the detailed records show the depth of details that AIF Base Records established and maintained. The file also shows that the Commanding Officer of that Military Hospital understood the AIF requirements (see the copy of the telegram he sent) and also the English civil law requirements. Among those military records is the Field Service Report that I mentioned earlier.
As far as I know, there was no NSW civil registration for his death.
I hope this information will help with the general question you are asking. I realise it is not for a Soldier who was injured or became ill at the Front and then was sent through to England. I am sorry I don't have an example at hand for that situation.
JM
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Hi
Joseph Clarence Nix lived NSW died Belgium 18/09/1917 death reg Qld 1922 F6562
F must be for Forces
Muss
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Hi
John Edward Nix lived Qld died 05/11/1916 France death Reg Qld 1922 F6561
Muss
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F must be for Forces
Muss
YES, it is, specifically WWI Australian Imperial Forces . WWII prefix is "S"
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/family-history-research/historical-index-search-tips
ADDING, New Zealand also issued death certificates for those who did not return home from WWI service.
Cheers, JM
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Two of my father's cousins were killed on the Western Front in WWI. The boys had enlisted in Queensland, their home state.
Some years ago I found their deaths registered in Queensland with an AIF suffix. Today I re-checked my information and the registration number has changed. AIF has been removed and F inserted, but the actual numbers from the original are there with a slightly different arrangement. For example, one now reads 1922/F483 instead of the original 22/000843 AIF.
Have no idea of when (or why) it changed. Simplification?
Philippa
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less key strokes, in this digital age?
Dawn M
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Should have thought of that myself, Dawn - the simplest and obvious answer is so often the right one!!
I have a lot of BDM records from Queensland - might have to go and recheck the rest. Wretched nuisance if they've all change (irrespective of the reason)!!
:o
Philippa
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Well, I shouldn't think they will have changed the registration number, just changed the letter that goes with it. And if you've already got the certificates, then you don't need to worry about that.
Dawn M
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Not at all worried, Dawn, it just surprised me.
;D
Philippa