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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: lalkav on Sunday 04 September 22 20:24 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to find the cause of death for Private Arthur John Vaughan Reg No 21440 who died 11th March 1916. Does anyone know if this would be recorded anywhere please? I've had a quick google and it looks like the battalion were on the march to Vimy Ridge during this time. Many thanks for any help.
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The Walsall Observer and Staffordshire Chronicle of Saturday 25-3-1916 has this:
VAUGHAN. - In loving memory of my dear
husband, Private Arthur John Vaughan, of
the 1st Worcesters, who was killed in action
on March 11th 1916.
[verse]
Deeply mourned by Wife and Family.
The same edition carries a photograph of him.
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That's great thankyou. I'll take a look at it.
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You can download the war diaries of the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment from TNA (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352491) but you need to set up an account (free). The relevant part is WO-95-1723-1_4.pdf which starts on 12 Feb 1916. However the diary reveals that the battalion is mainly in billets and working during the day to improve the trenches they inherited from the French, throughout this period when he is reported to have been killed. There are no reports of any specific casualties, although the Germans are generally shelling the area throughout early March. Unless he was injured much earlier on, and happened to die of his wounds on 11th March 1916, I can only suggest that his death might have been due to the shelling, or he had some sort of accident not caused by enemy action. Numerous soldiers died in this way, and it would always be reported to their families that they died in action because it made their sacrifice seem more worthwhile.
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The cause of death will be shown on his death certificate; available from the GRO.
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The cause of death will be shown on his death certificate; available from the GRO.
For death during the war it's unlikely to say anything more than killed on active service, or similar wording.
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The cause of death will be shown on his death certificate; available from the GRO.
For death during the war it's unlikely to say anything more than killed on active service, or similar wording.
There will be the occasional one that lists an illness but the only way to find out is via the death certificate.
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Unbelievable!
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The Soldiers Effects Pay Record for him says only Killed in Action
Suggesting as AndyJ2022 posted it was probably Shelling onto their Billet area and instant.
Unlikely he was attacking
unless the War Diary say otherwise that's the nearest you'll get to the cause of Death - Sorry
Widow Phoebe received his Pay arrears and War Gratuity
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As has already been said, his death certificate will most likely simply say Killed in action, but if you want to order the certificate from the GRO this the reference.
War deaths 1915-1921.
Year 1916 Vaughan A J, Pte. 21440. Worc. Vol. I.55 Page 145.