WW1 Death - how much can I reasonably expect to find? Advice please.

[adriatikfan]

My great Uncle,  Private Thomas Green (33707, 2nd Bn., Yorkshire Regiment), died on on 10 May 1918 and is buried at Esquelbecq cemetery near the Belgian Border.

I am a complete novice with regard to accessing military records and basically am in a position where I don't know what I don't know!

How much information can I reasonably expect to be able to unearth?

Also, why would a young lad from Wolverhampton end up in the Yorkshire regiment? (rather than, for example, one of the Staffs' regiments?)

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Best Wishes
David

[Hollander]

Hi David,

I've been unable to find a service record for your great uncle, but less than 40% survive; many were destroyed in the blitz.

His medal card shows entitlement to the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

[mmm45]

David
As has already been stated most records are destroyed thanks to the Blitz..However there are ways and means to still work out where he would have been etc and when he enlisted using other mens documents that either died or survived the blitz(casualties are easier to research)
The best place to start would be the local papers..Usually an obituary was posted and you may get lucky and get a photo.
The Unit War Diary at Kew will tell you what the battalion was up to at the time of his death.You can get some of these downloaded on Docs Online at the NA website but not all units!
He didnt go overseas til after Jan 1916 as no Star was issued and Service in the Green Howards(Yorkshire Regiment) is not uncommon after conscription in 1916 lads went wherever they were needed....My gt Uncle was KIA with 6th Yorkshires in 1917.

http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/

Maybe if the Mods could move to WW1 board youll get more answers?

Ady

[adriatikfan]

Thank you both for your suggestions - that is a very helpful start.

Best Wishes
David

[mmm45]

http://www.wolverhamptonwarmemorials.org.uk/

David
forgot to add Doug Lewis Wolverhampton site...excellent resource for that area

Ady

[jds1949]

The war diary of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment is available to download from the National Archives - it will cost you £3.50.

Go to: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp

Type in Yorkshire Regiment
date range 1914 - 1920
Department code WO 95

Click on search - then scroll down the page until you find the 2nd Battalion ref: WO 95/1809

Click on that - then click on Ordering and Viewing options

Then click on View this online

You can then add it to shopping - pay your £3.50 and download it. It comes with several other units - so you will have to go thorough the records of battalions you don't want to find the one you do.

Good hunting,

jds1949

[adriatikfan]

The war diary of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment is available to download from the National Archives - it will cost you £3.50.

Go to: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp

Type in Yorkshire Regiment
date range 1914 - 1920
Department code WO 95

Click on search - then scroll down the page until you find the 2nd Battalion ref: WO 95/1809

Click on that - then click on Ordering and Viewing options

Then click on View this online

You can then add it to shopping - pay your £3.50 and download it. It comes with several other units - so you will have to go thorough the records of battalions you don't want to find the one you do.

Good hunting,

jds1949

Thank you so much for this information/advice. I have accessed the war diary and it seems that Thomas Green (my great Uncle) must have died from wounds received at one of the battles of Dickebusch lake which started with gas canister attack on May 8th and then a heavy bombardment on May 9th which 'obliterated the trenches' after which  'the enemy' stormed the ridge.

The cemetery at Esquelbecq is almost 25 miles from Dickebush Lake (now Dikkebus) and there is no mention in the War Diary of survivors being transported anywhere. I've picked up snippets of information from various sites this afternoon that there were military field hospitals in Esquelbecq. (That will introduce a whole new line of research).

Thank you again - this has been invaluable help.

Best Wishes
David

[cati]

You may also find the Western Front Assocation - www.westernfrontassociation.com - useful.   

[adriatikfan]

You may also find the Western Front Assocation - www.westernfrontassociation.com - useful.   

Thank you
David