James Gearing buried at Rouen

[hazelnuts104]

A question that has always puzzled me that someone with more knowledge might be able to help me solve please.
My paternal Grandfather James Gearing is remembered at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen in France but his death certificate shows he died in Italy 17/12/1918.  He was a gunner with the Royal Horse and Field Artillery.
    In the chaos of war and the aftermath were bodies brought back to field hospitals ie Rouen from Italy and other battle fields?
  Ive gone around in circles with this so if anyone knows more I would be grateful

[forester]

What are the full details on the Death Cert?

If he died in a Base Hospital in Rouen, then I wouldn't expect him to be evacuated all the way from Italy.

His CWGC entry puts him in 14th Brigade RHA, which was part of Third Army Artillery. At the Armistice the 3rd Army held a line between Cousolre and Rouveroy.

Unfortunately, as he died post-Armistice, there is no entry in SDGW to back it up.

The war diary for 14th Brigade is in WO 95/385, which although it probably won't name him, will confirm their location.

Phil