Death certificate

[heilanlassie]

How can I find a death certificate for a relative who may have died during the war.

All I have been able to find is a memorial in the Brookwood Memorial Cemetery, England that mentions the name of George Harold Russell Bell, private in the 10th HD battalion of the Gordon Highlanders who died on 19 February 1940.

The name is written on Panel 14, column 2 of the said memorial.

What is throwing me, is that my relative was born in Northumberland - so why would he have joined the Gordon Highlanders?

Obviously, until I can find a death certificate showing his age and the name of his parents, I can't be sure this is the correct person.

Is there a way to get a death certificate?

[gortonboy]

Name:George BELL

Rank:Private

Initials:G H R

Birthplace:Newcastle-On-Tyne

Residence:Aberdeen

Branch at death:Infantry

Regiment, Corps etc.:The Gordon Highlanders

Branch at 01/09/39:

Regiment, Corps etc.:

Number:2871608

Date died:19 February 1940


Theatre of war:United Kingdom


cant see him in army deaths,,,maybe he died in Scotland.

[heilanlassie]

Name:George BELL

Rank:Private

Initials:G H R

Birthplace:Newcastle-On-Tyne

Residence:Aberdeen

Branch at death:Infantry

Regiment, Corps etc.:The Gordon Highlanders

Branch at 01/09/39:

Regiment, Corps etc.:

Number:2871608

Date died:19 February 1940


Theatre of war:United Kingdom


cant see him in army deaths,,,maybe he died in Scotland.

My relative, George Harold Russell Bell was born on 29 September 1896, in Ovingham, Northumberland (which could possible have been transcribed as Newcastle).

I just wish I could find out the age of the person who died on 19 February 1940 - but only a death certificate could confirm that.

Were deaths of Armed Service Personnel not registered?

[weste]

It will be registered as an overseas death if occurred abroad. I have a cert for my granddads nephew, it says somwhere in france or belgium on the top of the cert, it's a standard cert for the war. He was missing, time had elapsed and was presumed dead in ww1. At least i got his date of birth on the back of the cert. You know at once when you look at the cert it's different to other certs, it what strikes you when you look at it.

[Hazel Park]

I found my great uncle's war records online but can't find a death certificate.  After much searching and talking with family I uncovered the memorial plaque sent to his next of kin and slowly have put together the plaque, scroll, memorial poem and a few photographs (scattered throughout the family!)  I know he's buried at La-Neuville-Aux-Larres Military Cemetery at Marne, France.  He was in the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.

Also after searching for his regiment online I read a book written by a WW1 veteran who served some of his time with the 6th Battalion - Last Man Standing - fantastic read and gave an insight into what these soldiers went through.  I learned that some soldiers who were either too young to enlist or were employed for example in coal mines ran away to enlist in different areas. - Could this be the case with your relative heilanlassie?

[Marmalady]

Obviously, until I can find a death certificate showing his age and the name of his parents, I can't be sure this is the correct person.

English death certificates do not show parent's names

[heilanlassie]

Obviously, until I can find a death certificate showing his age and the name of his parents, I can't be sure this is the correct person.

English death certificates do not show parent's names

Well, that's going to be a disappointment as I've just ordered a death certificate through GRO at a cost of £9.25 using the information that I have.

I always assumed that the date of birth, parents names and informant of death would appear on the certificate.

Watching The Heir Hunters on BBC1, they show their researchers going to the registry office to obtain a death certificate, as in order to further their research, they need to get the names of the parents of the deceased - just goes to show - you shouldn't always believe what you see on TV.

Thanks for your help.

[andycand]

Hi

Whilst English & Welsh death certificates don't have parents details, Scottish death certificates do.

Andy

[IMBER]

As regards your query about why his birthplace is shown as Newcastle this is probably down to the fact that in the Army Roll Of Honour birthplace is given to the nearest very large town.  Strange but there it is.  Just in case you don't know, "HD" stands for Home Defence.