death in WW1

[BearPear]

Hi guys,

I am new to looking up military records (apart from a little dabble on TNA). I have been told about an ancestor who died in France in WW1 but I don't know where I will find this out to confirm for myself.

I have looked at what I think is his record card on A*ry, but it only mentions medals, not a death.

So what I am asking is, is there on A*ry (or anywhere else, preferably free) an index of deaths from WW1, and how do I know if that record relates to my man as the cards don't seem to record DOB or address.

Cheers - by the way, I considered posting in WW1 but thought it was more a general question. Mods feel free to relocate if appropriate!

[Lesley Robertson]

Hi guys,

I am new to looking up military records (apart from a little dabble on TNA). I have been told about an ancestor who died in France in WW1 but I don't know where I will find this out to confirm for myself.

I have looked at what I think is his record card on A*ry, but it only mentions medals, not a death.

So what I am asking is, is there on A*ry (or anywhere else, preferably free) an index of deaths from WW1, and how do I know if that record relates to my man as the cards don't seem to record DOB or address.

Cheers - by the way, I considered posting in WW1 but thought it was more a general question. Mods feel free to relocate if appropriate!

Your first stop should be the Commonwealth War Graves site here
http://www.cwgc.org/ It include those with no known grave.
Hopefully his name wasn't J. Smith!

Lesley

[BearPear]

Thanks Lesley - he was there.

He would have been my husband's great uncle, and therefore nothing to me, but I still found it incredible sad. It will be "interesting" to see if any other of the men on my tree are on there.

Thanks

Clare

[billysax]

You may be able to find a photograph of his grave headstone if you visit
www.twgpp.org

[Procat]

There is also a resource called 'Soldiers Died Great War'. It is an index but lists slightly different information to the CWGC site such as place of birth, place of enlistment, place of residence. Not all information is recorded in all instances.

It can be found on Findmypast.com and is also available on CD ( for a large amount of money).

If you post the name and service number you are interested in I can check it for you.

[BearPear]

He was Walter Orton, he died 17/05/1917 at Arras, according to CWGC. He was 28 and the brother of my husband's grandma.

I have also found that my dad's gran (who he was very close to) had a brother who died in Belgium - again located on that website. He was Albert Edward Lawton, 13/01/1916 aged 21. My dad's father was called Albert - which is obvious now that he was named after his uncle.

Sad, but very interesting.

[billysax]

I've looked on the war graves photographic project site. They have (as yet) no Walter Orton, but they do have Albert Edward Lawton, 10th Bn. Duke of Wellington (West Riding) Regiment. It seems his name is on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Billy.

[Procat]

SDGW records:

Name: Walter Orton
Rank: Private
Number: 16464
Regiment Corps etc: York and Lancaster Regiment
Battalion etc: 7th (Service) Battalion
Born: Doncaster
Enlisted: Doncaster
Died Date: 11 May 17
Died How: Killed in action
Theatre: France & Flanders

Name: Albert Edward Lawton
Rank: Private
Number: 12271
Regiment Corps etc: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)t
Battalion etc: 10th Battalion
Born: Manningham, Yorks
Enlisted: Bradford, Yorks
Died Date: 13 Jan 16
Died How: Killed in action
Theatre: France & Flanders

[BearPear]

What lovely people genealogists are! Thank you all so much for this information.

I can't possibly imagine how horrible it must have been for the men and their families, but at least their records are there, and now that we know about them we can pay our respects and honour their memories.

Cheers everyone

Clare

[Astoria]

Could you possibly have a look for James Philburn for me, I have him on the CWGC site and on the site Billysax mentioned, is there anything more?

[BearPear]

I took a quick look on the medal cards on A*ry but there isn't a James Philburn - only a James Philbourne and he isn't mentioned as killed in action, just that his medals were returned.
Perhaps you would get more info with a brand new post?

Sorry can't be of more help!

[Procat]

Could you possibly have a look for James Philburn for me, I have him on the CWGC site and on the site Billysax mentioned, is there anything more?

Hi Astoria,

Name: James Philburn
Rank: L/CPL
Number: 8017
Regiment, Corps etc: East Lancashire regiment
Battalion etc: 1st Battalion
Born: St Mary's, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancs
Enlisted: Manchester
Residence: Ashton-Under-Lyne
Died Date: 16 Nov 14
Died How: Killed in action
Theatre: France & Flanders