photo of war grave please

[mykin]

Hi,
A relative in my family was killed in action in WW11,on 29, Mar, 1943.
He is commenorated at Thornaby On Tees Cemetary, Yorkshire.
His name was Douglas Victor Kaye.
His grave is number 18
Plot 0
Row M

I don't know what plot 0 means.

Is there anyone who would be so kind as to take a picture of his grave?

[daggers]

You may find that a photo is available via this site:
twgpp.org/ (Enter http:// in front)

[billysax]

Photo of his grave is on the site mentioned. Royal Canadian Air Force, Flight Sergeant.

[bibliojunkie]

It is Plot letter O not zero according to the CWGC site.

Ali

[mykin]

Thanks dagger and others who did the research for me. That is a wonderful site, never knew it existed. I wrote to the person in charge as I don't understand the pay methods.

Finding one answer opens up questions for more information, like I wonder why he was buried there and not shipped back to Canada. Or is the marker for him just a marker and he is really buried in his home town, as there is a headstone there in the family cemetary. etc. Thanks again, Doe

[bibliojunkie]

Photo of the grave here:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...sualty=2414189

You may find more information on the website or in RCAF records.

Unlike today, bodies were rarely 'brought home' and were laid to rest in the country in which they died. I think there may have been an official edict or decision made around WW1 to this effect. The experts here will tell me if I'm wrong. Cost, paperwork, organisation etc during wartime conditions no doubt played a part. Also, getting a body back to Canada say would not have been a quick or easy matter. Wealthy families lost sons in France (i.e close to the UK) and presumably could have made arrangements to have the bodies brought back. I've seen read diaries referring to soldiers wanting to be buried with their comrades.

There are many instances of families commemorating a soldier on a stone in their local cemeteries when in fact the person is buried overseas.

Regards, Ali

[mykin]

Thank you bibliojunkie,
That was most interesting, I had no idea about the military being buried where they died in England.Way better there than many other places where some of all our military fell. I just see what is going on today, unfortunately.
I do know that England was hit very badly in WW11. The place of burial for Douglas Kaye was in Northern Yorkshire. Does that suggest to you that his plane went down there? If so, I did not know that England was being attacked that far north.
It is good to see it written down, one can understand the reasons better, I do remember as a little girl in grade school that we had to collect newspapers, metals etc.for the war effort.
I wrote to the person in charge and he did write right back with some information.
It's good to learn something new every day, and I thank you for this tidbit. Doe

[Raymond M]

Does this link help at all? It explains what happened to your Douglas Kaye and why he's buried in Yorkshire.
kind regards
Ray

http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/...rth/t9325.html

[bibliojunkie]

Hi Doe

Glad you found the info useful. I don't know about North Yorkshire being bombed but industrial areas and airfields were targets. Also, crews often jettisoned unused bombs in a random fashion on their way home. I met a man who had been evacuated from the East End in London after heavy raids. He was sent to live with an aunt in the middle of the Derbyshire countryside. Within weeks the field next to the house was blown up. The young lad thought Hitler knew exactly where he was.

There are Commonwealth war cemeteries and headstones around the world. Have a look at the website: www.cwgc.org for further info.

The reason for F/S Kaye's burial in England could be:
a) he was wounded/killed whilst on a raid but the plane was able to make it back to base
b) the plane crashed in the UK due to enemy action or an accident (plenty of those when particularly when training)
c) airfield was bombed and he was a casualty
d) he was killed in an accident, not directly related to the war, but the death
would have been classed as 'killed on active service.' For example, one of my mother's old school friends was killed in a motor cycle accident when he was on leave. He is commemorated on the village war memorial and buried in the churchyard with a CWG headstone.

As mentioned above, you may get more info from RAF/RCAF records and squadron diaries.

Ali

PS I didn't realise until I saw a Canadian TV programme about the war this summer that Canada was subject to rationing.

[bibliojunkie]

Great find Raymond. Thank you.

Ali