Why is my g.grandad buried in Rangoon??

[Andreab]

Can someone help me?
I have found my great grandad listed amongst the WW1 war dead. These are the Casualty Details:

Name: PHILLIP COATES
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Rifle Brigade
Unit Text: 18th Bn.
Age: 46
Date of Death: 29/11/1918
Service No: 200553
Additional Information: Son of Alfred Coates..........
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Ref: 4.F.5
Cemetery: Rangoon War Cemetery

The family story goes that he was killed whilst on a prison ship??? No other info about this I'm afraid. Could be a red herring. Also, who was fighting in that area at the end of November 1918??? If he didn't die in battle will his death cert say how he died? I know there was a flu pandemic at that time. I have his Medal card which shows him having got the British War Medal.
Can anyone shed some light on this or point me in the right direction.
Thanks
AndreaB

[keith9351]

From http://www.1914-1918.net/rb.htm

They were on Garrison duty.

18th (London); 19th (Western); 20th (Northern); 21st (Midland); 22nd (Wessex & Welsh); 23rd (North Western) and 24th (Home Counties) Battalions
Formed in accordance with an Army Council Instruction on 29 November 1915. The Bns were made up of supernumary TF Companies, formed from National Reservists who were used in guarding vulnerable points in Great Britain. The Bns were posted for Garrison duty overseas in 1916. The 18th, 23rd and 24th went to India; 19th and 20th to Egypt. The 21st went to India via Egypt, and the 22nd Salonika via Egypt. The latter was attached to the 228th Brigade, 28th Division.

Keith

[Mike_E]

I did a search on the 18th and found this text. Show they were shipped out there in jan 1916, until Nov 1918. But the data doesn't quite tie up with your CWWC entry? Will see If I can dig up anything else.

You might get some more info from:-
Royal Green Jackets Museum
Peninsular Barracks
Romsey Road
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8TS

Rangoon Brigade.
2/5th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. Jan 1916 - Sep 1916. Left the Brigade but remained attached to the Division.
3rd Garrison Bn Bedfordshire Regt. Nov 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
4th Bn Worcestershire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Dec 1914. To the 29th (British) Division.
1/5th Bn Hampshire Regt. Jan 1918 - Oct 1918. To the 16th Division.
1/4th Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 10 Dec 1914 - Feb 1915. The Battalion split, 1½ Companies went to the Anderman Islands, the rest of the Battalion went to Singapore. On 10 Apr 1915 the 1½ Companies from the Anderman Islands rejoined the Battalion. One Company was sent to Hong Kong arriving on 05 Apr 1915. Two more Companies were sent to Hong Kong arriving on 18 Apr 1915. By Mar 1917 the whole Battalion was back in Singapore. In May 1917 the Battalion left for Great Britain via South Africa, arriving in Great Britain in Jul 1917. The Battalion then went to France and joined the 63rd (British) Division in Aug 1917.
1st Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 04 Aug 1914 - Oct 1914. To the 29th (British) Division.
18th Bn Rifle Brigade. Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

[Andreab]

Have just got a response from the NA re the war diary for Phillips Battalion.
Phillip served in the 18th Battalion London Rifle Brigade. His regiment No. was 599 200553.
These are the close matches they found. Which one is likely to be the correct one, if any?

WO 95/152 Light Brigade: 18 Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps 1919 Nov. - 1920 Jan.
WO 95/1374 1 Light Brigade: 18 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps 1919 Apr. - Oct.
WO 95/1975 18 Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1918 Aug. - 1919 Feb.
WO 95/2635 18 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps 1916 May - 1917 Oct.
WO 95/2635 18 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps 1918 Mar. - 1919 Mar.
WO 95/2737 1/18 Battalion London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) 1915 Mar. - 1919 Feb.
WO 95/4243 122 Infantry Brigade: 18 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps 1917 Nov. - 1918 Feb.
WO 95/5400 9 Indian Infantry Brigade: 2/18 Battalion Garhwal Rifles 1923 Feb. - July

It would be great if someone could advise me. Don't want to waste money getting a copy of a no hoper!!
Andrea

[Mike_E]

Have just got a response from the NA re the war diary for Phillips Battalion.
Phillip served in the 18th Battalion London Rifle Brigade. His regiment No. was 599 200553.
These are the close matches they found. Which one is likely to be the correct one, if any?

WO 95/2737 1/18 Battalion London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) 1915 Mar. - 1919 Feb.

It would be great if someone could advise me. Don't want to waste money getting a copy of a no hoper!!
Andrea

I would be tempted by this one myself, but I'm hoping someone else might chime in and either agree or disagree.

WO 95/2737 1/18 Battalion London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) 1915 Mar. - 1919 Feb.