Finding a war grave on limited info...

[Highlander]

Hi all,

I'm looking for help/suggestions on finding a ww2 war grave. I have checked the cwgc and other memorial sites, however with the limited information I have, I cant find an exact match. Any suggestions on how to proceed would be very welcome!

The details I do have are:

Name: John, Cormack, Douglas (possible other middle name: Henry)
Age: (at death) 19
Parents: (Adoptive) George & Isabella Douglas of Inverness
Service/unit: Unknown, but presumed army, possibly cameron highlanders.

I am told that he was killed in Germany when traveling with other men, his truck was ambushed & there was no survivors.

[Neil Wilson]

Having had a look at cwgc, there is only one age 19, who served in the Royal Scots, 2 Batt

DOUGLAS, JAMES (http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2220940) Private, 3054354, 17/12/1941, age 19, Royal Scots, I. K. 4.SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY

You can use the contact link on the bottom of their site and select Debt of Honour/Casualty Enquiry and go from there. I have used the service and although it can be slow due to the demands it would be your best line of enquiry. I did use a pay as you view site and sometimes they did have more information on a casualty but not always.
Hope this helps

[Highlander]

Neil, thanks for the info. I looked at this record before, but discounted it because it was hong kong rather than Germany, however my information may be wrong. I have refrained from contacting the cwgc before as I do not want to request details for the wrong soldier. Would I be better to try and establish a service number first?

[Neil Wilson]

Neil, thanks for the info. I looked at this record before, but discounted it because it was hong kong rather than Germany, however my information may be wrong. I have refrained from contacting the cwgc before as I do not want to request details for the wrong soldier. Would I be better to try and establish a service number first?Where would you get his service number from?
You have more info than most who search CWGC, stick with this one until you can prove or disprove he is the one.

[Highlander]

Thanks Neil, I have emailed the cwgc, so finger's crossed they can shed some light on it.

"You have more info than most who search CWGC" I guess with all the searching and corelating data, that I am getting a bit blinkered! It is refreshing to know I am not the only one, as I thought quite the reverse & have been frustrated thinking I had very little information!

I will keep you posted and let you know if/when I get a reply form the cwgc.

[Neil Wilson]

Thanks Neil, I have emailed the cwgc, so finger's crossed they can shed some light on it.

"You have more info than most who search CWGC" I guess with all the searching and corelating data, that I am getting a bit blinkered! It is refreshing to know I am not the only one, as I thought quite the reverse & have been frustrated thinking I had very little information!

I will keep you posted and let you know if/when I get a reply form the cwgc.Good luck

[Highlander]

Well, I got a reply from the cwgc today (that was quick!). However they state that they have no records matching any of the information above. They where also unable to confirm any further details regarding pvt James douglas above. So this leaves me where I started. 2 possibles:
DOUGLAS, JAMES Private, 3054354, 17/12/1941, age 19, Royal Scots, I. K. 4.SAI WAN WAR CEMETERY

And this one, who I beleive may have been from nairnshire:
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2048632

I also happened to find this one on the forces memorial site:
http://www.forcesmemorial.org.uk/roll-of-honour/roll-of-honour-profile.asp?profile=95684

The official death record shows the middle name correctly as "Cormack", However the date of death is 1950 which is after the war?

[Neil Wilson]

Hi
The 1950's one fits in with the age. Was it a traffic accident?
He isn't shown on CWGC because that only shows those who died in the two world wars.
Question now is why 1950? That will make him born in 1931, is that anywhere close to when he was adopted?

[Terry Reeves]

The cut-off date for CWGC WW2 commemorations was 31st December, 1947. This may help narrow things down a bit.

Terry Reeves

[brianb]

Hi

numerous services related web site addresses, hopefully one will help you (not sure they are all still available sorry). The imperial war museum site is a very good start, (www.iwm.org.uk/) Though obviously many are on the wrong topic for yourself (naval etc)

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html
https://www.military-genealogy.com/
http://www.military-researcher.com/
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
http://www.naval-history.net/
http://www.cwgc.org/
http://www.greatwar.nl/index.html
http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/
Excelent site detailing war memorials (numerous) and other pages on the wars, http://uk.geocities.com/williamfdungey/index.html
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp
http://www.rma-searcher.co.uk/
For missing servicemen (and their spouses) it's worth considering Malta as a death place.
http://maltafamilyhistory.com/
The website has trancriptions of Military Cemetery records, MIs and Chaplains records BTW certificates can be obtained from Malta online
www.certifikati.gov.mt/
http://www.britishwargraves.org.uk/
http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html


http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...asualty=613422
This is his listing on the War Graves site.
If you are confident this seems like the right person, it can be downloaded for £3.50 here.....
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...&resultcount=4

The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is a registered charity. Their web site http://www.glosters.org.uk/ has a free searchable database of over 40,000 names of soldiers who fought in the 24 Battalions of the Regiment during the First World War.

https://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/militia_results.php?search_string=May&search_type=exact&offset=260

Regards

Brian

[Highlander]

Hi
The 1950's one fits in with the age. Was it a traffic accident?
He isn't shown on CWGC because that only shows those who died in the two world wars.
Question now is why 1950? That will make him born in 1931, is that anywhere close to when he was adopted?


Neil, the injuries listed are consistent with a traffic accident or blunt force trauma to the skull. So that is a distinct possibility. I can send you the file, perhaps you can glean more from it.

Regarding DOB 1931.. I have been unable to verify this officialy, so will need to check with the relative again to be sure. What I do know is it would be between 1928 & 1931. I will get back to you when I know more.

[Neil Wilson]

Neil, the injuries listed are consistent with a traffic accident or blunt force trauma to the skull. So that is a distinct possibility. I can send you the file, perhaps you can glean more from it.

Regarding DOB 1931.. I have been unable to verify this officialy, so will need to check with the relative again to be sure. What I do know is it would be between 1928 & 1931. I will get back to you when I know more.You welcome to send the file. Can't understand why he wasn't returned to the UK for burial.

[Highlander]

Some more information on the first one we looked at: (James Douglas, Royal Scots)

Branch at death: Infantry
Regiment: The Royal Scots (The Royal Regt)
Branch at 1/9/39: Infantry
Regiment: The Royal Scots (The Royal Regt)
Surname: Douglas
Christian Name(s): James
Rank: Private
Number: 3054354
Born: Hamilton
Residence: Edinburgh
Died Date: 17/12/41
Theatre of War: Far East

[Guy Etchells]

The Army Roll of Honour shows-
Branch at death - Infantry
Regiment - The Royal Scots Fusiliers
Surname - Douglas
Christian Name(s) - John (Initials etc. J.S.)
Rank - Fusilier
Number - 14436592
Born - Kirkcudbrightshire
Residence - Dumfries
Died Date - 26/06/44
Theatre of War - Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

Is this of any help
Cheers
Guy