saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

[ivor43]

John.

the thread refers to two unknown RWF Soldiers. not three. so that would leave one 'unknown' unknown. so i was just wondering if these '' buried near this spot '' markers would have unit badges on them. and until we get a more definite location for Anthony then St Floris is just as likely a location as St Venant for his burial.

ivor

[Baconwallah]

Ivor, the CWGC lists seven graves at St Floris, all seven named members of the RWF. That's all. Have a look at the CWGC site if you want to verify this.

John

[Verrieres]

Just back this evening and found this rather uninspiring answer to my enquiry regarding the `Q` reference

Thank you for your email.<O:P></O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
I am afraid that the references in question are not listed within our records. The code letters/numbers were not recognised by any of our military specialists. <O:P></O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Sorry for the disappointing reply. <O:P></O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Yours sincerely<O:P></O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Clive Hawkins<O:P></O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Remote Enquiries Duty Officer<O:P></O:P>
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk <O:P></O:P>
<O:P> </O:P>

Well they are in their records because thats where I found them! Or do they mean the explaination/meaning is not recorded? I`ll consult someone else in due course.


Jim

[Baconwallah]

Well, they could at least have referred you to their own explanatory web page (see my post 335 below). My link is broken, though - search for Series Reference WO 344.

It seems Forms 'Q' did indeed refer to witnessed war crimes. They would be kept with the relevant war crimes inquiry, not archived together in a separate 'Q' file. The question is, of course, with which war crimes file the form numbered Q80 can be found. It would be helpful if there was some sort of index, but that will be too much to hope for.

I find the knowledge of the NA military specialists to be somewhat less than I would have expected.

John

[Verrieres]

Hello ,
In regard to the IWM Oral Testimony of Pte James Wray which I posted a couple of weeks ago I have submitted an enquiry for access to reels 17 and 18 failing that a transcript of these Reels.Hopefully I will receive a reply very soon as to the feasibility of such a request.Will keep you all posted.
In regards to the `Q` reference I have contacted a Prisoner of War Expert who has had major dealings with the National Archives and their seeming reluctance to investigate the content of their own files.I`m not publishing their name as they have yet to respond and may prefer to remain annonomous again we will just have to wait and see
Best
Jim

[Baconwallah]

Perhaps we should advise Tony to hire a researcher to go through the NA War Crimes files looking for Form Q 80.

John

[Verrieres]

I noticed today someone has taken an interest in the search for Anthony and members efforts on here.This was posted on the Sunderland Echo today 3rd Sept 2012.

....Very interesting subject but is anyone else aware of a current search for a DLI soldier `lost` on May 27th 1940? Pte Anthony Corkhill `disappeared` on this date and despite extensive investigation by the Red Cross and his family he still remains `missing`.There is considerable local interest in this with the family searching for any DLI soldier who served at St Venant in France at this time.The familys search /story can be found here;-
http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/sho...40-farm-boulet

I find it fascinating and best of luck lets help find Pte Corkhill he`s been away too long!

All publicity is good publicity???....In this case if it brings forward a witness it certainly will be!

Best

Jim

[Baconwallah]

Sunderland Echo reader partickthistlenil certainly takes an interest in our efforts. Good for him/her. Let's hope someone remembers something.

John

[Verrieres]

Just to keep the `pot boiling` as my mother used to say heres part of the Report Sheet from an exumation at St Venant this particular example was found to be Pte Tom Rodgers of the 2nd DLI found after sterling work by his family.One curious factor came to light when the family had determined that the report did refer to Tom Rodgers the Grave into which Tom had been placed was according to the French GRAVE 154, however the Rodgers family received notification in 2002 from the MoD stating that all graves had been exhumed in 1948 for a full physical examination and according to British Records the soldier now in GRAVE 154 did not match the description given in the original French report.The Rodgers family asked the MoD `Where is the body which fits my brothers description?" and the answer came back "We do not know!"
To cut a long story short after the family had presented all their evidance the MoD conceded that Pte Rodgers had been one of the `Five innconu¬ originally buried in the Field of Paul Walle and that he was most likely near to GRAVE 154 now Row 3B but they would not accept he was in Grave 154 (Plot 21) but agreed on a stone bearing the inscription `BELIEVED TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY`.This I believe leads to the question..."Where are the British Records of 1948?"
Best
Jim

[Baconwallah]

Good question, Jim! This is the first we have heard of a 1948 exhumation. Would the CWGC know more, I wonder?

John