Genealogy Chat

WW 1.WAR GRAVES FRANCE Thankyou every one who has helped me find out about my uncle John Collett who died in the first w.w. there was so much info i have found out regards shirley

hello all
Just a thought for you... my great uncle was killed on the Somme in 1918 and by pure chance I found his gravestone etc by using the Commonwealth war Graves Commission web site. Can't remember how I stumbled across it now but use as much information as you have to search their site.

Sorry I got your name wrong. Shelly.

Hello Shirley, I did take photos but only of Manchester Regiment boys and these I gave to the Museum of the Manchesters in Ashton under Lyne, TAmeside, Sorry I can't help you.

Although we did visit 20 cemetries, I was not able to take down details from memorials as there were far too many. Perhaps it will help if I name some to the cemetries we visited:-
Carnoy, Busigny, Brown's Copse, Fauberg d'Amiens, Contalmaison, Dantzic Alley,Bienvillers,Fauberg dAmiens, Arras,Pozieres,Trefcon, Roye
.
I should also mention that after finding there was no grave for my relation, I concentrated on the MAnchester Regiment. this being my nearest town. On the memorials in some of the cemetries it just gave the number of men from different regiments, no name or service number.

if this is your Clifford he has no known grave but is remembered on the Menin gate memorial at Ypres. Its a very impressive gate entrance to the town and is looked after by the locals. every night at 8pm the local trumpeters sound the last post at the gate

We did the WW1 grave tour last year with our local history society

BRAY, CLIFFORD
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 01/08/1917
Service No: 202679
Additional information: Son of Mrs. P. Bray, of 28, Compton Row, Harehills, Leeds.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 21.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Hi May,

I know this is a wild shot but did you come across a Clifford Bray ?

Hello Shirley, I'm glad Gwyn was able to help you. Although my relative is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, I didn't take any names, I was too upset.

Shirley

This looks like your relative perhaps...?

Name: COLLETT, JOHN WILLIAM
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: South Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 30/09/1916
Service No: 10253
Additional information: Son of John and Eliza S. Collett, of 10, Lateward Rd., Brentford, Middx.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 7 A and 7 B.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

I went on a pilgrimage tour of the WW1 War Graves with the British Legion a few years ago and made a note of name on each grave, also if the grave was of a soldier of the Manchester Regiment I took a photo. We visited twenty cemetries and I have hundreds of names and which cemetry they are in. If I can help anyone by looking through my notes I would be pleased to do so.

May