Latest news with #JCCC
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missing World War One soldier's grave identified
The grave of a missing World War One soldier has been identified in Belgium. Capt Ernest Cecil Blencowe of the Dorsetshire Regiment died in February 1916 trying to get control of The Bluff, an area of raised ground near the Ypres-Comines canal which was fought over extensively during the war. His body was not recovered, but remains originally found in June 1921 and reburied at Bedford House Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium, have now been identified as those of Capt Blencowe. A rededication service, where the unmarked grave was marked, was held on Wednesday, and was attended by two of Capt Blencowe's great grandchildren. Capt Blencowe joined the army at the outbreak of war. He was attached to 6th battalion the Dorsetshire Regiment and arrived in France in July 1915. After he died, he was listed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. In June 1921, the remains of an unknown British officer bearing buttons and badges of the Dorsetshire Regiment were found, but further identification proved impossible. Now, research has revealed the un-named officer to be Capt Blencowe. The rededication service, organised by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), was led by Padre John Storey. Capt Blencowe's headstone was replaced, and will be cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Sean Phillips from the CWGC said it was "a tremendous privilege". "For evermore, visitors to Bedford House Cemetery will be able to pay their respects to Captain Blencowe at his final place of rest," he said. JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, said: "In rededicating his grave we have reunited his mortal remains with his names, in the presence of his family, ensuring that his sacrifice will not be forgotten." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Ministry of Defence Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BBC News
01-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bodies of British WW1 soldiers finally identified in Belgium
British soldiers who died in World War One and were buried in unnamed graves have finally been remains of L/Cpl James Ball Baron, 29, L/Cpl Samuel Chapman, 19, and 2nd Lt Hugh Barr, 28, were found after the war and buried as unknown soldiers in graves were identified after researchers submitted cases to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission hoping to have identified their final resting places. Military officials later confirmed their 26 March, services were held for L/Cpl Bell, from Mevagissey, Cornwall, L/Cpl Chapman, from Hull, East Yorkshire, and 2nd Lt Barr, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Tim Buescher, the great great nephew of L/Cpl Chapman, who joined serving soldiers at the service, said: "We are amazed that after all this time, Sam is found. "This generation of our family, like many others, was hit hard by the Great War and as a result, these people were lost to us before we could know them."The services, at Tyne Cot Cemetery and Zantvoorde British Cemetery, both in Belgium, were organised by the MOD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the War Detectives. Mr Buescher added: "The care and dedication to duty of the JCCC and CWGC has made us feel cared for. "The detail of research, constant communication, and consultation on our family's wishes has helped to create a sense of closeness to Sam and by extension, his siblings John and Rachael. Sam's brother John died only six weeks before him. "Being able to commemorate their life and their sacrifice, whilst mourning their loss, feels like they are being brought home somehow."According to JCCC, records, including war diaries from the soldiers' units, were used to identify the remains. 'Bravest and coolest' LCpl Baron enlisted into The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry after the outbreak of war in was awarded the Military Medal on 14 November 1916 for his bravery on the Somme, when he single-handedly held a position after all his comrades had been put out of action. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 1 May 1917.L/Cpl Baron was killed around 24 August 1917 during an attack on Inverness Copse. His commanding officer described him as "a man of great spirit and example, and undoubtedly one of the bravest and coolest men of the company". L/Cpl Chapman enlisted into The East Yorkshire Regiment in March 1915. In mid December 1917, his battalion took over part of the line near Passchendaele. While there, L/Cpl Chapman was wounded and evacuated to an aid post at Tyne to JCCC, the post was located in a pillbox, now the location of the Cross of Sacrifice, in the cemetery. Casualties who did not survive were buried near the pillbox.L/Cpl Chapman was one such casualty and appears to have died there or while travelling to the aid post on 14 December. 'Daring' mission On 5 September 1914, 2nd Lt Barr enlisted into The Scottish Horse. He was later commissioned into 6th Battalion The Rifle Brigade, before being posted to 35th Battalion Machine Gun to records, on 30 September 1918, 35th Battalion Machine Gun Corps supported an attack on Werwik.A fellow officer said: "2nd Lt Barr went out on a daring reconnaissance during an attack, and his men state that his bravery and daring astounded everyone, and there is no doubt his action was the means of saving many lives and of helping to restore the situation at a critical period." JCCC caseworker Rosie Barron added: "It has been an honour to have been involved in the organisation of these rededication services and to have joined the family of L/Cpl Chapman, their military family and the local community in Ypres in remembering these three men. "The memory of each of these men has now been passed through generations of their families and they are all still fondly and proudly remembered."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Independent
26-03-2025
- The Independent
Grave of Lanarkshire soldier identified more than a century after his death
A Lanarkshire soldier who died in Belgium during the First World War is one of three previously unknown soldiers whose graves were rededicated in a service on Wednesday, having been identified more than a century after they fell. 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Barr, from East Kilbride, was 28 when he was killed during an attack on the German-occupied town of Werwick on September 30 1918 while serving with the 35th Battalion Machine Gun Corps. The former insurance company employee had enlisted with The Scottish Horse on September 5 1914, and served in Gallipoli, Alexandria and Salonika before being posted to Belgium. After his death a fellow officer recounted: '2nd Lt Barr went out on a daring reconnaissance during an attack, and his men state that his bravery and daring astounded everyone, and there is no doubt his action was the means of saving many lives and of helping to restore the situation at a critical period.' He was buried on the outskirts of the town, and after the war his body was recovered and he was buried as an unknown soldier at Zantvoorde British Cemetery. The bodies of Lance Corporal James Ball Baron MM and Lance Corporal Samuel Chapman suffered a similar fate, and they were both buried as unknown soldiers at Tyne Cot Cemetery. L/Cpl Baron had been serving with the 43rd Machine Gun Corps when he died aged 29 on August 24, 1917 during a German counterattack on a position near Hooge which had been taken in a British attack two days earlier. Meanwhile 19-year-old L/Cpl Chapman died of wounds on December 14 1917, after being injured near Passchendaele while serving with the East Yorkshire Regiment. All three graves were identified after researchers submitted cases to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which were then confirmed following further research by the National Army Museum and the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) – the so-called 'war detectives'. Services to rededicate all three graves took place at the two cemeteries on Wednesday, and were attended by serving soldiers of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, and members of the Machine Gun Corps Association. JCCC caseworker Rosie Barron said: 'It has been an honour to have been involved in the organisation of these rededication services and to have joined the family of L/Cpl Chapman, their military family and the local community in Ypres in remembering these three men. 'The memory of each of these men has now been passed through generations of their families and they are all still fondly and proudly remembered.' New headstones bearing the name of each soldier were provided by the CWGC. Xavier Puppinck, director for the southern and central Europe area at the CWGC, said they were 'honoured' to have played a part in ensuring the men are 'remembered in perpetuity'. He added: 'After years of being commemorated as unknown soldiers, thanks to the meticulous research and collaboration of the teams involved, their graves now bear their names, ensuring they will never be forgotten.' The service for L/Cpl Chapman was attended by his great, great nephew Tim Buescher, who travelled from Yorkshire to pay his respects. 'We are amazed that after all this time, Sam is found,' he said. 'This generation of our family, like many others, was hit hard by the Great War and as a result, these people were lost to us before we could know them.' He added: 'Being able to commemorate their life and their sacrifice, whilst mourning their loss, feels like they are being brought home somehow. Thank you.' Reverend Paul Robinson CF, chaplain to 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, said it was a 'great honour' to be asked to conduct the service. 'It is important that we as a nation at opportunities like this today reflect on the enormity of what has taken place, the horror, the loss, the frustration,' he said. 'We must respect our values and our freedoms and remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life.'
