Killed in training accident

[Brian C]

I've maybe asked this before but would there have been an investigation into any accidents while in the field during the war. The reason behind my question is during my research on a relative a copy of a war diary lists "1 OR accidentally killed". The accident took place during a training exercise.
At the time would this have merited more than a letter from his CO or would it be considered as just another casulty of war?I'm sure there where many incidents of this kind during the war years.
Would there be any further info on a death certificate and if so how would I go about getting a copy since he was in service at the time.

[Philip,ABRG]

I know of a guy of 156 Parachute Battalion who drowned during an exercise, his grave is marked by a CWGC stone.

[dbf]

Originally Posted by Brian C

I've maybe asked this before but would there have been an investigation into any accidents while in the field during the war. The reason behind my question is during my research on a relative a copy of a war diary lists "1 OR accidentally killed". The accident took place during a training exercise.
At the time would this have merited more than a letter from his CO or would it be considered as just another casulty of war?I'm sure there where many incidents of this kind during the war years.
Would there be any further info on a death certificate and if so how would I go about getting a copy since he was in service at the time.

Hi Brian,
I myself wanted to get 2 death certs for relatives who died during WWI. I got the refs nos. ie Volume no and Page No. for the register from someone on GWF. I have no idea about WWII, there is an index on Findmypast for military deaths ... I no longer have a subscription on that.
http://www.findmypast.com/MilitaryChooseSearchType.jsp
Once you get a volume and page no. it is a matter of applying to GRO - online if you wish. It may be possible to apply without no.s if you have dates and details ... not sure but worth a try. Have a look here: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/order_certificates/index.asp
As for the death certificate and the info itself, depends. I was told that WWI certs were just pieces of paper, nothing on them of any note. Maybe it is the same for WWII ones.
I do have a cert for an RAF pilot who died in 1940, it tells me what he died of - ie multiple injuries as a result of his plane crashing, [in Somerset] but nothing about the circumstances. I would have thought in his case at least, that even the coroner's report would have been censored.

I believe that anyone who died in service during WWII was entitled to a cwgc grave. Is he listed?

Sorry can't help more,
Diane

[Brian C]

Thanks Diane,
The relative is my great uncle and I was over last year to visit his grave in Normandy. I have the war diary for his unit and his service records, the war diary has an entry '1 OR killed during training' but doesn't give any detail and the service record more or less confirms this. I was looking to see if I could establish any more details, surely an incident would have been investigated to some degree even though there was a war on.
Regards,
Brian

[dbf]

Originally Posted by Brian C

Thanks Diane,
The relative is my great uncle and I was over last year to visit his grave in Normandy. I have the war diary for his unit and his service records, the war diary has an entry '1 OR killed during training' but doesn't give any detail and the service record more or less confirms this. I was looking to see if I could establish any more details, surely an incident would have been investigated to some degree even though there was a war on.
Regards,
Brian

Hi Brian,

I personally doubt that there would be any investigation. To be blunt, I would imagine in wartime there probably wasn't the resources... Perhaps someone would know otherwise.

What I can tell from personal research on relative in RAF I mentioned, that in his case pilot error would have been the most likely entry for cause of accident. Not saying that it was one way or another. I was just advised that in many such cases this was the standard entry, as no further investigation was carried out/or noted officially. Again in time of war, best not to question too much and get on with the job...

Do you know if the Regiment published a history? Again going by personal experience, there could be a little description of circumstances. I once found a ref. to a man who was killed whilst reaching up out of his trench to pick an apple ...

Regards,
Diane