2758517 Corporal Thomas PAGE, 1st Battalion Black Watch: 17/1/1944

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Nick778, Aug 9, 2020.

  1. Nick778

    Nick778 New Member

    Hi,

    I'm doing a bit of research for my mother-in-law on her late cousin. He was Corporal Thomas Page 2758517 1st Battalion Black Watch. He is shown as having died on 17th January 1944. We know from family documents that he apparently died in Hatfield Military Hospital, Herts. I was wondering if WO-417 would help to ascertain if he died of natural causes, was previously wounded (and subsequently died), or was killed as a result of a training accident. As far as I know, 1st Black Watch were not deployed overseas on the date of his death.
    Casualty Details | CWGC

    Can anyone help?

    Regards

    Nick
     
  2. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Casualty list has him under station - "Home" and heading "Died", not sure if that helps - I'd suggest looking at local papers as they may have a write up - maybe someone with a subscription to the newspaper archives can have a look
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  3. Nick778

    Nick778 New Member

    Thanks for your help.
     
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Was he born c1920? Only three with the name Thomas Page whose death was registered that quarter, the other two are in their 70s. His death certificate should show the cause.

    First name(s) THOMAS
    Last name PAGE
    Gender Male
    Birth day -
    Birth month -
    Birth year 1920
    Age 24
    Death quarter 1
    Death year 1944
    District Hatfield
    County Hertfordshire
    Volume 3A
    Page 1506
    Country England
    Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
     
  5. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    You can order the death certificate online here from the GRO. Free to register. The last cert I ordered took 2 months to arrive.
    https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp

    or from here which quotes 15 working days:
    Get a copy of a death certificate | Hertfordshire County Council

    If he died as a result of wounds sustained in an accident etc there should have been a local civilian inquest by a coroner. Coroners records do not always survive with the County Archives, but as the inquest was public, it may have been reported in the local press.

    This website lists the 1st Battalion Black Watch as on "exercise" on 17,18, and 19 Jan 1944.
    1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project -
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2020
  6. Nick778

    Nick778 New Member

    Tony, apologies for the delay in replying. Thanks for the above. He was 24 years of age when he died so I think your information is spot on. Regards.
     
  7. Nick778

    Nick778 New Member


    Travers, likewise, apologies for the delay in replying. Thanks for your information it is very helpful. It would be interesting to find out more information on the 'exercise' on the above dates. Regards.
     
  8. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    The 1st Black Watch (part of 51st Highland Division) in Jan 1944 had recently arrived from the Middle East in preparation for the invasion of NW Europe. So you may need to look at the division for any reference to the exercise.

    WW2 battalion war diaries are at PRO Kew, but have not yet been digitised. They don't usually mention individual soldiers. I'm not sure if a diary was kept while training in the UK, but if it was it should show details of the exercise.

    Hatfield Military Hospital could be the stately home Hatfield House, which was a military hospital in WW2.
    Cemetery Details | CWGC
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2020
  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    My only thought is that his death certificate is the easiest to get hold of, perhaps Nick already has it if he applied in August, and may provide the answer.
     
  10. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Am with you on this, death certificate easiest to obtain at the moment & starts the search. Did look online for the exercise but couldn't find anything.

    Travers
     

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