A slight quirk in CWGC.

Not ww2, nor is it any criticism of the work of the CWGC . but just an example of how and why some pieces of Information are, True but not true. So this may just help other researchers to find out facts easier.
I took this picture in the graveyard of All Saints Church, upper Sheringham Norfolk.



So next job was to look in CWGC to get the what’s and wherefores.


TRENDELL, MERVYN HENRY WOLLASTON

Rank: Lieutenant

Date of Death: 19/05/1918

Age: 18

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force. H.M.S. "Galatea"

Cemetery: UPPER SHERINGHAM (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:Son of George John Wollaston Trendell and Alexandra Maud Trendell, of Tullythwaite House, Underbarrow, Kendal, Westmorland.

Son of George John Wollaston Trendell and Alexandra Maud Trendell, of Tullythwaite House, Underbarrow, Kendal, Westmorland.

So here I am thinking a Westmorland man buried in Norfolk. Why and How?

No, he was a Norfolk Lad born and bred.

What my research revealed.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=176842896

Further research reveals that his father George was neither from Westmorland or Norfolk.

But was born abt 1883 in Ffestiniog Merionethshire Wales.

And in 1881 Doncaster Yorkshire. 1889 Hilgay Norfolk. 1898 Sprowston Norfolk. 1911 Upper Sheringham Norfolk. 1948 Westmoreland.

So it appears that the CWGC records were compiled around 1948 ish, when the only information they had was that Mervyn’s family lived in Westmorland.

Note: If searching for a cemetery on find a grave and the name of the place comes up as not found (it does for upper Sheringham) then put in the name of the church. Unfortunately those who set up the Cemeteries (Which can be anyone) have named them after the church without realising that there are over 800 churches in England called All Saints. Upper Sheringham comes near the end of the list.

RIP. Mervyn You are Remembered.

 

The "additional information" typically refers to where the next of kin lived at the time the information was provided, not necessarily where the casualty was born or lived. I made enquires about a WW2 casualty a few years ago and was told that the information was given by his father in 1956.

 

Looking at the grave registration documents it looks like this lad's father (Rev. G.J.W. Trendell) was Vicar at this church at the time he died. It gives the family address as the vicarage on the first document. By the time the headstone schedule documents were being compilied it looks like Rev. Trendell has moved on to the address at Underbarrow, Westmorland. Hence, that is the address that is given as Next of Kin and explains the apparent conundrum.

 

Yes, an easy mistake to make, especially beginners, is thinking that the Additional Information is at the time of the casualty's death, whereas the examples above show, these details can be in the 50's or even later. It's easier to spot when it's "Mrs J Smith, formerly Bloggs" as you'll realise that she couldn't have remarried immediately her husband had died.
Trust, but verify!

PS: The Rev GJW Trendell died in 1948, his father also a minister, so possibly dates the CWGC entry to sometime between end of 1935 and about 1948, last address given was "Fir Garth" Windermere. Alumni Cantabrigienses

 

Thanks Kevin. Just to put a face to the man.
Mervyn Trendell, Sheringham War Memorial

There are 9 CWGC headstone in upper Sheringham all saints Church. three of which I have put on FaG. 6 more to go. plus a memorial stone to the crew of B24H Alfred of the 392nd USAAF 4th Jan 44.
Have also added Sheringham Cemetery To FaG
There are fourteen war graves in this cemetery, and all save two are together in a group near the entrance They include the graves of an unidentified man of the Royal Navy; an unidentified airman of the Royal Air Force and four unidentified seamen of the Merchant Navy. going to have fun researching them.

Two Germans were buried there in 1940.
From, Norfolk in the second world war by Neil R Storey.
All researched by Robert J Collis.

Weds 6th Dec 1939 Heinkel (He115 float plane (2081) from 3/Kustenfliergruppe (Maritime group)506) on a mine laying mission flying across the wash to Sheringham. The Heinkel collided with the Chain Home Radiolocation mast at West Beckham, narrowly missed the Sheringham gas holder and finally crashed onto the West beach a short distance from the lifeboat house at 3.15 am.
It goes on to say locals salvaged what they could until a guard was placed. ( The pilots seat was used in a fishing boat.) the plane was cleared up, and the petrol tanks sent to Farnborough as they were self-sealing type.
Had this aircraft crashed above the water mark it would have been the first enemy to crash on British soil in the Second World War.
Ofw Emil Rodel (29) killed, buried with full military honours, Great Bircham Church, 9th Dec 1939.
Oblt z S Wolfgang Wodtke (25) andOfw Karl Ullmann (31) were washed ashore later in the month and were given a FMH funeral at Sheringham. After the war they were exhumed and re-buried at the Soldatenfriedhof German Cemetery, at Channock Chase.
Edited to add this. Two photos here.
With Honours (1)

Have also updated the one at Swanton Morley Church including all GWGC headstones up to the present time.

 

I photograph family headstones which have a dedication to a family member who died outside the UK during WW1 (and WW2); when I check the details for the man on CWGC, it will sometimes describe one of his parents as "the late," yet it can be seen on the family headstone that both parents died after the soldier (or sailor) did.

 

I have a number of UK headstones commemorating a family member killed or missing elsewhere during WW2 and the information varies greatly