General procedure for dealing with Casualties in War, 1939

Courtesy of Drew5233


TNA Reference: WO 162/199
Description: General procedure for dealing with casualties in war
Date: 1939


[hr]

See also "History of Prisoner of War Casualty Branch"
History of Prisoner of War Casualty Branch

 

PART I.

Enclosures:-


1. Pamphlet “Procedure etc. by the Home Authorities”.
2. List of Registered files relating to Casualties.
3. War Instructions for R. Casualties.
4. Staff required on mobilisation.
5. List of Casualty forms, etc. ready for use held in Room 0043.
6. Estimate of tonnage for which transport would be required on mobilisation in the event of evacuation.
7. Chart - Notification of casualties by units in the field.
8. Chart - Casualty reports “In” and ”Out” of 2nd Echelon.
9. Chart - Casualty work at a Record Office.
10. Chart - Casualty reports “In” and ”Out” of R. Casualties.
11. Specimens of Casualty forms not received by R. Casualties.
12. Specimens of Casualty forms received by R. Casualties.
13. Precautionary stage action.
14. War stage action.


[hr]


PART II.

Enclosures:-


15. Plan of R. Casualties.
16. Table showing procedure of R. Casualties in dealing with casualty reports.
17. Receipt and Sorting Section.
18. Registration Section.
19. Code Section.
[19a]. Code Section, Alphabetical.
20. Distribution Section.
21. Officers Section - Main Index.
22. Officers Section - Correspondence.
23. Officers Section - Subsidiary indexes.
24. Other Ranks Section - Main Index.
25. Other Ranks Section - Correspondence.
26. Other Ranks Section - Subsidiary Indexes.
27. Enquiry Room.
28. General Correspondence Section.
29. Statistical Section.
30. Prisoners of War Section.
31. Missing and Presumption of Death Section.
32. Publication Section.

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PART I

Enclosure 1.

Pamphlet “Procedure for dealing with Casualties, Serious and Dangerous Illnesses, etc., by the Home Authorities in War.”


FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY


1
General
3618

This pamphlet is issued only as a guide to procedure, the duties of the various officers concerned being laid down in the appropriate regulations (e.g., King’s Regulations, Field Service Regulations, Vol. 1, and Regulations for the Medical Services).


The issue of this pamphlet is restricted to headquarters of commands at home and abroad, record officers and War Office branches concerned.


PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH CASUALTIES, SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ILLNESSES, ETC., BY THE HOME AUTHORITIES IN WAR.
(Reference King’s Regulations, 1928, paragraphs 1593 - 1595.)/


BY COMMAND OF THE ARMY COUNCIL.

H.J. CREEDY.

THE WAR OFFICE,
24th January, 1933.


R.4470


[hr]


PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH CASUALTIES, SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ILLNESSES, ETC., BY THE HOME AUTHORITIES IN WAR.

NOTE:- The method of reporting casualties, etc, in a theatre of war to the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon is laid down in Field Service Regulations.


1. WAR OFFICE CASUALTY SECTION.
On the outbreak of war a section will be formed at or near the War Office, hereinafter referred to as the War Office Casualty Section, the cuties of which will comprise:-

(a ) Arrangements with the War Office publicity branch for informing the public through the medium of the press that during the war all cases of death (however caused), wounds and other injuries caused by enemy action, missing or prisoners of war, serious and dangerous illnesses (and subsequent progress) will, as soon as known, be notified to the next-of-kin as follows:-

Officers and nurses - By the War Office Casualty Section

Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel - By the Officer i/c Records concerned.

(Note:- Injuries and sickness due to other causes, if not serious or dangerous, will not be notified to the next-of-kin).

(b ) Maintenance of card indexes of all military and enrolled civilian personnel who actually become casualties, etc., during the war.

(c ) Maintenance of statistics of all personnel who become non-effective, either in the theatre of war or elsewhere, owing to wounds in action, other wounds or injuries, sickness, or being shown as prisoners of war, or missing.

(d ) Preparation of lists of casualties as specified in (a ) above for publication in the press.

(e ) Notification of officer casualties and of serious and dangerous illness amongst officers in the theatre of war, direct to the next-of-kin.
(Note:- In the case of Other Ranks the notification will be made by officers i/c records).

(f ) Presumption of death.

(g ) Notification of the location of graves of Officers to the next-of-kin.
(Note:- In the case of Other Ranks the notification will be made by officers i/c records).

(h ) Liaison with the British Red Cross Society, Central Prisoners of War Committee, etc.

(j ) Interviewing members of the general public making personal enquiries.

(k ) Issue of permits to proceed abroad to visit patients in hospital and arrangements in connection with such visits.

(Note:- Certificates of death in respect of Officers and Other Ranks will not be issued by the War Office Casualty Section, but by C.3.A.L. and F.8. (Effects Section) respectively).



2. OFFICERS AND NURSES

(i ) The War Office Casualty Section will be responsible for notifying the next-of-kin of all deaths or other casualties specified in paragraph 1 (a ) amongst Officers and nurses.

(ii ) In theatres of war the following casualties to Officers and nurses will be telegraphed direct by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon to the War Office Casualty Section as they occur and confirmed on the Daily Casualty List (Army Form W 3013) :-

Deaths (from whatever cause).
Missing or Prisoners of War.
Wounds and other injuries caused by enemy action.

The War Office Casualty Section will also receive telegraphic reports from medical units as in paragraph 4.

(iii ) At home and at stations abroad other than theatres of war all deaths, from whatever cause, and all casualties from enemy aircraft (or other enemy action) amongst Officers and nurses will be telegraphed by the officer commanding the unit with which the Officers or nurses are serving to the War Office Casualty Section as they occur and confirmed in writing by post the same day.

(iv ) The War Office Casualty Section, on receipt of telegraphic reports referred to in preceding sub-paragraphs, will immediately verify the regimental particulars and notify the next-of-kin by telegram.

(v ) The War Office Casualty Section will deal with all subsequent enquiries relating to Officer casualties. Particulars of verified officer casualties will be circulated to personnel branches, and such other available officer casualty statistics as may from time to time be required by War Office branches, Parliament, etc., will be supplied by the War Office Casualty Section.

(vi ) All Officer casualties and admissions to and discharges from hospital will be published in Part II Orders (Army Form O. 1810s) as follows:-

In a theatre of war - By the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon.

At home and stations abroad other than theatres of war - By the officers commanding the units to which the officers belong.

Particulars of battle casualties will be recorded in the Record of Service (Army Form B 199A) as follows:-

In a theatre of war - by the personnel branch at the War Office in the original copy and by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon in the duplicate copy.

At home or at stations abroad other than theatres of war - by the personnel branch at the War Office in the original copy and by the officer commanding the unit in the duplicate copy.



3. OTHER RANKS AND ENROLLED CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.

(i ) Officers i/c records will be responsible for notifying the next-of-kin of all deaths and other casualties specified in paragraph 1 (a ) amongst Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel, and will keep a separate card index of all soldiers who become casualties, including all soldiers admitted to hospital at home and abroad. Officers i/c records will arrange to give priority to this work so as to avoid any delay.

(ii ) In theatres of war the following casualties to Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel will be reported by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon to officers i/c records concerned in the Daily Casualty List (Army Form W 3014), (a copy of which will be forwarded by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon to the War Office Casualty Section for information):-

Deaths (from whatever cause).
Missing or Prisoners of War.
Wounds and other injuries caused by enemy action.

Casualty Lists will normally be sent by courier or post marked “Urgent”. Officers i/c records will also receive daily Hospital Returns from the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon, and telegrams from the War Office regarding serious and dangerous cases (see paragraph 4).

(iii ) At home and at stations abroad other than threaders of war, all deaths from whatever cause, and all casualties form enemy aircraft (or other enemy action) amongst Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel will be reported by the officer commanding the unit direct to officers i/c records a they occur by the quickest means possible, preferably by telegram, and confirmed by letter.

(iv ) In certain circumstances instructions may be issued from the War Office for records of casualties to Other Ranks, as well as those to Officers, to be telegraphed by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon to the War Office Casualty Section. In such event, the latter will transmit the information to the officers i/c records concerned for notification to the next-of-kin.

(v ) Officers i/c records, on receipt of the reports referred to in the preceding sub-paragraphs, will immediately verify the regimental particulars, record the casualties in the casualties card index and notify the next-of-kin by post on the appropriate army form. It is important that the next-of-kin be informed with the least possible delay.

In the event of a casualty being reported regarding a man affiliated to another record office, an extract from the Casualty List should be sent to the proper record office, or, if not known, to the office of origin of allotment of the army number for tracing purposes and final disposal.

(vi ) Officers i/c records will render daily a Record Office Casualty Return on Army Form W. 3016 to the War Office Casualty Section, detailing particulars of casualties dealt with during the day, the place and nature of the casualty, the nam and address of the next-of-kin and the date notified, etc. On days when no casualties are dealt with by officers i/c records, nil returns need not be sent to the War Office.

(Note:- The War Office Casualty Section will not issue to the press particulars of casualties until information is received from officers i/c records that the next-of-kin have been notified.).

In the even of notifications to the next-of-kin being returned through the post undelivered owing to change of address, the fact should be inserted on the next Army Form W 3016 issued, a reference being given in column 1 to the return in which previously reported. Similar action will be taken should the notification be subsequently delivered to the next-of-kin.

(vii ) Officers i/c records will deal with all subsequent enquiries regarding casualties, including the notification of the location of graves, but questions of presumption of death and the issue of death certificates will rest with the War Office.

(viii ) The War Office Casualty Section will circulate periodically to personnel branches the numbers of verified Other Rank casualties to date, and will also furnish such available Other Rank casualty statistics as may be time to time be required by War Office branches, Parliament, etc. (see paragraph 1 (c )).

(ix) All Other Rank casualties and admission to and discharges from hospital will be published in Part II Orders

Orders as follows:-

In a theatre of war - by the officer i/c 2nd Echelon.

At home and stations abroad other than theatres of war - by officers commanding the units to which the soldiers belong.

Particulars of all casualties will be recorded in Army Form B 103 in a theatre of war by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon, in Army Form B 200B by officers i/c records, and in duplicate attestations by officers commanding units in the case of soldiers serving at home or at stations abroad other than theatres of war.

In the case of soldiers serving in a theatre of war particulars of admissions to and discharges from hospital will be recorded by the Officers i/c 2nd Echelon on Army Form B 103. Admissions to and discharges from hospital will not, however, be recorded in attestation or Army Form B 200 B.




4. SERIOUS OR DANGEROUS ILLNESS, SICKNESS, ETC.

(i ) When officers, nurses, Other Ranks, and enrolled civilian personnel are placed on the seriously or dangerously ill list, the personal or army number, rank and name of officers, other ranks, etc, and the units tow which they belong, together with the nature of the disability, will be telegraphed as follows:-




(ii ) Brief particulars of subsequent changes in condition and removal from the danger list will also be telegraphed as in (i ) above.

(iii ) In case of serious or dangerous illness and changes in condition, etc., of Other Ranks in a theatre of war which are telegraphed direct to the War Office, the War Office Casualty Section will re-telegraph the information to the officers i/c records concerned who will inform the next-of-kin by telegram.

(iv ) Officers commanding hospitals (other than in a theatre of war) will, if particulars are known, notify the next-of-kin by telegram. If particulars of the next-of-kin are not known they will state in their telegraphic report to the War Office or officers i/c records that the next-of-kin have not been informed and the War Office Casualty Section and officers i/c records will immediately on receipt of such telegraphic reports in which the next-of-kin have not been notified, verify the regimental particulars and inform the next-of-kin by telegram. In such cases the War Office Casualty Section and the officer i/c records will, in addition, notify particulars of the next-of-kin to officers commanding hospitals without delay. Subsequent changes in condition and removal from the danger list will also be telegraphed to the next-of-kin by officers commanding hospitals.

Applications to visit the patients will be dealt with as follows:-

At home - By the officer commanding hospital.
Abroad - By the War Office Casualty Section.

(v ) A daily Hospital return on Army Form W 3015 will be rendered together with the Daily Casualty List by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon to the War Office Casualty Section and officers i/c records respectively, showing the admissions, discharges, transfers and deaths in hospital of all military and enrolled civilian personnel in the theatre of war.



5. NORMAL PROCEDURE

The normal procedure regarding notifying the next-of-kin will be as follows:-

(a ) All deaths from whatever cause, missing or prisoners of war, wounds and other injuries caused by enemy action (including admissions to hospital on account of such casualties) and cases of serious and dangerous illnesses - Next-of-kin to be informed by the War Office Casualty Section in the case of officers and nurses, and by officers i/c records in the case of Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel.

(b ) Admissions to hospital for sickness or injury other than stated in (a ). - No general notification to be made to next-of-kin, but if next-of-kin make enquiries, particulars contained in daily hospital return (Army Form W 3015) to be then communicated to them.



6. PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH PATIENTS TRANSFERRED TO HOME HOSPITALS FROM THEATRES OF WAR.

(i ) Sick or wounded officers and other ranks arriving from overseas should be posted and taken on the strength of home units from the date of admission to hospital in this country, and to admit of this being done the following procedure should be followed:-

(a ) The admission of every patient transferred from a theatre of war or station abroad other than theatres of war direct to an auxiliary hospital, without having passed through the central hospital tow which the auxiliary hospital is affiliated, will be immediately notified to the officer commanding the central hospital.

(b ) Officers commanding central hospitals will render an Admission Report on Army Form W 3017 daily or as often as there are admissions to report:-

For Officers - To the War Office (for personnel branch)

For Other Ranks - To the Officers i/c records concerned

showing particulars of every patient received from a theatre of war or stations abroad other than theatres of war into the central hospital and its affiliated auxiliaries during the previous 24 hours.

(c ) On receipt of these reports the personnel branches at the War Office and officers or other ranks to home units with effect from the date of admission to hospital, etc., and officers commanding units will take them on strength accordingly.

(d ) Officers i/c records, on receiving intimation of the admission to hospital of other ranks from overseas, whose documents are in their charge, will immediately forward the medical history sheets to the hospitals without waiting for an application from officers i/c hospitals.


(ii ) (e) A numerical return on Army Form W 3018 showing the total numbers of officers and other ranks admitted to hospital, etc., during the past week will be rendered to the War Officer by officers commanding central hospitals at home.

(iii ) An official postcard for officers, nurses and men will be posted to the next-of-kin as soon as possible after the arrival of each patient from overseas and in no case later than the day following admission. Each patient will complete his own card, if able to do so, and return it to a responsible hospital official for despatch. If the patient is unable to complete his card, it will be completed for him by the sister or orderly.

If the patient is too ill to furnish the address of his next-of-kin, the postcard should be addressed to the record office to be re-addressed.



R.4470.


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Enclosure 2.

List of Registered files relating to Casualties (and R. Records in War).



General Discussion regarding the arrangements for notification of Casualties - 1/General/3618

History of M.S. 3. Casualties during 1914-1919. - 1/Gen.No./3361

Issue of Death Certificates (1914) - 6/2021

Issue of Death Certificates (1928-1938). - 1/General/3652

Suggestions by Dame Adelaide Livingstone for organisation for dealing with Casualties in a future War (1922). - 45/1/851 with 1/General/3618 see above.

Weekly Return of patients in hospitals at home during war (1929). - 24/General/9031

Communique for Press on outbreak of war 1914( as to enquiries by relatives - 1/Gen.No./1169 and 1/Gen.No./1571. with 1/Gen./4209 see below.

Formation of D.G.R. & E. on outbreak of future war. - 1/General/3653

Transfer of work of C.2.Cas. to Record Offices (as from 1.5.1920) - A.C.I.82/20 and 1/Gen.No./2585

Wording of telegrams notifying Casualties to Officers (1938). - 45/Gen./4301 (marked up to 4331)

Royal Message of Sympathy: Sympathy of the Army Council - 45/Gen./4331

Communique for Press on outbreak of War respecting notification of Casualties, etc. - 1/Gen./4209 (with 1/Gen./1169 and 1571 referred to above.

Formation of Code Section by R.Casualties on outbreak of war. - 45/Gen./4250

Cancellation of instructions in Mobilization Regulations re despatch of Historical Records to R.Records - 70/Mob./2783

Publication of Casualty Lists in the Press - 45/Gen./4302

Revision of pamphlet and issue as an Army Council Instruction - 45/Gen./4332

Casualties in the War Office - arrangements set out in draft Office Memorandum - 1/Estab./9336

[Handwritten addition:-]
Cas. Forms & Binders. Printing of - 26/Ptg/4882

Casualty arrangement for Auxiliary Territorial Service - 45/Gen./4392

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Enclosure 3.

War Instructions for R. Casualties.

1939

VOL.I.

Casualty, Press and other enquiries.

15. P.R. will issue communiqués to the Press explaining, as the arrangements develop, how the public can obtain information as to casualties, separation allowance, disposal of effects, etc. including reference to Section 68 (10), Field Service Regulations, Vol.I, 1930.

[Handwritten note:-] (1/Gen./4209)

(a ) Casualties. The registration, distribution, publication, etc, of all reports of casualties in the field received from the Adjutant-General’s Office at the base of the theatre of operations (or from other sources) will be carried out by R.Records, the Section dealing with this particular duty being known as R.Casualties.
The notification to next-of-kin of casualties will be carried out, in the case of Officers, by this Section, and in the case of Other Ranks by the officer in charge of Records concerned. (1/Gen./3618).
R.Casualties will also be responsible for the form of notification to the Press of casualties of All Ranks. (45/Gen./4302).
This Section will also notify the next-of-kin of the location of graves of Officers - notification of the location of graves to the next-of-kin of Other Ranks will be carried out by Officers-in-Charge Records (1/Gen./3653). (See also under A.G.1’s duties, Vol.II).
Death certificates in respect of Officers and Other Ranks will be issued by C.3.(A.L.) and F.8. respectively (1/Gen./3652).
Accommodation for the Section will have to be provided outside the main building (see paragraph 19).

An account of the manner in which the section was organised during the Great War has been drawn up in considerable detail. (1/Gen.No./2584).
This account has been studied and a draft plan of procedure for dealing with casualties in war has been drawn up. The necessary instructions have been included in Field Service Regulations and the Regulations for the Medical Services of the Army. A pamphlet entitled “Procedure for dealing with Casualties, serious and dangerous illness, etc. by the home authorities and at stations abroad other than theatres of war” has also been approved and copies have been issued to Headquarters of Commands, Record Offices and the War Office branches concerned. This pamphlet contains a summary of the scheme for the reporting, etc of casualties at home and abroad (other than in a theatre of war). [handwritten amendment from:-] 1/Gen./5618 45/Gen./4322.

A bureau for casualty inquiries will be established in the building occupied by R.Casualties, and will be open day and night.


Note: Decisions on the subject covered by the War Office War Book should be passed to C.2. for noting, together with copies of all instructions which may be issued.



Extract from paragraph 19.

The following sections will in any case be located outside the Office:-
Casualties (Officers and Men).

Beds and bedding for the use of those on night duty during emergencies will be obtained by C.4. from the Office of Works.

Branches which have personnel working very late, or staying all night or on a Sunday, in the office, will notify the Resident Clerks of the names, room and telephone numbers of the personnel concerned.



VOL. II.
R.Records

STAFF.



GENERAL.

47 . In the event of war it is probable that thee will only be a slight decrease in the current work of R.Records during the early stages. The Branch is responsible, however, for the formation of a Central Casualty Section (to be known as R.Casualties) to deal with all questions relating to casualties to officers and other ranks. The proposed establishment and a summary of the duties of the section are given below (under R.Casualties).


SPECIAL DUTIES.

(a ) Precautionary Stage.

48 . R.Records will:-

(i ) Review arrangements for setting up the Central Casualty Section and obtain a decision as to the method of transmission to be adopted by the Officer i/c 2nd Echelon in the notification of Other Rank casualties (1/Gen.No./3316 and 1/Gen./3618).

(ii ) Remind personnel branches and other branches concerned of the existing arrangements for handing over to R.Records, on mobilisation, the record sheets containing particulars of the next-of-kin, etc. of effective officers. (1/Gen./3531.)

(iii ) Call the attention of the War Office branches concerned to the “Procedure for dealing in War with casualties, serious and dangerous illness, etc. by the home authorities and at stations abroad other than theatres of war, issued in pamphlet form in January 1933 (45/???/4322)”

(b ) On general mobilization.

49 . R. Records will:-

(i ) Arrange for taking over from the branches concerned the record sheets referred to at (a ) (ii ) above.

(c ) On partial mobilization

50 . R.Records will:-
(i ) Take action as at (b ) with the necessary modifications.


(d ) War Stage.

51 . R.Records will:-

(i ) Set up the Central Casualty Section.




R. CASUALTIES



DUTIES

52 . The duties of the Branch will included:-

(i ) Receipt, registration, distribution, publication, etc, of reports of all casualties and investigation of all questions arising thereon.

(ii ) Maintenance of card indexes of all casualties to officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British Army.

(iii ) Notification of casualties direct to the next-of-kin of officers. (Record Offices will notify the next-of-kin of Other Ranks.)

(iv ) Issue of permits for visiting hospitals abroad, and arrangements in connection with such visits.

(v ) Presumption of death.

(vi ) Compilation of statistics of casualties.

(vii ) Liaison with the British Red Cross Society, the Central Prisoners of War Committee, etc.

(viii ) Interviewing members of the general public making personal enquiries as to casualties.

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Enclosure 4.

Staff required on mobilisation.




[hr]

 

Enclosure 5.

List of Casualty forms etc, in Room 0043 to be brought into use on formation of a Central Casualty Section.


Item No.
1 . Action Sheets
2 . Enquiry Forms
3 . Main Index Sheets.
4 . “Missing” Index Sheets.
5 . “Deceased” Index Sheets.
6 . “Prisoners of War” Index Sheets.
7 . Forms for use by the Statistical Section.
8 . B.M. covers for use in Officers’ Section.
9 . B.M. covers for use in Other Ranks Section.
10 . Ruled Registers for the Registration Section.
11 . Copies of Pamphlet “Procedure for dealing with Casualties, Serious and Dangerous Illness, etc, by the Home Authorities in War”.
12 . Binders for use with Index Sheets.
13 . Binders for use in Statistical Section.
14 . Notes: Telegram Forms and 3 Numerators held by C.2.c. until mobilization.
15. 2 Copies of Government Telegraph Code (3rd copy at Arnside Str.).

[hr]

 

Enclosure 6.

Estimate of tonnage for which transport would be required on mobilisation in the event of evacuation.


R.Cas.
Casualty Branch.

Estimated weight of:
Index Sheets and Bingers - 8 cwt.
Registers and Stationery - 2 cwt.
2 Typewriters - 1/2 cwt.
Casualty precedents - Great War - 1 cwt.
Total - 11 1/2 cwt.

R.Recs.

Section of R.Records dealing with enquiries regarding Officers
Estimated weight of:
Confidential Reports (1914 to date) - 14 tons.
Army Forms B.199A - 1 ton.
Records of Chaplains and Nurses (including Confidential Reports of Nurses) - 1 1/2 tons.
Copies of London Gazette and Army Lists - 1/2 ton.
Total - 17 tons
[Handwritten note: - Bags to Wightman]

Section R.Records dealing with enquiries relating to non-effective soldiers, civilian staff (Out-Stations), etc.
Estimated weight of:
Records of Civilian Staff (Out-Stations), non-effective subsequently to 1926. - 1/2 cwt.
Stock Letters - 2 cwt.
Stationery - 3 cwt.
Reference Books, Registers, etc. - 2 cwt.
1 Typewriter - 1/4 cwt.
Total - 7 3/4 cwt.

[hr]

 

Enclosure 7.

Chart - Notification of casualties by units in the field.



Notes

Note 1 .
A.F. W 3006 Daily Strength State. Will show
(i ) Losses since last state
(ii ) Reinforcements since last state
(iii ) Total strength with unit
(iv ) Names of Officer battle casualties and nature of casualty


Note 2.
A.F. W 3010 Casualty Return - Officers
A.F. W 3012 Casualty Return attached personnel

Note 3
A.F. W 3034 Nominal roll by arms of patients in General Hospitals

Note 4
A.F. W 3034A Progress report of dangerous and serious cases in General Hospitals (by arms).

Note 5
A.F. W 3011 Casualty Return - Other Ranks
A.F. W 3012 Casualty Return - Attached personnel

Note 6
See Note 3

Note 7
See Note 4

[hr]

 

Enclosure 8.

Chart - Casualty reports “In” and ”Out” of 2nd Echelon.



Notes

Note 1 .
“Officer i/c 2nd Echelon will telegraph daily to Casualty Section W.O., all reports received by him of casualties to Officers (including deaths) that have not been previously notified by telegraph direct to the Casualty Section by Medical Units concerned.” Field Service Regulations, Chapter V, Section 26.6.

Note 2 .
A.F. W 3013 Daily Casualty List, Officers and Nurses.
Compiled from A.Fs. W 3006, W 3010, W 3012, W 3034A, A36 & any other reports received.
Casualties will be classified as follows:-
(i ) Deaths (KIA, DOW, or any other cause)
(ii ) Wounded (nature of wound if possible
(iii ) Missing (if believed killed, wounded or prisoner it should be so stated)
(iv ) Gas Cases
(v ) Self-inflicted wounds (& brief particulars)

Note 3 .
A.F. W 3014 Daily Casualty List, Other Ranks & Enrolled Civilians.
Compiled from A.Fs. W 3011, W 3012, W 3034, W 3034A, A36 & any other reports received.
Classification as in Note 2.
In certain circumstances instructions may be issued for casualties to Other Ranks to be telegraphed to Casualty Section, W.O.

Note 4 .
A.F. W 3015 Daily Hospital Return
Will include particulars of all sick & wounded admitted to and discharged from hospital in the theatre of war. (Dangerous & serious cases (and progress) will be shown under distinct headings.)

Note 5 .
See Field Service Regulations, Vol. I 1930 Amendments No. 2.

[hr]

 

Enclosure 9.

Chart - Casualty work at a Record Office.

 

Enclosure 10.

Chart - Casualty reports “In” and ”Out” of R. Casualties.

 

Enclosure 11.

Specimens of Casualty forms not received by R. Casualties.

[hr]

 

Enclosure 12.

Specimens of Casualty forms received by R. Casualties.

 

Enclosure 13.

Precautionary Stage action.


Enclosure 13
Staff Clerk.

Precautionary State.

The following action will be taken by the Staff Clerk.
Except for 6 below the remaining staff will continue their normal duties.


1 . Arrange with C.4. for accommodation of Casualty Section, including an Enquiry Room. (In August 1914 we had Rooms 112, 157 and 160 with Room 046 as an Enquiry Room.)


2 . Minute S.D.6. and A.G.1. pointing out A.U.S’s instruction on 1/Gen./3618 that a decision should be obtained as to the method of notification of O.R. Casualties from the field. (Note pamphlet paragraph 3 (iv ) ).


3 . Minute separately M.S.1., 2 & 2 (T.A.); A.G.7, A.G.7.Sigs., A.G.6.(O), A.G.2.(O), A.G.8. & 9; Q.M.G.5. & 9; M.G.O.8; A.M.D.1., A.M.D.4. & 4(T.A.); A.V.D.; F.9.; C.1.Chaplains, reminding them that on general mobilization or mobilization of the whole Regular Army, the Record Sheets in their custody containing particulars of the next-of-kin, etc. of effective officers should be sent (in their binders) by hand to R.Records (room 0043).
See Appendix A to this enclosure for the minute sent in the September crisis (1938).


4 . Minute separately A.M.D.1., 2 &4; F.8.; A.G.1(b ) & (c ); C.3.A.L.; A.G.4.; C.4.Tels. and S.D.6 stating that in view of the present situation their attention is called to the “Procedure for dealing with casualties, serious and dangerous illness, etc. by the home authorities in war”, issued in pamphlet form in January 1933 - a copy of which was sent to them in March 1933.
See Appendix B to this enclosure for the minute sent in the September Crisis (1938). The pamphlet has been revised and issued as an A.C.I.


5 . Inspect the Casualty Section’s stationery listed at Enclosure 6.


6 . Warn the personnel earmarked for the Casualty Section (see Enclosure 4) and instruct them to read up the instructions regarding their particular duties. If time permits specimen forms etc. should be brought out and procedure discussed with the staff.


7 . Arrange for custody by R.Records of schedules of the records to be sent to R.Records under Paragraph 224 Mobilization Regulations (Regular Army).


8 . War T. that two typists are required immediately on mobilisation with machinery for duplicating lists of casualties.


9 . War C.4. that two C.Os. are required immediately on mobilisation for coding and encoding. (Whether or not we move out of the building is immaterial).

[hr]

Appendix A to Enclosure 13.

Minute to Branches regarding the handing over of Record Sheets
(vide paragraph 44(ii ) 1938 edition (- see Enclosure 3 of war book) )


May we remind you that, on general mobilisation or mobilisation of the whole Regular Army, the Record Sheets in your custody containing particulars of the next-of-kin etc. of effective officers should be sent (in their binders) by hand to R.Records (room 0043).

Would you kindly acknowledge receipt of this B.M.


R.Records.

Note: The above minute should be sent separately to the following Branches:-

M.S.1.
M.S.2.
M.S.2.T.A.
A.G.7.
A.G.7.(Sigs.)
A.G.6.(o ).
A.G.2.(o ).
A.G.8.
Q.M.G.5.
Q.M.G.8.
A.G.9.
A.M.D.1.
A.M.D.4.
A.M.D.4.T.A.
A.V.D.
F.9.
C.1.(Chaplains).
T.A.5.
A.M.D.6.


R.Records.
15.9.1938.


[hr]

Appendix C to Enclosure 13.

Minute to Branches calling attention to the “Procedure for dealing with casualties, serious and dangerous illness, etc. by the home authorities in war”
(vide paragraph 48(ii ) 1938 edition (- see Enclosure 3 of war book) )


IMPORTANT.


In view of the present situation, may we call your attention to the “Procedure for dealing with casualties, serious and dangerous illness, etc. by the home authorities in war”, issued in pamphlet form in January 1933 - a copy of which was sent to you in March 1933.


R.Records


Note: The above minute should be sent separately to the following Branches:-

A.M.D.1.
A.M.D.2.
A.M.D.4.
F.8.
A.G.1.(b )
A.G.1. (c )
C.3.A.L.
A.G.4.
C.4.Tels.
S.D.6.

[hr]

 

Enclosure 14.

War Stage action.

Assistant Principal.
Staff Clerk.

WAR STAGE

1 . See that rooms, furniture and stationery and clerks are ready.

2 . Record Sheets of Officers. Remind any branches who have not sent these in (see instruction 3 - Precautionary stage). If there is a general mobilisation prior to War Stage, these sheets should be sent then - vide War Book, paragraph 49 (i ) (Enclosure 3).

3 . Have distribution lists prepared - (see Enclosure 20).

4 . Move for a decision to be given as to the publication of casualties. The file 45/Gen./4302 is necessary and, as at present visualised a minute by A.U.S. to D.M.C.&I. pointing out the agreed procedure (23 A in the file - copy at Appendix A to this enclosure) and suggesting moving S. of S. to obtain a Cabinet decision, will be required.

5 . Phone or write d/o to the British Red Cross Society concerning their arrangements. (Appendix E, War Book, shows that the Society will inaugurate a Central Prisoners of War Committee, concerned mainly with the despatch of supplies to British Prisoners of War). We shall be compiling lists of Prisoners of War and Missing and will required to work in close liaison. Arrange with R. that communications from the Society or the Committee are passed to R.Casualties if relating to comforts for British Prisoners of War or enquiries regarding missing Officers and men, etc.

6 . Ascertain from A.G.1.c. that they are fully aware of the arrangement as to graves procedure now embodied in the War Book (see Enclosure 3) and F.S.R. Section 67. (Summary at Appendix B to this enclosure).

7 . Ascertain from C.2.c. were they are setting up the Prisoners of War Information Bureau. We will require to keep in touch with them, e.g. they will prepare lists of enemy Prisoners of War in our hands for enemy governments and we must see that we get the same in return.

8 . Move for a decision to be given as to whether a Royal Message of Sympathy is to be sent. Discussion is still proceeding with the Air Ministry as to whether a decision can be obtained before mobilisation, vice 45/Gen./4331. A summary of the Great War practice is attached as Appendix C to this enclosure.

9 . See that R. are aware of the arrangement to pass files of Officers allotted new personal numbers.

10 . Ensure from C.4. that the Kite containing instructions as to the notification of casualties occurring in the War Office is being issued. (This was prepared on 1/Bdgs/1826 and we wanted it issued in peace but it will not be issued until an emergency occurs. A copy of the Kite is attached at Appendix D to this enclosure).

11 . Confer with Q.M.G.F. and A.M.D.2. on visiting arrangements in dangerously ill cases at hospitals at home and abroad - see Appendix B to enclosure 22.


[hr]

Appendix A to Enclosure 14.


7th March 1939.

45/Gen./430?. (R.Records).


SECRET.

Sir,

I am commanded by the Army Council to refer to your letter, No.C.W., dated 3rd February, 1939, on the subject of the publication in the press of casualties in time of war and to state that this Department has also been referred to semi-officially in this matter by the Air Ministry.

I am to say that the circumstances in which any future war is waged may vary considerably, the Council are of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by trying to obtain a general decision on the question of publication until the war has actually broken out. On the outbreak of war, the Council propose to take action similar to that taken in the Great War when the matter was referred to the Cabinet for decision in a Memorandum by the General Staff, dated 7th February, 1916, which was approved by the War Committee at their Meeting on 29th February, 1916.

Subject to the decision of the Cabinet, the Council intend to adopt the system in operation by this Department in the last two years of the Great War. Casualty Lists will normally be published regularly, but they will give no indication of the date of the casualty, the number of the battalion or the theatre of war. In the case of Other Ranks and enrolled civilian personnel, the town, or village, of the next-of-kin will be shown. If the occasion requires it, publication of the lists will be held over and then proceeded with by instalments. In particular this would apply to casualties among military personnel at home caused by air raids, which if published at all, might possibly be included in a general list with Field Force casualties.

As regards casualties to civilian employees of the War Department caused by enemy action, the Council do not propose to make any particular or general announcement to the Press unless and until the Government of the day decided that some announcement was to be made.

I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd) G.W. LAMBERT.


The Secretary,
Admiralty, S.W.1.
Copy to the Air Ministry.


[hr]

Appendix C to Enclosure 14.

War Stage action.

The King’s Message of Sympathy to the next-of-kin of deceased Officers and Nurses


Nature of the Message and The “King’s List”
At the commencement of the Great War His Majesty decided that the next-of-kin of every Officer and man who was killed, died of wounds, died of disease, etc. should receive a Royal Message of Sympathy. The Message of Sympathy, in the case of Officers, was sent direct from Buckingham Palace in the form of a telegram.
The wording was (in 1917):
“The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your …. in the service of his Country.
Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow -
Keeper of the Privy Purse.”

The Military Secretary was responsible for the compilation of lists of Officer casualties and their dispatch periodically to the Palace. This list was known as the King’s List. (In a letter to Sir F. PONSONBY dated 11.4.1917 - 4A in 45/S.F./2611 - the M.S. stated:
“I cannot find any record as to when the King’s List was instituted. It was, I think, a matter of verbal instructions to a great extent”).
The lists contained the name, rank and regiment of the deceased Officer; the name and address of the next-of-kin and relationship; whether killed, killed (accident) or died; and the date of death. (A copy is enclosed in 45/E.F./2611).


Changes in the “King’s List” and the inclusion of Nurses.
Prior to April 1917 the List was restricted to Officers who were killed or who died abroad on service, or whose deaths were presumed to have occurred in a theatre of war, unless of course there are any discreditable circumstances in connection with the death. Not only were the deaths of Officers of the Home Armies excluded but also those of Officers who had bee invalided home from a theatre of war and had subsequently died from wounds or disease contracted in a theatre of war. Nurses were not included.

In February 1917 (Minute 6 in 45/E.F./366) the A.M.S. drew attention to the desirability of extending the List to include deaths occurring on duty at home pointing out that the Army Council had decided that the Home Services should in future be regarded for the purposes of Honours and Awards as equal to Overseas Service on the Lines of Communication and at Base Ports. Before any action was taken by A.M.S. however, the matter was brought to a head by an appeal to the King from the next-of-kin of an R.F.C. Officer who was killed through an aeroplane accident on Salisbury Plain. Sir F. PONSONBY in a letter to the M.S. dated 9.4.1917 (B.M. enclosed in 45/E.F./2611) asked for a statement so that the king could decide whether it would be possible to treat the cases of accidental death from aeroplanes differently from other deaths. Sir F. PONSOBY’s personal view was that to attempt to treat aeroplane accidents in a different way from the various other accidents would only cause more dissatisfaction in the end. Following a statement by the M.S. the King decided (letter from Sir F. PONSONBY dated 16.4.1917 IN 45/e.f./2611) that a telegram expressing His Majesty’s sympathy should be sent to the relatives of all Officers who lost their lives, thus following the procedure of the Admiralty who considered that all Officers were on active service. The King whited this decision to be have retrospective effect from the 1st January, 1917 and accordingly required a complete list of deaths at Home on service occurring since that date.

Meanwhile M.S. had been considering the position of Nurses. As these ladies received decorations awarded to them from the hands of the King he accordingly suggested to Sir F. PONSONBY that His Majesty might wish the names of all Nurses whose deaths were notified in the official Casualty Lists to be included in the King’s List. This suggestion was approved by the King (letter to M.S. from Sir F. PONSONBY dated 18.4.41917 in 45/M.F./2611).

At the same time Sir F. PONSONBY stated that the King presumed that the names of Officers who lost their lives whilst not on duty would not be included. For instance, a man on leave who drank more than was good for him and got run over by a bus in London. In reply to this letter, the M.S. in a long letter to Sir F. PONSONBY dated 28.4.1917 explained the difficulties of discriminating with any certainty from the point of view of the King’s List as to deaths from accidents or illness “off duty” and quoted as examples:
an Officer dying of pneumonia; an Officer riding to his home from parade who is killed by a fall from his horse; an Officer in uniform on a motor cycle who is killed by a lorry - or an Officer with pulmonary symptoms who develops tuberculosis and dies.
He therefore considered it would be inadvisable to advise His Majesty to omit any cases of death except those in which discreditable circumstances were attached and advocated the adoption of the principle followed in convey the King’s sympathy to relatives of the rank and file. The M.S. further acknowledged the King’s approval as to the inclusion of Nurses in the King’s List, whose names appeared in the official Casualty lists, and stated that these would consist of Q.A.I.M.N.S., Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.; T.F.N.S.; Special War Probationers and V.A.D. personnel definitely accepted by the War Officer for service abroad.

On 2nd May, 1917, Sir F. PONSONBY informed M.S. that his proposals had been approved by the King and accordingly on 7th and 10th May, 1917 the M.S. forwarded to the Palace lists of all Officers and Nurses who had been killed or who had died of wounds or disease at Home since 1st January, 1917. On going through the lists, however, the King came to the conclusion that in order not to cheapen the Message of Sympathy, the telegrams should only be sent to:-

(a ) Officers killed on duty in the United Kingdom or elsewhere not in a theatre of war in circumstances which admit of no doubt as to their being on duty at the time, e.g. flying accidents, Bombing School fatalities, or fatal accidents at Machine Gun Schools, on Rifle ranges or on parade generally.

(b ) Officers evacuated sick from a war zone and who subsequently died in the United Kingdom or elsewhere not in a theatre of war of the illness by reason of which they were evacuated.

The lists were sent back for amendment (Sir F. PONSONBY’s letter to M.S. dated 11th May, 1917).)


Omission from the King’s List after the Armistice of deaths from natural causes.
From May 1917 until March 1919, the King’s List remained unaltered i.e. it included all deaths of Officers and Nurses overseas, all accidental deaths at home resulting from overseas service. On 5.3.1919 Sir F. PONSONBY requested that deaths from natural causes should be omitted from the list as the King wished to restrict the message to:-

(a ) Officers who were killed in action or died of wounds (until further notice).

(b ) Officers who were killed accidentally up to the date when Peace was signed.

(c ) Officers who had been reported missing and were subsequently reported dead or whose deaths were presumed.
(Letter to M.S. from Sir F. PONSONBY in 45/E.F./3528).


Omission from the King’s List after the signing of Peace of accidental deaths in Peace conditions.
Peace was signed with Germany on 28th June, 1919 and ratified on 10th January, 1920. The Military Service Acts were due to expire on 30th April, 1920, but hostilities in various countries continued. After discussion between C.Q.Cas. and the Deputy Military Secretary, the latter wrote to Sir Frederick PONSONBY in January, 1920 asking for the King’s wishes as to the continuance of the message. In his reply on 27th January, Sir Frederick PONSONBY (7A in 45/Gen.No./1999) stated that the message should be discontinued in respect of accidental deaths in peace conditions but that it should be continued in respect of those who were killed in action or who died of wounds and those who had been reported missing nd were subsequently reported dead or whose deaths were presumed. There were, he believed some 7 or 8 hundred Officers in the Air Force who had been reported missing and had not yet been reported dead. It was most important that these poor fellows should be treated in exactly the same way as the other Officers who were killed during the war. He did not propose that the message should be sent in respect of deaths in riots or rebellions. (A copy of Sir Frederick PONSONBY’s letter was sent to the Air Ministry - Mr. BOYD - by C.2.Cas.).


Discontinuance of the King’s List.
On 10th May, 1921, the M.S. wrote to Sir Frederick PONSONBY explaining that in regard to
the Royal Message in respect of the deaths of Other Ranks new forms bering the signature of the new Secretary of State, Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVEANS would required to be printed if the message were to be continued, and asked for the King’s wishes. In replying on 13th May, 1921 (47A in 45/E.F./3756) Sir Frederick PONSONBY stated that the King considered it advisable for the message to be discontinued unless there are any more cases outstanding of missing Officers whose deaths had not been presumed. There were only outstanding two Officers who had been missing in January 1920 in Russia and M.S.3. arranged for particulars to be sent to the Palace as soon as C.2.Cas. had taken the necessary steps for their deaths to be presumed.


Position as to Ireland and riots, rebellions etc. generally.
In the Easter Rebellion 1916 it was at first decided that no King’s Telegram should be sent to the next-of-kin and that the deaths should not be published. Later this was cancelled and the names were placed on the King’s List and were also published. (Minute by M.S.3. dated 3.7.1920 in 45/Gen.No./2159).

Arising from the disturbances in Ireland after the Armistice, Sir Frederick PONSONBY intimated (letter dated 27.1.1920 at 11A in 45/Gen.No./2159) that he did not propose that the King should send a message of sympathy in respect of Officers who might be killed in riots or rebellions. He felt that although it was easy to do so in the case of Egypt or India, a message of sympathy in the case of Ireland, or possibly in some riot resulting from a strike, might lead his Majesty into a very difficult situation.


Position as to Dominion and Colonial Forces.
The King’s decision to send his Message of Sympathy was intimated by M.S.3. in January 1913 to the Canadian, New Zealand, Australian and Newfoundland Records. Governors were to send the message when the next-of-kin resided out of the United Kingdom. Lists of Officers were to be sent periodically to the King’s Private Secretary in cases where the next-of-king resided in the United Kingdom (file reference 45/E.F./288). A similar arrangement (file reference 45/E.F./1874A) was made as regards South Africa, except that the King’s List was to include Officers’ next-of-kin residing in the United Kingdom or Europe - the Governor doing the rest.

In June 1917, the decision to extend the King’s List to deaths occurring at home was notified to the Colonial Office and India Office by C.2.Cas. (45/E.F./2611) who were asked to make the necessary arrangements regarding the Lists sent to HM.’s Private Secretary. At the same time it was pointed out that it was not proposed to modify whatever practice may have obtained in the past regarding messages issued on His Majesty’s behalf in India or the Dominions as to the relatives of the rank and file. The reply from the Colonial Office (27A in 45/E.F./2611) disclosed that the practice of the Colonial Authorities had not been the same as M.S.3’S as their letter 45/E.F./288 of 7th January 1915 had been taken to apply generally to all case of Officers, non-commissioned Officers and men killed or dying during the war.



The King’s Message of Sympathy to the next-of-kin of deceased Other Ranks

Lord Kitcheners’ Message.
1 . In the first days of the Great War (up to 28.8.1914) the nearest relative of an Other Rank was sent Army Form B. 104/82 by the Officer-in-Charge Records. This form notified the death and added:-
“and I am to express to you the sympathy and regret of the Army Council at your loss.”
With this was sent a message which read:-
“The enclosed announcement is forwarded with an expression of my sympathy - Kitchener”.
(A copy of both the form and the message are enclosed at 1A and 1B in 45/E.F./2).


Beginning of the Royal Message
2 . On 28th August, 1914 (1C in 45/E.F./2) Lord STAMFORDHAM wrote to Lieutenant-General CODRINGTON - then the Military Secretary - stating that he had just seen Lord KITCHENER and in order that the King’s sympathy might be expressed to the nearest of kin of every man who lost his life in the war the following should be substituted for the existing message:-
“The King commands me to ensure you of the true sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow - Kitchener”.

The instructions of the Secretary (Sir Reginald BRADE) were that this new message of sympathy was to be sent by Officers-in-Charge Records in all cases of deaths while the war lasted, except when the sending of it was undesirable (Minute 2 in 45/E.F./2), but in February 1915 its as found that apparently in some cases at least it was only being sent in respect of the deaths of Expeditionary Force men, and was not sent in respect of deaths of Other Ranks at home occurring in ordinary circumstances. Instructions were issued immediately by C.2.Cas. (Circular letter to Officers-in-Charge Rcords 45/E.F./366 dated 21.2.1915) to ensure that the message was sent in respect of all deaths whether amongst men of the Expeditionary Forces or the Home Forces, except in some cases, e.g. certain cases of suicide, where it was undesirable for the message to be sent.

3 . The Royal Message signed by Lord KITCHENER remained unchanged from its issue on 31.8.1914 until Lord KITCHENER’s death in June 1916 when it was signed by the Prime Minister, Mr. ASQUITH. (The Message signed by Lord KITCHENER continued to be use for dates occurring before 4th June 1916 - Circular letter to Officers-in-Charge Records 45/E.F./2222 C.2.Cas. dated 7.6.1916).

On Mr. LLOYD GEORGE becoming Secretary of State for War on 7th July, 1016, arrangements were made for the message to bear his signature. (Stocks of the Message bearing Mr. ASQUITH’s signature held by Record Offices were used up owing to the scarcity of paper).

In October 1916, Lord DERBY, then the Under Secretary of State for War, suggested amendment of the Message by

(a ) Insertion of the Royal Arms at the top.
(b ) The words “Secretary of State for War” under the signature.
(c ) Insertion of “War Office” with the date at the bottom.

He agreed, however, to the omission of suggestions at (c ) and the King, in November 1916 approved the new form of Message (copy as at 16B in 45/E.F./2263). With the announcement of the new form of Message Officers-in- Charge Records were instructed, for the first time, to keep it under lock and key.

On 11th December, 1916, Lord DERBY succeeded Mr. LLOYD GEORGE as Secretary of State for War and his signature was placed on the Message, Officers-in-Charge Records being instructed (Circular letter 45/E.F./2263 C.2.Cas. dated 12.12.1916) to return old stocks to the War Office for destruction.

In November 1917, following a suggestion made by a constituent of Sir Edward CARSON, Lord DERBY asked Mr. Rudyard KIPLING, who was then a member of the Graves Commission, if he could suggest an addition to the message which would make the recipient feel that not only the king and Queen, but the Nation behind them appreciated what the dead man had given to his country. Mr. KIPLING’s suggested addition however, was not favoured. Instead Sir Reginald BRADE suggested a paragraph which was submitted by Lord DERBY to the King and approved on 6th December, 1917. The paragraph was as follows:-

“He whose loss you mourn died in the noblest of causes. His Country will be ever grateful to him for the sacrifice he has made for Freedom and Justice.”

(Sir Reginald BRADE had “The Country” in his proposed paragraph but at Mr. KIPLING’s suggestion, this was amended to “His Country”.) The new Message was issued in January 1918, Officers-in-Charge Records being asked to return the old prints (C.2.Cas. Circular letter 45/Gen.1622. - Note. Stout envelopes to hold the message are mentioned in this file, and presumably issues of these were made to Officers-in-Charge Records.)

On 20.4.1918 Lord MILNER succeeded Lord DERBY and on 14.1.1919 Mr. CHURCHILL succeeded Lord MILNER. Their signatures appeared on the Messages for their periods of office as Secretary for War, but apart from these changes of signature, no other alterations were made in the Royal Message until the issue was discontinued.


Issue discontinued after the Armistice in respect of deaths from natural causes.
4 . On 5th March, 1919, Sir Frederick PONSONBY wrote to the Military Secretary stating that the King did not propose to send messages of sympathy in respect of Officers who had died. It was assumed that what applied to Officers applied to Other Ranks and accordingly on 14th March, 1919, C.2.Cas. informed Officers-in-Charge Records (Circular letter 45/E.F./3528) that the message should in future only be sent in the cases of:-

i . Soldiers who were killed in action, or who died of wounds (until further notice).
ii . Soldiers who were killed accidentally up to the date of the signing of Peace.
iii . Soldiers who had been reported missing and were subsequently reported or whose deaths were presumed.


Issue discontinued after the signing of the Peace in respect of accidental deaths.
5 . Peace was signed with Germany on 28th June, 1919 and ratified on 10th January 1920. The Military Service Acts were due to expire on 30th April, 1920, but hostilities in various con tries continued. After discussion between C.2.Cas. and the Deputy Military Secretary, the latter wrote to Sir Frederick PONSONBY in January 1920, asking for the King’s wishes as to the continuance of the Message. In his reply on 27th January, Sir Frederick PONSONBY (7A in 45/Gen.No./1999) stated that the Message should be discontinued in respect of accidental deaths in peace conditions but that it should be continued in respect of those who were killed in action or who had died of wounds and those who and been reported missing and were subsequently reported dead or whose deaths were presumed. There were, he believed some 7 or 8 hundred Officers in the Air Force who had been reported missing and had not yet been reported dead. It was most important that these poor fellows should be treated in exactly the same way as the other Officers who were killed during the war. He did not propose that the message should be sent in respect of deaths in riots or rebellions.

In accordance with the above C.2.Cas. instructed Officers-in-Charge Records (Circular letter 45/Gen.No./1999 dated 5.2.1920) that in view of the ratification of Peace with Germany the message would only be sent in respect of categories 1 and 3 of the letter of 14th March, 1919, No. 45/EF/3528, (See paragraph 4 above). Records were also asked to note that the message should not be sent for deaths resulting from riots or rebellions; those however would not usually be reported as having occurred in action. (A copy of Sir Frederick PONSONBY’s letter was sent to the Air Ministry - Mr. BOYD - by C.2.Cas.).


Cessation of Issue.
6 . On 30th April 1920, ordinary peace conditions as regards casualties were reverted to (A.C.I. 3 of 1920) C.2.Cas only clearing up Great War questions.

Accordingly, in March 1921, when the question of the presumption of death of soldiers reported missing in July 1920 in Mesopotamia was raised, A.G.1. - not C.2.Cas. dealt with it. Officers-in-Charge Records were instructed to despatch the message signed by Mr. CHURCHILL to the next-of-kin as the casualties occurred when Mr. CHURCHILL was Secretary of State for War. At the same time the Military Secretary wrote to Sir Frederick PONSONBY to ascertain the King’s wishes, pointing out that for Other Ranks if the existing procedure were continued it would be necessary for a new supply of the Message to be printed bearing the signature of the Secretary of State, Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS. In replying on 13th May, 1921 (47A in 45/E.F./3756) Sir Frederick PONSONBY state that the King considered it advisable for the Message to be discontinued unless there were any more cases outstanding of missing men whose deaths had not been presumed. C.2.Cas. stated that there were some 15 Great War cases of missing Other Ranks whose deaths were about to be presumed, and rather than have a fresh supply printed, they arranged for the message of sympathy to be typed and signed by the Secretary of State in each case. In 1923 having ascertained from Officers-in-Charge Records that there were no further cases outstanding, A.G.1 instructed Officers-in-Charge Records that to any application from relatives for the Message of Sympathy a reply should be sent that no copies were available.


Forms issued with the Royal Message
7 . In the early stages of the war, Army Form B. 104/82 (see paragraph 1) did not refer to any enclosed message. Instead, as stated in paragraph 1 Lord KITCHENER’s message of sympathy referred to the “enclosed notification”. As the war progressed however a paragraph referring to the message was added to each of the three forms used by Record Offices in notifying deaths, viz. Army Form B.104/82 (notifying death and stating any information regarding burial would be notified), Army Form B.104/82a (notifying that a soldier previously notified as missing was presumed to be dead) and Army Form B.104/82B notifying death. This paragraph read as follows:-
“By His Majesty’s Command I am to forward the enclosed Message of Sympathy from Their Gracious Majesties the King and Queen. I am at the same time to express the regret of the Army Council at the soldier’s death in his Country’s Service.”

This paragraph took the place of that in Army Form B.104/82 referred to in paragraph 1.

In March 1919 when it was decided to discontinue the issue of the Message in respect of deaths from natural causes (see paragraph 4), new Army Forms B.104/82 were issued to Officers-in-Charge Records in which the reference to the Message was deleted. The paragraph then read:-
“I am to express the regret of the Army Council at the soldier’s death in his Country’s Service.”

To meet the case of soldiers of the Home Army dying in the United Kingdom whose next-of-kin would under King’s Regulations be notified of the death by the Officer Commanding the Unit and not by the Officer-in-Charge Records, C.2.Cas. on 21st February, 1915 (45/E.F./386) instructed Officers-in-Charge Records that as soon as the casualty was reported to them in Part II Orders of the Unit, the following letter should be sent with the Royal Message:-

“The Army Council having heard with regret of the death of (No.)… (Rank)… (Name)… (Regiment)… of which you have already been informed, I am instructed to send you herewith the enclosed message of sympathy in your bereavement from the King and the Queen.”


[hr]

Appendix D to Enclosure 14.

KITE NO….

NOTIFICATION OF AIR RAID CASUALTIES

1 . If as a result of air raids, any casualties occur to civilian or military personnel during office hours, the following procedure will be observed as regards notification:-


Civilian Personnel.

(a ) The Officers in charge of the Main First Aid Post will report to C.4. in writing, as soon as opportunity occurs, giving the name, branch in which employed, the nature of the casualty, and, if sent to hospital, the name of the hospital in respect of all casualties dealt with. The report will be sent by hand.

(b ) Heads of branches, as soon as opportunity occurs, will report to C.4. in writing, giving such particulars as are in their possession of casualties incurred in their branches. The report will be sent by hand.

C.4. will inform the next-of-kin as necessary.


Military Personnel.

(a ) The officers in charge of the Main First Aid Posts will report to R.Casualties* in writing, as soon as opportunity occurs, the Army No. (or Officer’s personal No.), name, rank, regiment, nature of casualty and, if sent to hospital, the name of the hospital, in respect of all casualties dealt with. The report will be sent by hand. A copy will also be sent to C.4. by hand.

*A new branch which will immediately function in the event of war, A.G.4.(c ) ceasing to deal with casualties.

(b ) Heads of branches, as soon as opportunity occurs, will report to R. Casualties, in writing, giving such particulars as are in their possession of casualties in their branches. The report will be sent by hand to R. Casualties and a copy will also be sent to C.4. by hand.

R. Casualties will, as regards Officers, inform the next-of-kin as necessary, and will take all steps as regards the distribution, etc. of the reports. As regards Other Ranks, C.4 will notify the next-of-kin as and when necessary, and will also inform the personnel branch concerned, which will then sent a report to the Officer i/c Records, for information only, indicating that the next-of-kin has already been notified.


2 . To enable R. Casualties to notify the next-of-kin of Officers, the following branches will, immediately on receipt of a notification from R. Casualties, send the record sheets in their custody, in their binders, by hand to R. Casualties.

M.S.1.
M.S.2.
M.S.2. (T.A.)
A.G.7.
A.G.7. (Sigs).
A.G.6.(O )
A.G.2.(O )
A.G.8.
Q.M.G.9.
A.G.9.
A.M.D.1.
A.M.D.4.
A.M.D.4. (T.A.)
A.V.D.
F.9.
C.1. Chaplains


3 . R. will, forthwith, mark all files registered in respect of newly-appointed officers allotted personal numbers to R. Casualties for noting.

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PART II

Enclosure 15.

Plan of R.Casualties.

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Enclosure 16.

Table showing procedure of R.Casualties in dealing with Casualty Reports.

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Enclosure 17.

Receipt and Sorting Section.


1 . Envelopes of all sizes will be cut open on three sides to minimise the risk of small letters, forms, or enclosures, being left inside the envelope.

2 . Paper fasteners and clips will be removed and pins substituted. The pin will be placed at the top centre, and not at the side.

3 . Every letter will be examined to see
(i ) that it is correctly addressed to the Casualty Branch;
(ii ) that enclosures mentioned are actually enclosed; and
(iii ) whether action or information is required at short notice, in which case the letter will be handed to the clerk i/c post opening, who will attach an “Important” label and pass the letter by hand to the clerk in charge of the Section which it concerns.

4 .
(a ) The envelope will always be attached to the letter, and any enclosure or enclosures (other than stamped envelopes) will be placed in an enclosure cover, which will be securely pinned to the letter. If a War Office reference number is quoted it should be noted on the enclosure cover.
(b ) Stamped envelopes forwarded by applicants will be pinned to the letter, which will be marked “St.env.”

5 . All communications, except files (including Reports on Army Forms) will be date-stamped, special care being taken to ensure that the date-stamp is not placed on any soldiers’ documents or on any enclosures that are to be returned to the sender. The post opener will affix his mark (a letter of the alphabet) and also mark the number of enclosures (if any), e.g. K.3.

6 . Communications will be sorted and distributed as follows:-
(i ) Telegrams will be given priority. They will generally be reports of casualties and will be passed to the Registration Section by hand, if in clear, but to the Code Section, if in code. If not casualty reports, or corrections to reports, the telegrams will be passed by hand to the correspondence section concerned.
(ii ) Letters confirming telegrams will be dealt with as at (i ).
(iii ) Casualty reports of any description will be passed to the Registration Section, as will also any correspondence relating thereto.
(iv ) Correspondence other than the above will be passed to the correspondence section concerned.


Notes:
(a ) A Receipt Book will be kept for receipts from the Sections concerned in respect of registered letter or letters containing articles or documents of value (e.g. original wills, letters of administration.)
(b ) A record will be kept of the numbers of letters and telegrams received, distinguishing between those received direct and those received through the War Office Registry. The number of files received will also be noted.

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Enclosure 18.

Registration Section.

The Casualty Reports (on receipt from Receipt & Sorting Section or the Code Section in the case of telegraphic reports in code) will be sorted into three main categories:-
(i ) Cables and Telegrams; and
(ii ) Casualty Reports on printed Army Forms*; and
(iii ) Other Casualty Reports.

*Army Forms W. 3018 (Numerical Return showing number of Officers and Other Ranks admitted to hospital, etc. rendered weekly by Central Hospitals at home) will be passed to the Statistical Section directed by A.M.D.2., and will not be registered in the Registration Section.

1 . Telegraphic casualty reports, including “dangerously ill” wires.
These will be given priority over all other Casualty Reports. They will be stamped T.1, T.2, T.3, etc and will be entered in the “T” Register, which will be ruled as follows:-



They will then be passed by hand to the Officers Section (Main Index) if only Officers names are mentioned, or to the Other Ranks Section (Main Index) if only Other Ranks names are mentioned. If both Officers and Other Ranks are included in one telegram, it will be sent to the Officers Section (Main Index) who will arrange for it to be sent to the Other Ranks Section on completion of this action.

Note:
(a ) Cables will be decoded before registration.
(b ) Confirmatory copies of cables and telegrams will not be registered, but will be compared with the originals and if there are not discrepancies, p.a. with the original on its return from the sections concerned. If there is any discrepancy it will be passed to the Sections concerned whose attention will be drawn to the discrepancy.


2 . Casualty Reports on Printed Army Forms

(a ) Army Form W.30116 (Colour Yellow) Daily Return from Record Offices.
This form will be entered in the “R” Register, which will be ruled as follows:-



The serial numbers of the Forms from each Record Office will be compared with those of the Forms already registered and in the event of any discrepancy a note will be made on the Form and at the same time an enquiry will be sent to the Record Office concerned. The Regulations provide that the Forms should be numbered consecutively by the Records Office and if this is done there is no necessity for a Casualty Branch reference number. After registration the form will be sent by hand to the Other Ranks (Main Index) Section.


3 . [Casualty Reports from 2nd Echelon, i.e./u]

A.F. W. 3013 (Colour Pink). Daily Casualty List, Officers and Nurses
A.F. W. 3014 (Colour Green). Daily Casualty List, Other Ranks and Enrolled civilian personnel.
A.F. W. 3015 (Colour Buff). Daily Hospital Return, All Ranks.

These forms will be entered in the appropriate “A” Register, a separate Register being maintained for each Theatre of War. The Registers will be ruled as follows:-



The serial numbers of the Forms will be compared with those of the Forms already registered and in the event of any discrepancy a note will be made on the Form and at the same time an enquiry will be sent to the 2nd Echelon. The Regulations provide that the Forms should be numbered consecutively by the 2nd Echelon, and if this is done there is no necessity for a Casualty Branch reference number. After registration disposal will be made, by hand, as follows:-

A.F. W.3013 - To the Officers Section (Main Index)
A.F. W.3014 - To the Other Ranks Section (Main Index)
A.F. W.3015 - Separate sheets for Officers and Other Ranks should be received and if this instruction is carried out the sheets in respect of Officers will be sent to the Officers Section (Main Index) and the sheets in respect of Other Ranks to the Other Ranks Section (Main Index) who will pass to the Other Ranks Section after their action has been completed.


4 . Hospital Reports from General Hospitals in the Field, i.e.

A.F. W.3034 (White Foolscap). Daily Nominal Roll.
AF. W.3034A (White Foolscap). Weekly Progress Report.

These forms which may bear no hospital reference number will be stamped with the letter “H” followed by a letter indicating the Theatre of Wr, and will be numbered consecutively, e.g. H.R.1, H.R.2. They will then be entered in the appropriate “H” Register, a separate Register begin maintained for each Theatre of War. The Registers will be ruled as follows:-



The dates of the last Reports (which will be given on the Forms by the Medical Units) will be carefully compared with those shown in the Registers, and in the event of any discrepancy a note will be made on the Form, and at the same time an enquiry will be sent to the General Hospital concerned. After registration disposal will be made as for A.F. W.3015 - see paragraph 3.


5 . Other Casualty Reports, i.e

A.F. W.3017. Admission report from home military hospitals of Officers transferred from Overseas (arrangements are being made for this from to be sent to us as well as the personnel branch.)

A.F. W.3020. Air raid casualties (Officers) from civil hospitals at Home (sent to A.G.1. in the first instance). Reports of War Office air raid casualties, and miscellaneous reports.

The will be stamped M.1. etc. and will be entered in the “M” Register, which will be ruled as follows:-



After registration disposal will be as follows:-

A.F. W.3017. To the Officers Section (Main Index)
A.F. W.3020. To the Officers Section (Main Index)

Reports from Main Aid Posts W.O. These will contain perhaps both Officers and Other Ranks. Disposal will be as for A.F. W.3015 - see para. 3.

Reports from War Office branches after an air raid - These will contain perhaps both Officers and Other Ranks. Disposal will be as for A.F. W.3015 - see para. 3.

Miscellaneous reports, e.g. from Red Cross Societies, Prisoner of War Lists, etc. These will contain perhaps both Officers and Other Ranks. Disposal will be as for A.F. W.3015 - see para. 3.


General Notes.

1 . The registration section will p.a. all registered casualty reports on their return from the sections. They will then always be available for inspection but will not be allowed to leave the section. The system of p.a. will be according to Branch Register numbers if any. Otherwise by type of report arranged by Theatres of war in chronological order which should be the serial number order.

2 . The Registrar will enter in a note book details of any discrepancy in serial numbers about which he raises an enquiry. When cleared up, a note will, if necessary, also be made in the Register.

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