Waarmaarde churchyard: I am trying to identify Unknown Soldier, likely of 2 Lancashire Fusiliers

Discussion in '1940' started by Adam Petipher, Apr 21, 2024.

  1. Adam Petipher

    Adam Petipher Well-Known Member

    In the churchyard of Waarmaarde Church are the graves of 18 men.
    17 have been identified and they all served in the 2 Lancashire Fusiliers and my research points to some of them being killed on the 21st and some on the 22nd May 1940.

    I am trying to find out the identity of the only unidentified man in the cemetery and so far my research has lead me to the following conclusions;

    1. It is extremely likely that this man was also from the 2 Lancashire Fusiliers.

    2. Using the CWGC website the men of the 2 Lancashire Fusiliers who were killed between 21-22 May 1940 and are on the Dunkirk Memorial are;

    Fus. George William Harrison. C Coy. 3522322. Died 21 May. Missing.

    Fus. Charles Claud Grout. B Coy. 3442821. Died 22 May. K.I.A.

    Fus. William Holt. A Coy. 3524029. Died 22 May.
    Missing.

    2/Lt. Reginald Lothian Stevens . 108165. Died 22 May. (In the units war diary it says he died on 26 May, so I have discounted him).

    Fus. Christopher Ayres. 3853320. Died 22 May.
    I have since found information that identifies him as a currently unidentified man who was buried in Tieghem Roadside burial and later moved to Heverlee Cemetery. I have notified CWGC and await to hear from them. So I have discounted him.

    3. In respect of Fusilier Charles Claud Grout I have found in the missing men file of the National Archives reference WO/361/97, a statement that a Sgt. Almond states that Fus. Grout was killed by enemy action in the village of Tieghem. Tieghem is just north of Waarmaarde.

    4. Also in the same missing men file there is a statement where enquiries were made with a view to establishing the fate of some of the now identified men buried in the cemetery;
    Buckley,
    Johnson,
    Martin,
    Beresford,
    Gregory,
    And Coopes.

    It goes on to say that it is understood that Corporal Lymer 2nd battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers, who is now a prisoner of war at Stalag XXA, prisoner of war no 20216, was with the above named soldiers at the time of the casualty. It then goes on to ask for a statement from him via the international red cross.

    Another statement in the file then goes on to say:
    The following are the names of members if Cpl. Lymers section. It is regretted that army numbers are not known.
    Lymer
    Buckley
    Johnson
    Martin
    Beresford (08)
    Gregory
    Coopes
    Ellis (96)
    Meredith
    Smith (01).

    Who are Meredith and Smith? Why do some of the men have numbers in brackets after their names.

    4. There is a response from Cpl. Lymer confirming;

    Men killed with Cpl. Lymer's section about 21/22 May on the Escaut canal;
    L/Cpl. Buckley, Fus. Johnson, Martin, Coopes, Beresford 88, Gregory.

    Two others of the section are reported as alive, both possibly prisoners: Fus. 01 Smith and Meredith.

    I would like to find out who these two men are.
    According to the acquittance rolls Buckley is A company, so I assume the men of Lymers section were also from A company.

    5. Cpl. Lymer does have a POW return but it is not useful in this respect.

    6. I wrote to the archives in Avelgem, which covers the area of Waarmaarde and they sent me the exhumation/reburial information for the unidentified man. (Grave 16).

    1.58m tall. Dark blonde hair.
    Tattoo on right forearm close to hand: "alliance" in single (blue), behind it a red flower with 3 petals at the top, written below: "Mother".

    Hit in the hand and chest.



    My conclusion so far is that the man is either;

    Fus. William Holt, A Coy. Missing.

    Fus. Charles Claud Grout, B Coy. KIA. Confirmed as killed in Tieghem, just north of Waarmaarde.

    Fus. George William Harrison, C Coy. Missing.


    Although I am leaning towards Fus. Charles Claud Grout, as he is confirmed as killed in the area.


    I would like to find out who Meredith and Smith are.


    Can anyone help me further?
    Perhaps someone may be able to help me track down who Meredith and Smith were?

    Or perhaps where I could find out any more information on Holt, Grout or Harrison?

    I should add that I have acquired the service records of Grout and Holt but I am awaiting Harrisons.

    On Grouts service record it confirms he was attested aged 16 and that his height was 5ft 5 3/4. I make that 1.67m.
    His hair colour is noted as dark brown.

    Holt was 20 years old at attestation and was 5ft 9 1/2 (1.76m) with brown hair.

    Neither records confirm tattoos, but I have obtained many service records and it appears that these were not noted down in general.

    I look forward to hearing from anyone that has any further ideas!

    Thanks
    Adam
     
    von Smallhausen likes this.
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Good luck in your endeavours.

    It was common practice in a unit where there were multiple men with the same surname to use the last 2 (or in the case of Welsh units often 3) digits of the man’s army service number as an individual identifier.

    Steve
     
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  3. Adam Petipher

    Adam Petipher Well-Known Member

    Thank you Steve, that is most helpful
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Might "Alliance" have been a Friendly or similar Society ? If so, you may find similar noted in his service records in connection with the NH Insurance act. It seems an odd thing to have tattooed but perhaps if they were a Temperance Society, it may have been to remind him not to be led astray by drink.
     
  5. Adam Petipher

    Adam Petipher Well-Known Member

    Hi Rich, thank you for the idea, however as he is unidentified I do not have his service records.

    However, I note that for the man buried in grave 18, Fus. Harcup, on his exhumation details it says that he too has the word Alliance tattoo'd on his left forearm, with a butterfly below it.
    I do not have Harcups service records either, but I will now apply for them.
     
    Rich Payne likes this.
  6. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper


    3446201 Acting Lance Corporal Ernest SMITH 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

    11th August 1910 Lowton, Lancashire
    Screenshot 2024-04-22 at 10.26.28.png
    Stalag XXA P.o.w. no. 20307
    WO416/333/422

    3445964 Fusilier John Wilfred MEREDITH 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
    31st March 1911 Manchester
    Screenshot 2024-04-22 at 10.46.44.png
    WO 417/14
    P.o.w. no. 12959
    WO416/253/281
     
  7. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Screenshot 2024-04-22 at 10.53.08.png
    3442821 Fusilier Charles Claud GROUT 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
    Died 22nd May 1940
    He married Margaret Kate BELL in Manchester in 1937
    His son died in Cheshire in 2020

    Screenshot 2024-04-22 at 10.51.25.png
    Manchester Evening News 27th July 1940
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2024
  8. Adam Petipher

    Adam Petipher Well-Known Member

    Thank you Guy, thats great!

    Do you think you could look into who Ellis (96) might be?

    The only person I can find is Ellis, L. 3452194. But obviously the last number is wrong.
     

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