The Scottish War Graves Project

spoons · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: possible non-commemoration

I will stick my neck out a bit here and suggest that I may have found a non-commemoration for Sgt John Black KOSB. He is entered on Morton (Thornhill) memorial but I can find no sign on SNWM or CWGC. I think it possible that he died after he was discharged from the Army and the authorities were never notified.

Grave and further details here
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?p=5506#5506 - I have yet to confirm that he is actually buried there.

I need to check death certificate, cemetery authorities and KOSB museum in Berwick - anything else? Comments and suggestions welcome.

\Paul

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Contact the local burials section at the Council to see if he's interred there.

I'm on 23 potential non-comms for Hawick and the council burials officer has been first class.
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spoons · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks Derek - I have downloaded the entry from the register of deaths and it records the cause as Pthisis (TB) but there is no mention of army service. Stewartry has kindly provided the following info (amongst much more)

"Pre-war territorial, enlisted 1910
Served at Gallipoli, landed 6th June 1915 with original contingent
Invalided home, sick (date not known)
Discharged (xvi), no longer fit for military service (sickness) in November 1915 (so obviously quite seriously ill to have been discharged so quickly)"

Although he died over 4 years after being discharged, we might assume that the cause of discharge was the same as the cause of death. Then, 0n the face of it, you could argue that he went to Gallipoli (presumably fit) in June and was discharged only 5 months later so he probably caught TB as a result of his service and should therefore be included by CWGC. A few ifs ands and buts here.

But if he was medically discharged, should there not be a pension record for him?

\Paul

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

There should be a pension record BUT the surviving pension records aren't complete and knowing our luck............. Crying or Very sad

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Adam Brown · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 714 Location: Edinburgh

Did this come to anything?

Adam

PaulC · Joined: 31 May 2014 Posts: 36 Location: Lancashire

I recently found John Black in an old topic on the Great War Forum. Although his service record appears to be lost we now have his pension ledger which confirms that TB was due to service, so it's been possible to put his name forward via In From the Cold Project.

His burial at Troqueer will still need to be confirmed, would anyone know where I need to look for the burial registers?
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