My g-uncle served with the Durham Light Infantry in WWI, and died in Germany in 1915. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate his service records, so they're probably among those that were burnt. I have, however, found his death registration in the GRO War Death indices. Family recollection is that my g-uncle didn't die in battle. The story is that he was off-duty and having a bit of a laugh with some other off-duty soldiers. He was lying on his stomach in a trench, opening a parcel from home, when he was shot in the buttocks by a stray bullet. He was taken away by stretcher, laughing and waving at his friends, and that is the last we know about him. I'd like to be able to confirm the story, and to know why my g-uncle died from what was, apparently, a non-life-threatening wound. My question is whether it's worth getting the death certificate. Is it likely to tell me more about where and of what my uncle died? Thanks. Vivienne Toronto

Hi Viviene Sadly most soldiers death certificates are not very informative, often stating killed in action, died of wounds or died of disease Place of death is often simply France Unfortunately there is no way of knowing apart from getting the certificate What was his name and Regiment / service number ? Are you sure he died in Germany? You may find the story was put about in the family to offset the pain of his death Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > My g-uncle served with the Durham Light Infantry in WWI, and died in > Germany > in 1915. > > Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate his service records, so > they're > probably among those that were burnt. I have, however, found his death > registration in the GRO War Death indices.

Evening Viviene, You say that he served in Durham Light Infantry Have you thought of contacted the DLI Museum Aykley Heads Durham DH1 5TU Ifound them very helpful when I was looking for my Uncle CHARLES LEO COLLINS who died in 1917 RegardsPeter Collins Cheltenham UK

I sent off for my grandfathers death certificate thinking that it would give a cause of death, but it just said 'Killed in France' I knew more than that from family and the Commonwealth War Graves site so I was very disappointed and felt that I'd been cheated out of my £7. I don't know if I was just unlucky maybe because your great uncle didn't actually die in battle you might have more luck than me, and like you I think that 'my' records must be amongst the burnt ones as I've not had any luck there either. Margaret -----Original Message----- From: northumbria-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:northumbria-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Vivienne Simmons Sent: 10 November 2009 15:32 To: northumbria@rootsweb.com Subject: [NMB] WWI: Death of a Soldier My g-uncle served with the Durham Light Infantry in WWI, and died in Germany in 1915. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate his service records, so they're probably among those that were burnt. I have, however, found his death registration in the GRO War Death indices. Family recollection is that my g-uncle didn't die in battle. The story is that he was off-duty and having a bit of a laugh with some other off-duty soldiers. He was lying on his stomach in a trench, opening a parcel from home, when he was shot in the buttocks by a stray bullet. He was taken away by stretcher, laughing and waving at his friends, and that is the last we know about him. I'd like to be able to confirm the story, and to know why my g-uncle died from what was, apparently, a non-life-threatening wound. My question is whether it's worth getting the death certificate. Is it likely to tell me more about where and of what my uncle died? Thanks. Vivienne Toronto The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message