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Somme
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Somme |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan 
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. I recently purchased a picture of a British Captain who it is said died in the Somme Battle in 1916. His name on the back looks like: R "Hememan" or "Hememon" in ink. Where on the internet can I find an officers' casualty list where I can begin my search to identify who he was? There's also initials which seem to pertain to his unit which look like "M H(?)'s". John . |
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Grinch Member Elite
since 2005-12-31
Posts 2929Whoville |
I couldn't find the name but try different possible spelling variants. http://www.military-genealogy.com/ I'll keep looking |
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Grinch Member Elite
since 2005-12-31
Posts 2929Whoville |
This may be worth a punt: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/ |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
Dear John, You may be able to find casualty lists of British Soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme. I have some thoughts which may or may not be helpful. First, you might see if The Imperial War Museum has a web site. Given the depth of information they have on, say, Waterloo, they may have a similar depth and richness of information in The Somme. Second, examine the uniform closely and see if you can tell exactly which markings it might carry. Some of the people at the Imperial War museum may be able to help you track down Regiment by some of the markings on the uniform, or even by details on the tie, if it is visible. These are sometimes distinctive. Third, do not go in with the assumption that that your Captain must be English. There were a lot of Commonwealth soldiers involved, and your Captain may have come from New Zealand or even Ireland, which sent an enormous number of troops to fight for Great Britain during World War I; many more, I believe, that rose against it during the Easter 1916 rebellion. Given the difficulty of the name, the possibility of a South African Captain might be taken into account. If The Imperial War Museum doesn't have casualty lists, and can't help you identify regiment, I'm uncertain where to go, but they might be able to help steer you toward other sources. Some of the Regiments were "Pals" Regiments, where the ranks were filled out by groups of friends from similar social or occupational groups from a single geographic area. Most of those, I believe, came later in the war, but I'm really not all that sure of myself here. I believe that the officers were moved from regular army ranks, however. I hope some of these odd directions might prove helpful for research directions. Sincerely, Bob Kaven |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Harrison and Hankinson were the nearest I could come. A shame that, with all of the deaths in that battle, corporal Hitler was not one. |
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Grinch Member Elite
since 2005-12-31
Posts 2929Whoville |
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Grinch Member Elite
since 2005-12-31
Posts 2929Whoville |
If he was at Mametz on 1st July 1916 your search gets a little smaller: "A few kilometres to the east 7th Division were preparing to capture Mametz using an assault force of 5 battalions. From left to right these were the 2nd Border, 9th Devonshire, 2nd Gordons, 1st South Staffordshire and 22nd Manchester." I'd concentrate on the 22nd Manchester |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
This crossed my mind as I was thinking about that brutal meat-grinder of a battle. Somme, like it not. It's like a giant slap in the face, even after almost a hundred years. I can't believe that all those people died there. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. " I can't believe that all those people died there." While I can't believe Haig was honored after. . |
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