Military Chat

I was led to believe that members of the Armed Forces were required to make a will before being sent on active service.
Did this apply to WW1 forces?
My gran´s brother was with the BEF, went to France on August 22nd 1914 & was killed a few days later at Mons. He was single & just 21.
No sign of a will for him in the recently released records.
Would he have left a will?.
I understand that his body was never recovered. Have all the details of his death from CWG site & have his Mons medal.
Don´t imagine he had much to leave, but a will might give a bit more info about the family

Have you seen this? Relates to soldiers wills.



https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/


The full article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23861821


George

Thanks George.
Will take a look

A soldiers pay book, AB64, in WW1 had a form for a will as the back page. It was recommended that a soldier filled this in and handed it to his Commanding Officer before embarking on active service, but it wasn't compulsory. Bob

Thanks Bob.
As he was shot to bits at Mons & his body was never located, even if he had a will on him, it would never have been found.
In the event he was a single man, his parents were both dead, so I suppose that he would have had no one to leave anything to, even supposing he had anything to leave, which seems very unlikely.

How do you no he was "shot to bits" if his body was never located/recovered, if he did make a will then it would have been lodged with his regimental headquarters and not taken into battle, As Bob said making a will was not compulsory.


Roy

I contacted the regiment of a Grt uncle who died at Ypres. They were very helpful, and I went to the memorial at Ypres, and found his name. A very moving place, and if you get the chance well worth a visit, They still perform the last post every night , so great to know that the soldiers are not forgotten , even after 100 years.