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General enquiry re forces wills

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Pauline

Pauline Report 24 Oct 2013 23:44

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.

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 20 Oct 2013 16:09

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

wisechild

wisechild Report 20 Oct 2013 14:52

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.

Denburybob

Denburybob Report 20 Oct 2013 13:25

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

wisechild

wisechild Report 8 Oct 2013 13:21

Thanks George.
Will take a look

George_of_Westbury

George_of_Westbury Report 8 Oct 2013 13:11

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

Researching:
My avatar is that of my Dad and shipmates, taken onboard HMS Blanche in 1938, place unknown From left to right, my Dad,Sidney Mellor and Sidney Bateman.

wisechild

wisechild Report 8 Oct 2013 13:04

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