The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: John Irving

The following casualty is listed on both Crieff & Selkirk War Memorials. It is the difference in his date of death that is puzzling me. His service papers survive on Ancestry and it posts him missing on 22nd August, 1917, which is the same information on the newspaper article. It then states later on his sheet Killed in action or died of wounds 4 - 17/10/17. Can anyone offer an explanation.

Name: IRVING, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 17/10/1917
Service No: S/19739
Additional information: Husband of Helen Bradley Graham (formerly Irving), of 11, Galvelmore St., Crieff, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 9.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 29.10.1917
FORMER CRIEFF GROCER MISSING

Mrs J. Irving, 9 Back Feus, Selkirk, has received official notification that her husband, Private John Irving, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, has been posted missing since 22nd August. Before enlisting Private Irving was for several years in the employment of Messrs D. & J. MacEwan & Co., Crieff, and latterly acted as manager of the Bridge of Allan branch of the same firm.

* ALSO COMMEMORATED ON SELKIRK WAR MEMORIAL

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Mark

In this case they do not know exactly when he died. It might be he was posted missing on 22nd August and it was later learnt that he died ( possibly as a POW ) behind the German lines.

The Army will have later recorded him as died on or between the two October dates. For " official " purposes his date of death has been recorded as the latter date of the period concerned, and this is the date used by CWGC.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks for reply.