GovWire

Our future services, current appeals and past cases

The following cases are planned to take place in May 2024:

14 May

• 15:30 A rededication service for L/Cpl Edward Smith of the 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers who died on 7 December 1916. This service will be held at Courcelles-au-Bois Communal Cemetery Extension, France

15 May

• 10:30 A burial service for Pte David Valentine Gemmell of the 1st Bn Black Watch, and an unknown Scottish soldier. The service will be held at Woburn Abbey Cemetery, France.

22 May

• 11:00 A burial service for 2/Lt James Greenhalgh of 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment and two unknown soldiers. The service will be held at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, France.

23 May

• 10:30 - A burial service for Pte Harry James Birtch of 16th Bn Cheshire Regiment and four unknown soldiers. The service will be held at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.

Appeals for family

There are no appeals outstanding at this time.

Our Past Cases

Details of some of the MOD War Detectives past cases can be found below:

• Graves of five soldiers of the York and Lancaster Regiment identified on the Western Front

• Graves of two World War One soldiers identified in France

• Graves of lost World War One soldiers identified in Belgium

• Grave of Yorkshire Soldier identified in Belgium

• Grave of Derbyshire-born Royal Marine identified in the Netherlands

• Graves of two Glasgow soldiers rediscovered in Belgium

• Three Great War soldiers buried with full military honours in Belgium

• Graves of Two Scottish Soldiers Rededicated in France

• Remains of Coldstream Guards missing since 1944 found in France

• Grave of Wolverhampton soldier killed in Normandy during World War Two identified

• Graves of three comrades killed in Normandy following D-Day identified

• Three Great War soldiers buried in Belgium

• Three Great War soldiers buried in France

• Soldier killed on the Somme buried more than 100 years after his death

• Ceremony for World War 2 airman identified 83 years after fatal flight

• Remains of World War 1 airman finally identified

• World War 1 stretcher bearer buried in Belgium

• Graves of two soldiers of the Great War rededicated in France

• Soldiers who fell in France a generation apart honoured in graveside ceremonies

• Graves of two officers missing since 1918 rededicated in France

• Grave of a Worcestershire Soldier Identified in Belgium

• Graves of two soldiers killed in northern France rededicated

• Sheffield soldier of the Great War laid to rest 105 years after his death

• Graves of six Great War soldiers rededicated

• British airman laid to rest 78 years after fatal flight

• WW2 airman buried in the Netherlands

• WW2 burial in the Netherlands

• Unknown Grenadier Guard finally laid to rest

• Graves of two Royal Naval Division officers rededicated in France

• Seven soldiers of the Great War finally laid to rest

• WW1 Royal Air Force officers grave rededicated.

• Two Great War RAF officers graves rededicated.

• Graves of two Great War casualties finally rededicated.

• Unknown WW1 soldier identified as relative of poet Wordsworth.

• WW2 officers grave rededicated in France.

• Rededication services held in Belgium for Capt Hugh Travers, DSO, and Sjt Frederick Cardy.

• Rededication services in France for Lieutenant (Lt) Frederic Hornby Lever Rushton MC and Private (Pte) John Martin Roberts.

• Burial of Pte William Johnston and an unknown East Yorkshire Regiment soldier

• Blessing service in Italy for Flying Officer Arnold Hallas

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