Re-reading the Saunders case more closely, it's now become apparent that it doesn't say he died in August 1917,
only that he joined the war that month. (So he died sometime between August '17 and November '18).
"He told my brother he had been killed in France, and my brother asked him when he had gone out. He replied that he had gone
with the 'Big Draft in August 1917'. My brother asked him why he called it the Big Draft, and he said:
'Don't you remember the Big Draft, when the Colonel came on the parade ground and made a speech?' This reference was to a particularly large draft sent out to France that month (...)" (p. 90)
And a little later concerning the bit that Obiwan referred to: "(The Corporal) pulled (his diary) out of his pocket, and together they looked back until they came to records of 'B' Company during 1917. Sure enough, the name appeared there, Eric Saunders, f.q., August '17' with a red-ink line drawn through it; f.q stood for fully qualified, and, though my brother knew the meaning of the red-link line, he asked the Coporal what it meant. He replied: 'Don't you remember, Mr. Findlay, I always drew a line through the men's names when they went away. This shows that Saunders went out in August 1917.' (p. 91)
This other bit is also of interest: "Unfortunately my brother did not ask Saunders the name of his regiment, and consequently I could not trace his death, the War Office, without this information, being unable to supply me with any details beyond the fact that over 4,000 men of the name of Saunders fell in the War. Men came to Lowestoft from all over the country for training, so my brother had no record of Saunder's regiment." (p. 91)
Earlier in the chapter, p. 89, the deceased gave the name "Macnamara" as to the Company commander he was attached to during training.
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From this site:
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/research/milit...wealthdead
Quote:Soldiers and Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
A list of over 660,000 British soldiers (Other Ranks) who died during the Great War was compiled by the War Office and published by His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) in 1921. The list is contained within 80 volumes. The dates covered for casualties are from and including 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918. Casualties killed after the end of the war until 25 March 1921 are also included in the listing.
A list of over 41,000 officers who died in the Great War was published in one volume in 1919. The dates covered for casualties are from and including 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918. Casualties killed after the end of the war until 26 September 1919 are also included in the listing.
The record for an individual contained in this listing does not include the location of a grave. The record does usually contain the following information:- regiment, Corps, etc.
- battalion, or unit
- surname
- christian name(s)
- initials
- born
- enlisted
- residence
- service Number
- rank
- died how
- theatre of war
- died date
- supplementary notes
The listings for “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1918” can be consulted in person for free at the Imperial War Museum London (Department of Printed Books) or The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. The websites are given here to make appointments for visits and viewing:
Website: www.iwm.org.uk
Website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The following family history websites have this data listing to search (viewing is by subscription or pay as you go credits):
Website: www.ancestry.co.uk Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
Website: www.findmypast.co.uk Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
Website: www.forces-war-records.co.uk Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
The listing of “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1918” is available to buy on CD Rom. The 80 volumes have been captured as a digital database and can be purchased from the Naval & Military Press. (The CD Rom may be available on loan from a library.)
Website: www.naval-military-press.org
The listings for “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1918” can be consulted in person for free at the Imperial War Museum London (Department of Printed Books) or The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
So obviously one of the PQ UK members will have to travel to London and visit the War Museum this coming weekend. Waiting for your report.