Hello
I have just transcribed the modern (post 1975) grave stones at Wem, Shropshire, one of which relates to a 34 year old Royal Engineer, Alan WILSON who died at Stoke-on-Trent on 7th May 1999.
If anyone lives in the Stoke-on-Trent area and is able to look up a newspaper report of his death / inquest I would be grateful to know the basic circumstances, possibly Died of Wounds or some other cause, so that I can add a line of explanation to the gravestone transcript.
The family had the Royal Engineers motif engraved on the head stone so there is obviously a strong connection.
Mike
mike {at} mjhulme.fsnet.co.uk
Correction to above :
only if he died when in the service...
MM
Hello Morrisonman
Thank you for that. I guess this suggests that his death was not connected with his military career but there must be a reason why the family put the Royal Engineers motif on his grave stone.
Mike
I agree !
Firstly, the sappers are a right clan ! Secondly, the family were probably very proud of his service.
If he did not get recognised by the army (for example), this was perhaps their way to record said pride...
I guess (BTW...) that we are at least partly discussing Living People ?
I have sappers in the family (You Guessed !) - in fact only last week received some historic stuff about the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham (just up from the Historic Dockyard).
Here is a link that might be of interest : http://www.re-museum.co.uk/
Kind regards,
morrison_man
(always lurking somewhere...)
One would expect to find him on the Roll of Honour at the National Arboretum, but it is not the case.
(however, he does have a namesake/homonym in the Sappers)
cf. http://www.veterans-uk.info/afm2/roll-of-honour.php?SerialNo=X8413
MM