MOD War Detectives (the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre Commemorations team): our future services, current appeals and past cases
Find out about future services and what current appeals are ongoing.
Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mod-war-detectives-the-joint-casualty-and-compassionate-centre-commemorations-team-our-future-services-current-appeals-and-past-cases
Change description : 2025-10-02 09:13:00: Details of past services removed [Guidance and regulation]
Showing diff : 2025-09-12 08:43:59.190922350 +00:00..2025-10-02 08:13:14.707029632 +00:00
Find out about future services and what current appeals are ongoing.
2pm – A burial service for an unknown South African soldier. This service will take place at Wytschaete Military Cemetery, Belgium.
2pm – A burial service for Serjeant Richard Rounsley of 12th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry, who was killed in action on 5 October 1916, an unknown soldier of The Durham Light Infantry and an unknown soldier of an unknown regiment. This service will take place at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France.
10.30am – A burial service for
This service will take place at Loos British Cemetery Extension, France.
11am - A burial service for Pilot Officer Charles Sprack DFM, Pilot Officer Arthur Smart DFM, and Pilot Officer Raymond Moore D.F.M all of whom died on board Lancaster ED603 when it was lost in the Netherlands on the night of 12-13 June 1943. The service will take place at Workum (Spoordyk) General Cemetery.
2pm – A burial service for an unknown soldier of an unknown regiment at Vendresse British Cemetery, France.
1pm – A burial service for an unknown British soldier and an unknown German soldier at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.
2pm - A burial service for Private Arthur Cook, Private Robert Cullum, Private John Fraser and Private William London, all of 1/5 Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, who died on 5 May 1917. This service will take place at Loos British Cemetery Extension, France.
11am – A burial service for L/Cpl Frederick Ramsbottom of the 9th Bn Suffolk Regiment who died on 27 April 1917. This service will take place at Loos British Cemetery Extension, France.
3pm – A rededication service for CSM Reginald Clarence Rogers MM of 1st Bn Royal Marine Light Infantry, who died on 26 March 1918. This service will take place at Serre Road No.2 Cemetery, France.
11am – A rededication service for 2Lt Esmond Lawrence Kellie of 1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 19 April 1915. This service will take place at Railway Dugouts (Transport Farm) Cemetery, Belgium
1.30pm – A rededication service for 2Lt Thomas William Brogan of 2nd Bn Royal Marine Light Infantry who died on 26 October 1917. This service will take place at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.
3pm – A rededication service for 2Lt Eric Arthur Hopkins of 1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment who died on 5 May 1915. This service will take place at Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
There are no appeals outstanding at this time.
Details of some of the MOD War Detectives’ past cases can be found below:
Scottish soldiers buried in France on the 110th anniversary of their deaths - GOV.UK
Eight British soldiers of the Great War laid to rest in France - GOV.UK
Two World War One Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders commemorated in France - GOV.UK
Grave of missing World War One soldier identified in France - GOV.UK
Soldier of the Highland Light Infantry Rededicated in France
Grave of missing World War One Captain identified in Belgium
Windsor soldier of World War One buried with full military honours
‘Unknown’ soldier’s grave identified 107 years after his death
Grave of Missing Windsor Soldier of World War One Identified in Belgium
Grave of lost Scottish soldier of World War One identified in France
Grave of missing World War Two soldier identified in Italy 80 years after his death
Grave of missing soldier identified in Belgium nearly 110 years after his death
Graves of two World War 1 officers of The Royal Irish Fusiliers identified
Grave of Donegal soldier identified in France more than 100 years after his death
Graves of six soldiers of Welsh regiments identified on Western Front
Officer of the Cheshire Regiment killed in World War One laid to rest in France
Graves of five soldiers of the York and Lancaster Regiment identified on the Western Front
Grave of Derbyshire-born Royal Marine identified in the Netherlands
Three Great War soldiers buried with full military honours in Belgium
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
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
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
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 two Royal Naval Division officers rededicated in France
Unknown WW1 soldier identified as relative of poet Wordsworth.
Rededication services held in Belgium for Capt Hugh Travers, DSO, and Sjt Frederick Cardy.
Burial of Pte William Johnston and an unknown East Yorkshire Regiment soldier
Details of past services removed
Addition of service dates for October 2025
Added details of services in September
Link to Press Release about a previous service added
Details of services which have happened removed, and links to press releases added.
Added latest news stories.
Edited for clarity around the soldiers to be buried on 16 July
Added details of services in July
Links to press releases for past services added
Details of June services added Link to press release for a previous service added
Link to previous services press release added
Change to time of service on 29 April - was 2.30pm, now 3pm
Addition of details of forthcoming services
Details of past services removed Links to press releases for past services added
Links to Press Releases relating to past services added.
Addition of dates for services in March & April 2025
Link added to past service
Past services have been removed and details of upcoming services added. Links to press releases for past services have been added.
Edited to remove details of services which have already happened
Added: details of October services.
Details of services in Netherlands added
Details of past services removed, and links to the news stories for those services added.
Information about a burial service on 26 September added. This service is expected to attract a high level of interest and therefore Commonwealth War Graves Commission is running a free ballot to allocate tickets.
Details of June services removed, and links added to the news stories for those services.
Details of past service removed Time of service on 20 June changed Details of July services added Link to news story for recent service added
More detail has been added about the soldiers being buried on 20 June
Details of the May services were removed as they have now passed. Details added of forthcoming services in June. Links to more past cases added.
The service for Pte Birch on 23 May 2024 has been cancelled and therefore details were removed from this page.
Details of April Services removed. Details of May services added. Links to past services updated.
Details of March 2024 services removed, and April 2024 services added
Details of March 2024 services have been added.
Note added that no further services are planned in 2023
Update to the services of 8th and 9th November.
Addition of link to latest commemorative service
Links added to news stories about services in Belgium on 25 & 26 October 2023
Added details of services in November 2023
Details of service on 31 October 2023 added.
Updated page with details of past services
Links added for details of past services
Details of the September services were removed and details of forthcoming services in October were added.
Details of an additional blessing service added
Added details of services in late September.
Added details of services planned for mid-September
Details of early September 2023 services included
Update for September services.
Added a link to the service held on 21 June 2023 in France
Derails of service for 20 June 2023 included.
Included an update to provide details of the services for June 2023
Links to the three May services included.
Details of this week's services have been moved from "Forthcoming Services" to "Past Cases" with links to news releases
Details of 3 more burial/rededication ceremonies added.
Future services removed/updated and details of March Services included in 'Our Past Services'.
Updated with details of two past services from March 2023.
Details of services on 18 and 19 April have been added.
Details of three new rededication services added.
Details of an appeal for family have been added.
Included details of the services to be held on 17 November 2022.
Details of rededication of a Sheffield solider being laid to rest 105 years after his death added to past services.
Details of an additional service have been added. Details of "forthcoming services" have now been added to "past cases".
Details of "forthcoming service" deleted and link to report added to "past cases".
Details of additional services have been added. "Forthcoming services" which have now passed have been deleted and links to news items added.
Details of "forthcoming services" that have happened have been removed.
Details of further 4 services added.
Details of forthcoming services added.
Details of "Forthcoming case" changed to "Past Case"
Details of two "forthcoming services" changed to "past cases" with link to news item.
Details of forthcoming services added.
Details of "forthcoming" services moved to "past" cases with link to news release.
Details of "forthcoming" services moved to "past cases".
Details of two services removed from "forthcoming" and transferred to "past cases" with associated link.
Details of forthcoming services changed to past cases with links to news reports.
Additional information on the service to be held at New Irish Farm cemetery on 30 June 2022.
Details of rededication service moved from "forthcoming events" to "past cases".
Addition of 3 more Forthcoming Services.
Details of 2 rededication services have been moved from "future" to "past" events.
Details of two rededication services moved from "forthcoming" to "past" services.
Details of another 5 rededication services added.
A "Forthcoming Service" has now become a "Past Service". Updated accordingly.
Details of a "Forthcoming Service" now changed to "Past Case".
Details of recent ceremony removed from "Forthcoming Services". Link added to details of news release.
Details of "Forthcoming Services" for May 2022 published.
Details of ceremonies that have now taken place have been removed from "Forthcoming Ceremonies" and moved to "Past Cases".
Details of services that have now taken place have been removed.
Details of "Forthcoming Services" now changed to "Our Past Cases".
Details of 3 x April 2022 rededication services
Details of 4 additional rededication services in Belgium on 22 March 2022.
Adding details of an additional 5 rededication services
Addition of forthcoming events
Update to appeals section
New appeal for WW1 casualty's family launched.
Details of today's service removed and link to news release about it added.
Additional information on forthcoming service.
Details of completed services now deleted from Forthcoming Services section. Links to recent service reports added.
Details of additional military funeral November 2021.
Details of 3 more commemorative funerals published. Link inserted to "previous cases" to news item about Royal Flying Corps casualty.
Removed details of ceremonial services that have now taken place.
Change to COVID restrictions in France.
Details of additional service uploaded.
Statement regarding ceremonial burials - Autumn 2021
Family appeal deleted as appeal has been successful.
New appeal for family added and previous one deleted.
Inserting corrected email address; DBS-MODWarDetectives@mod.gov.uk
Added an appeal for family under the 'current appeals' heading.
Notification of cancellation of the rest of 2020 burial and rededication ceremonies.
Notification of further cancellations
Deleting details of services that have had to be posponed.
Changing calendar of events
Details of additional ceremonies added
Change to dates of when services may resume.
Cancellation of all scheduled services due to COVID-19
Changes to details of appeals and services.
We have added details of additional services and appeals
To add details of future services
Deleted details of services that have now taken place,
First published.
2025-10-13 10:07
Details of new services added
2025-10-02 09:13
Details of past services removed
2025-09-12 09:43
Addition of service dates for October 2025
2025-08-15 11:14
Added details of services in September
2025-07-17 13:25
Link to Press Release about a previous service added
2025-07-16 09:04
Details of services which have happened removed, and links to press releases added.
2025-07-02 12:17
Added latest news stories.
2025-06-19 11:06
Edited for clarity around the soldiers to be buried on 16 July
2025-06-17 08:41
Added details of services in July
2025-06-16 15:40
Links to press releases for past services added
2025-05-14 09:00
Details of June services addedLink to press release for a previous service added
2025-05-12 10:37
Link to previous services press release added
2025-04-14 13:36
Change to time of service on 29 April – was 2.30pm, now 3pm
2025-04-11 10:36
Addition of details of forthcoming services
2025-03-28 12:34
Details of past services removedLinks to press releases for past services added
2025-03-25 08:40
Links to Press Releases relating to past services added.
2025-03-11 08:38
Addition of dates for services in March & April 2025
2025-01-03 10:58
Link added to past service
2024-11-11 10:11
Past services have been removed and details of upcoming services added.Links to press releases for past services have been added.
2024-10-01 09:03
Edited to remove details of services which have already happened
2024-09-13 10:06
Added: details of October services.
2024-08-19 08:36
Details of services in Netherlands added
2024-07-22 08:52
Details of past services removed, and links to the news stories for those services added.
2024-07-16 09:53
Information about a burial service on 26 September added. This service is expected to attract a high level of interest and therefore Commonwealth War Graves Commission is running a free ballot to allocate tickets.
2024-07-09 15:08
Details of June services removed, and links added to the news stories for those services.
2024-06-18 12:31
Details of past service removedTime of service on 20 June changedDetails of July services addedLink to news story for recent service added
2024-05-30 10:59
More detail has been added about the soldiers being buried on 20 June
2024-05-29 15:23
Details of the May services were removed as they have now passed. Details added of forthcoming services in June. Links to more past cases added.
2024-05-17 08:59
The service for Pte Birch on 23 May 2024 has been cancelled and therefore details were removed from this page.
2024-04-22 08:55
Details of April Services removed. Details of May services added. Links to past services updated.
2024-03-22 15:25
Details of March 2024 services removed, and April 2024 services added
2024-02-06 10:22
Details of March 2024 services have been added.
2023-11-13 11:28
Note added that no further services are planned in 2023
2023-11-07 13:51
Update to the services of 8th and 9th November.
2023-11-02 11:45
Addition of link to latest commemorative service
2023-10-30 12:05
Links added to news stories about services in Belgium on 25 & 26 October 2023
2023-10-16 13:47
Added details of services in November 2023
2023-10-09 10:53
Details of service on 31 October 2023 added.
2023-10-06 10:26
Updated page with details of past services
2023-10-05 09:01
Links added for details of past services
2023-10-03 08:47
Details of the September services were removed and details of forthcoming services in October were added.
2023-08-24 09:25
Added details of services in late September.
2023-08-21 10:41
Added details of services planned for mid-September
2023-08-02 10:51
Details of early September 2023 services included
2023-06-29 11:37
Update for September services.
2023-06-23 13:57
Added a link to the service held on 21 June 2023 in France
2023-06-21 15:25
Derails of service for 20 June 2023 included.
2023-06-02 12:30
Included an update to provide details of the services for June 2023
2023-05-26 10:41
Links to the three May services included.
2023-04-20 11:55
Details of this week’s services have been moved from “Forthcoming Services” to “Past Cases” with links to news releases
2023-04-17 09:58
Details of 3 more burial/rededication ceremonies added.
2023-03-29 11:48
Future services removed/updated and details of March Services included in ‘Our Past Services’.
2023-03-28 12:45
Updated with details of two past services from March 2023.
2023-03-13 13:47
Details of services on 18 and 19 April have been added.
2023-02-27 15:16
Details of three new rededication services added.
2023-01-20 14:08
Details of an appeal for family have been added.
2022-11-09 15:29
Included details of the services to be held on 17 November 2022.
2022-11-08 15:06
Details of rededication of a Sheffield solider being laid to rest 105 years after his death added to past services.
2022-10-24 16:40
Details of an additional service have been added. Details of “forthcoming services” have now been added to “past cases”.
2022-09-30 11:35
Details of “forthcoming service” deleted and link to report added to “past cases”.
2022-09-29 15:02
Details of additional services have been added. “Forthcoming services” which have now passed have been deleted and links to news items added.
2022-09-21 12:25
Details of “forthcoming services” that have happened have been removed.
2022-09-06 15:53
Details of further 4 services added.
2022-08-23 10:50
Details of forthcoming services added.
2022-07-20 16:07
Details of “Forthcoming case” changed to “Past Case”
2022-07-19 15:44
Details of two “forthcoming services” changed to “past cases” with link to news item.
2022-07-13 14:32
Details of forthcoming services added.
2022-06-30 16:27
Details of “forthcoming” services moved to “past” cases with link to news release.
2022-06-29 14:32
Details of “forthcoming” services moved to “past cases”.
2022-06-22 17:13
Details of two services removed from “forthcoming” and transferred to “past cases” with associated link.
2022-06-21 16:31
Details of forthcoming services changed to past cases with links to news reports.
2022-06-20 15:38
Additional information on the service to be held at New Irish Farm cemetery on 30 June 2022.
2022-05-30 11:10
Details of rededication service moved from “forthcoming events” to “past cases”.
2022-05-25 13:52
Addition of 3 more Forthcoming Services.
2022-05-19 17:10
Details of 2 rededication services have been moved from “future” to “past” events.
2022-05-19 15:43
Details of two rededication services moved from “forthcoming” to “past” services.
2022-05-09 14:57
Details of another 5 rededication services added.
2022-05-05 13:31
A “Forthcoming Service” has now become a “Past Service”. Updated accordingly.
2022-04-29 15:18
Details of a “Forthcoming Service” now changed to “Past Case”.
2022-04-28 12:45
Details of recent ceremony removed from “Forthcoming Services”.Link added to details of news release.
2022-04-11 13:23
Details of “Forthcoming Services” for May 2022 published.
2022-04-07 10:46
Details of ceremonies that have now taken place have been removed from “Forthcoming Ceremonies” and moved to “Past Cases”.
2022-03-28 11:26
Details of services that have now taken place have been removed.
2022-03-11 12:55
Details of “Forthcoming Services” now changed to “Our Past Cases”.
2022-02-22 15:15
Details of 3 x April 2022 rededication services