MOD War Detectives (the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre Commemorations team): our future services, current appeals and past cases

Upcoming ofServices:

Tuesday services22 taking place in early October added

20 August 2026

Details of services in September and early October added

17 July 2026

Details

• 10.30am of– pasta servicesrededication deleted.

• 13 July 2026

  Details of past services removed, and links to news stories added.

• 4 June 2026

  Past services deleted, details of upcoming services added. Links to news stories about past services added.

• 19 May 2026

  Removal of one service which has already happened, addition of details of one new service, and link to a news story for aPrivate previousGeorge service.

• 6Pert May 2026

  Details of pastthe services7th removed,Battalion futureThe servicesSeaforth addedHighlanders andwho linkswas tokilled news stories about past services added.

• 24 April 2026

  Details of past services removed, and links to press releases added

• 13 April 2026

  Details of services taking place in Mayaction 2026 have been added

• 7 April 2026

  Change to time of afternoon service on Wednesday20 22October April

• 301918. MarchThis 2026

  Details of services which have already happened have been removed, and links to press releases have been added.

• 23 March 2026

  Details added of services in April 2026

• 19 February 2026

  The time of the service atwill Warhemtake on 25 March was changed.

• 17 February 2026

  Added details of services taking place inat MarchHarlebeke 2026

• 5 December 2025

  Notice added about 2026 services Links added for press releases about services in late-2025

• 29 October 2025

  New servicesBritish added,Cemetery, past services removedBelgium

• 13

• 2pm October– 2025

  Detailsa ofrededication new services added

• 2 October 2025

  Details of past services removed

• 12 September 2025

  Addition of service dates for OctoberSecond 2025

• 15Lieutenant AugustFrank 2025

  AddedFleming details of services4th inBattalion September

• 17(attached July7th 2025

  LinkBattalion) toThe PressSeaforth ReleaseHighlanders, aboutwho awas previouskilled service added

• 16 July 2025

  Details of services which have happened removed, and links to press releases added.

• 2 July 2025

  Added latest news stories.

• 19 June 2025

  Edited for clarity around the soldiers to be buried on 16 July

• 17 June 2025

  Added details of services in July

• 16action June 2025

  Links to press releases for past services added

• 14 May 2025

  Details of June services added Link to press release for a previous service added

• 12 May 2025

  Link to previous services press release added

• 14 April 2025

  Change to time of service on 29 April - was 2.30pm, now 3pm

• 11 April 2025

  Addition1918. ofThis detailsservice of forthcomingwill services

• 28take Marchplace 2025

  Detailsat ofVoormezeele pastEnclosure servicesNo.3, removed Links to press releases for past services addedBelgium

• 25 March 2025

  Links to Press Releases relating to past services added.

• 11 March 2025

  Addition of dates for services in March & April 2025

• 3 January 2025

  Link added to past service

• 11 November 2024

  Past services have been removed and details of upcoming services added. Links

Thursday to24 press releases for past services have been added.

1 October 2024

Edited to remove details of services which have already happened

13 September 2024

Added:2026

• 11am details– of October services.

• 19 August 2024

  Details of services in Netherlands added

• 22 July 2024

  Details of past services removed, and links to the news stories for those services added.

• 16 July 2024

  Information about a burial service onfor 26Private SeptemberGeorge added.Fleming ThisBrock service is expected to attract a high level of interest and thereforePrivate CommonwealthPercy WarTodd, Gravesboth Commission is running a free ballot to allocate tickets.

• 9 July 2024

  Details of June11th servicesBattalion removed,The andArgyll links& addedSutherland toHighlanders, theas newswell storiesas fortwo thoseunknown services.

• 18 June 2024

  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

• 30 May 2024

  More detail has been added about the soldiers being buried on 20 June

• 29 May 2024

  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.

• 17 May 2024

  The serviceGordon forHighlanders, Pte Birch on 23 May 2024 has been cancelled and thereforea detailsfurther weretwo removedunknown fromScottish thissoldiers. page.

• 22These Aprilmen 2024

  Detailsare ofall Aprilthought Services removed. Details of May services added. Links to past services updated.

• 22 March 2024

  Details of March 2024 services removed, and April 2024 services added

• 6 February 2024

  Details of March 2024 services have beenlost added.

• 13their Novemberlives 2023

  Noteduring addedthe thatSpring noOffensive further services are planned in 2023

• 71918. NovemberThis 2023

  Update to the services of 8th and 9th November.

• 2 November 2023

  Addition of link to latest commemorative service

• 30 Octoberwill 2023

  Linkstake addedplace toat newsPoint storiesdu aboutJour servicesCemetery, in Belgium on 25 & 26 October 2023

  France.
• 16

Tuesday October29 2023

AddedSeptember

• 11am details– ofa servicesrededication in November 2023

• 9 October 2023

  Details of service on 31 October 2023 added.

• 6 October 2023

  Updated page with details of past services

• 5 October 2023

  Links added for detailsPrivate ofGeorge pastChapman services

• 3 October 2023

  Details of the1st SeptemberBattalion servicesThe wereHerefordshire removedRegiment, andwho detailswas ofkilled forthcoming services in Octoberaction wereon added.

• 1830 SeptemberJuly 2023

  Details1944. ofThis an additional blessing service added

• 24will Augusttake 2023

  Addedplace detailsat ofSt servicesCharles-de-Percy inWar lateCemetery, September.

  France.
• 21

Wednesday August30 2023

Added details of services planned for mid-September

2 August 2023

Details of early September

• 10am 2023– services included

• 29 June 2023

  Update for September services.

• 23 June 2023

  Added a linkrededication to the service held on 21 June 2023 in France

• 21 June 2023

  Derails of service for 20Private JuneVincent 2023Coia included.

• 2 June 2023

  Included an update to provide details of the7th servicesBattalion forThe JuneSeaforth 2023

• 26Highlanders Maywho 2023

  Linkswas tokilled the three May services included.

• 20 April 2023

  Details of this week's services have been moved from "Forthcoming Services" to "Past Cases" with links to news releases

• 17 April 2023

  Details of 3 more burial/rededication ceremonies added.

• 29 March 2023

  Future services removed/updated and details of March Services included in 'Ouraction Past Services'.

• 28 March 2023

  Updated with details of two past services from March 2023.

• 13 March 2023

  Details of services on 1811 and 19 April have been added.

• 27 February 2023

  Details of three new rededication services added.

• 20 January 2023

  Details of an appeal for family have been added.

• 9 November 2022

  Included details of the services to be held on 17 November 2022.

• 8 November 2022

  Details of rededication of a Sheffield solider being laid to rest 105 years after his death added to past services.

• 24 October 2022

  Details of an additional service have been added. Details of "forthcoming services" have now been added to "past cases".

• 30 September 2022

  Details of "forthcoming service" deleted and link to report added to "past cases".

• 29 September 2022

  Details of additional services have been added. "Forthcoming services" which have now passed have been deleted and links to news items added.

• 21 September 2022

  Details of "forthcoming services" that have happened have been removed.

• 6 September 2022

  Details of further 4 services added.

• 23 August 2022

  Details of forthcoming services added.

• 20 July 2022

  Details1944. ofThis "Forthcoming case" changed to "Past Case"

• 19 July 2022

  Details of two "forthcoming services" changed to "past cases" with link to news item.

• 13 July 2022

  Details of forthcoming services added.

• 30 June 2022

  Details of "forthcoming" services moved to "past" cases with link to news release.

• 29 June 2022

  Details of "forthcoming" services moved to "past cases".

• 22 June 2022

  Details of two services removed from "forthcoming" and transferred to "past cases" with associated link.

• 21 June 2022

  Details of forthcoming services changed to past cases with links to news reports.

• 20 June 2022

  Additional information on the service towill betake heldplace at NewBayeux IrishWar FarmCemetery, cemetery on 30 June 2022.France.

• 30

• 10.45am May– 2022

  Detailsa of rededication service moved from "forthcoming events" to "past cases".

• 25 May 2022

  Addition of 3 more Forthcoming Services.

• 19 May 2022

  Details of 2 rededication services have been moved from "future" to "past" events.

• 19 May 2022

  Details of two rededication services moved from "forthcoming" to "past" services.

• 9 May 2022

  Details of another 5 rededication services added.

• 5 May 2022

  A "Forthcoming Service" has now become a "Past Service". Updated accordingly.

• 29 April 2022

  Details of a "Forthcoming Service" now changed to "Past Case".

• 28 April 2022

  Details of recent ceremony removed from "Forthcoming Services". Link added to details of news release.

• 11 April 2022

  Details of "Forthcoming Services" for MayLance 2022Corporal published.

• 7Reginald AprilCyril 2022

  DetailsDewey of ceremonies4th that Battalion haveThe nowLincolnshire takenRegiment placewho havewas beenkilled removed from "Forthcoming Ceremonies" and moved to "Past Cases".

• 28 March 2022

  Details of services that have now taken place have been removed.

• 11 March 2022

  Details of "Forthcoming Services" now changed to "Our Past Cases".

• 22 February 2022

  Details of 3 x April 2022 rededication services

• 14 February 2022

  Details of 4 additional rededication services in Belgiumaction on 221 MarchJuly 2022.

• 71944. FebruaryThis 2022

  Adding details of an additional 5 rededication services

• 24 January 2022

  Addition of forthcoming events

• 14 January 2022

  Update to appeals section

• 10 January 2022

  New appeal for WW1 casualty's family launched.

• 18 November 2021

  Details of today's service removedwill andtake linkplace toat newsBayeux releaseWar aboutCemetery, it added.France.

• 11

Thursday November1 2021

Additional information on forthcoming service.

29 October

• 10am 2021

  Details– ofa completed rededication services now deleted from Forthcoming Services section. Links to recent service reportsfor added.

• 19Serjeant OctoberFrederick 2021

  DetailsAlbert ofHarrison additional military funeral November 2021.

• 6 October 2021

  Details of 31st moreBattalion commemorativeThe funeralsDorsetshire published. LinkRegiment insertedwho towas "previouskilled cases"in toaction newson  item19 aboutJune Royal1944. FlyingThis Corpsservice casualty.

• 28will Septembertake 2021

  Removedplace detailsat ofHottot-les-Bagues ceremonialWar servicesCemetery, that have now taken place.

• 23 September 2021

  Change to COVID restrictions in France.

• 21

• 2pm September– 2021

  Detailsa ofrededication additional service uploaded.

• 14 September 2021

  Statement regarding ceremonial burials - Autumn 2021

• 11 May 2021

  Family appeal deleted as appeal has been successful.

• 7 April 2021

  New appeal for familyCorporal addedHenry andThomas previousRead one deleted.

• 24 February 2021

  Inserting corrected email address; DBS-MODWarDetectives@mod.gov.uk

• 24 February 2021

  Added an appeal for family under the 'current appeals' heading.

• 13 October 2020

  Notification of cancellation8th ofBattalion theThe restRifle ofBrigade 2020who burialwas andkilled rededicationin ceremonies.

• 5action Octoberon 2020

  Notification of further cancellations

• 2 October 2020

  Deleting details of services that have had to be posponed.

• 18 SeptemberJuly 2020

  Changing1944. calendarThis ofservice events

• 13will Augusttake 2020

  Detailsplace ofat additionalRanville ceremoniesWar added

• 7Cemetery, May 2020

  Change to dates of when services may resume.France.

• 16 March 2020

  Cancellation of all scheduled services due to COVID-19

• 26 February 2020

  Changes to details of appeals and services.

• 19 February 2020

  We have added details of additional services and appeals

• 22 January 2020

  To add details of future services

• 3 December 2019

  Deleted details of services that have now taken place,

• 26 September 2019

  First published.

Upcoming Services:

Tuesday 6 October

• 11am - A rededication service for Private Sidney Allen of the 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment who was killed in action on 15 February 1945. This service will take place at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

• 2pm – A rededication service for Lance Corporal Ronald Smirthwaite of the Hallamshire Battalion, The York & Lancaster Regiment who was killed in action on 22 February 1945. This service will take place at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Wednesday 7 October

• 11am – A rededication service for members of the crew of Lancaster PD374:  Flying Officer Leslie Markland Hough RAAF, Pilot Officer John Henry Tales RAFVR, Sergeant Henry Charles Burnside RAFVR and Sergeant John Lawson RAFVR who were killed in action on 8 December 1944. This service will take place at Venray War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Tuesday 13 October

• 2pm – A burial service for Lance Corporal Claude Stanley Dell of 5th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on 25 April 1915. This service will take place at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium.

Wednesday 14 October

• 2pm – A burial service for an unknown soldier of the West Yorkshire Regiment. This service will take place at Serre Road No. 2 Cemetery, France.

Tuesday 20 October 2026

• 1pm – A burial service for Private George McIntosh of 8th Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, who was killed in action on 19 April 1917, and an unknown soldier of The Bedfordshire Regiment. This service will take place at Loos British Cemetery Extension, France.

Wednesday 21 October 2026

• 11am – A burial service for Private Percy Tolliday of 11th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in action on 4 October 1916, and 2 unknown soldiers. This service will take place at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France.

We usually post details of our services here and to our Facebook page (MOD War Detectives) around one month in advance.

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:

• Grave of Guilford soldier missing since 1918 identified - GOV.UK

• Grave of Angus soldier missing since 1918 identified in Belgium - GOV.UK

• World War One soldier laid to rest on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

• Six World War One soldiers buried in Belgium

• Graves of missing World War One soldiers identified in Belgium

• Three soldiers killed during the First World War laid to rest

• Grave of officer missing since 1918 identified in France

• Yorkshire Pilot buried in France

• Unknown Lanarkshire soldier of World War Two named following new research

• Graves of two unknown World War One Officers named 111 years after their deaths

• Graves of two missing Lance Corporals from World War One identified in Belgium

• Grave of Great War soldier from Hampstead identified - GOV.UK

• DNA test identifies Essex soldier of the Great War - GOV.UK

• Grave of soldier missing since 1940 identified in Belgium

• Grave of officer missing since 1940 identified in France

• Grave of Shrewsbury soldier identified in France

• Graves of two Midlands soldiers of World War One identified in France

• Gurkhas lay to rest unknown war hero

• One of the first ‘unknown’ British soldiers of World War 1 identified in Belgium

• Graves of three previously unknown World War 1 soldiers identified in Belgium

• Graves of lost World War 1 Marines identified in France and Belgium

• Graves of missing Bedfordshire Officers identified in Belgium

• First World War soldier from Haslingden buried in France - GOV.UK

• Four First World War soldiers from Grimsby buried in France - GOV.UK

• British and German soldiers of the Great War laid to rest together near Ypres - GOV.UK

• Three members of RAF Lancaster Crew buried in the Netherlands - GOV.UK

• 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 soldier identified in Belgium - GOV.UK

• Grave of missing World War One soldier identified in France - GOV.UK

• Soldier of the Highland Light Infantry Rededicated in France

• Graves of four soldiers killed in 1940 identified in France

• Graves of three soldiers killed in Normandy identified

• Grave of missing World War One Captain identified in Belgium

• Grave of missing World War One CSM identified in Belgium

• Lost World War One soldier found in France

• Windsor soldier of World War One buried with full military honours

• Unknown soldiers buried in France

• Three ‘unknown’ soldiers of World War One finally found

• ‘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

• Graves of Lost Korean War soldiers identified

• Grave of lost World War Two soldier located in Italy

• Grave of missing World War Two soldier identified in Italy

• Grave of missing World War Two soldier identified in Italy 80 years after his death

• HRH The Princess Royal remembers fallen Scottish soldiers

• Graves of Royal Dublin Fusiliers located in Belgium

• 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

• World War One Soldiers Buried in France

• Two World War One Soldiers Buried in France

• Officer of the Cheshire Regiment killed in World War One laid to rest in France

• Dundee soldier buried with military honours in France

• Grave of Yorkshire Soldier identified in France

• 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 officer’s 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 officer’s 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

• Unknown WW2 British Soldier buried in Italy.

• Graves of Rifleman (Rfn) Albert George Sleet, Lieutenant (Lt) Wilfrid Ashton Piercy and Serjeant (Sjt) James Gration DCM rededicated in France.
• Graves of 2Lt Sam Hughes and CSM David Jones DCM rededicated in northern France
• Final resting place of Yorkshire Regiment soldier identified more than a century after his death
• Nine soldiers of the Great War buried a century after their deaths
• WW1 soldier identified by his medal ribbons laid to rest in the presence of his family
• Two unknown soldiers of the Great War finally buried
• Royal Flying Corps Observer’s grave finally identifed
• British soldiers killed during WW2 are honoured as they are laid to rest
• Services held for 2 Welsh brothers in arms killed during the Great War
• Grave of Royal Welsh Fusilier identified a century after his death in the Great War
• Family of World War 1 soldiers attend their relatives’ funeral a century after they gave their lives.

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