Donate SIGN UP

This Is One Desperate And Final Attempt To Put Into Motion My Mother's Greatest Wish.

Avatar Image
gl556tr | 19:32 Mon 30th Oct 2017 | Family Life
6 Answers
** But I do not know exactly where to place this request **

My mother's step-brother was around 15 years her senior. Whilst she was starting school, he'd joined the Army and went to India - for five years of duty. Almost having completed his stint, he was kicked in the stomach during a football match and died the following day in the Army hospital. It was 23rd December 1932. Imagine his mother's grief at receiving such grim tidings on Christmas Eve with a briefly-worded telegram.

Because he did not die 'in action', his body was not returned to UK, neither was it placed in a war grave. Instead, he was laid to rest in a adjoining cemetery.
I have managed to find the plot where his grave is, having received a plan of the Rawalpindi (now Pakistan) from records years ago.
Over the years, my now-elderly mother has ceaselessly expressed her keen desire to have her step-brother repatriated.

Does anybody, here or with contacts in Rawalpindi, know how one could possibly arrange such a task? This would make my mother so very happy.

Thank you.
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by gl556tr. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Perhaps you need to start with the embassy.
I just did a google and if you search on repatriating a body to the UK there are quite a few links including a .gov one. You might also ask the British Legion if you haven't already. Being strictly practical, and especially in that climate, there won't be much body left...could you perhaps visit the plot, or send a representative to bring back some earth from the grave?
perhaps SSAFA could help you x
the British Embassy would be good starting place. Perhaps you could write to the War Graves Commission. I know you said he is not in a war grave, but they might have information about the process. Looking on line there are funeral directors that can repatriate bodies buried in the UK to other countries, it might be worth asking if they know of anyone that does it in from other countries back to the UkI
Can't give any advice, but just wanted to say that it's a lovely thing that you are doing for your mum.

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Do you know the answer?

This Is One Desperate And Final Attempt To Put Into Motion My Mother's Greatest Wish.

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.