Progress with research

[Tim Bell]

JCCC now deals with Adjudication of non com cases, instead of NAM.  There are @ 300 cases that have been decided including some rejections - including Arthur Cole. We're waiting for 274 approved cases to be published by CWGC, some of which should be Manchester Regiment.  Being 'patient' for up to three years on these cases may be coming to an end 'soon'.

[Tim Bell]

Manchester City Council charge for burial records and the website will not let us buy credits.  Is there anyone out there who may be able to go to the Local Studies Collection at Central Library please??

We need a photo of the burial register page for for Herbert Massey, died 15/12/1918 and John Thomas Kirby, died 08/11/1918.  Both at Phillips Park Cemetery.

These are recent commemorations in UKBOR who will be moved to Brookwood 1914-18 if we can't prove the burials that are published on Ancestry.

Fingers Crossed.

Tim

*UPDATE*
I now have the burial registers, courtesy daughter no 3.

[Tim Bell]

I made a comment on one of the new commemorations that CWGC are no longer publishing, age, next of kin (NoK) and basic addres / home town.  There has been quite a lot of turmoil in the background due to my efforts to see NoK and basic address reinstated for new commemorations from Sept 2022 onwards.
CWGC tell me that they cannot know the soldier's choice of NoK at the time of their death and it is not appropriate for 3rd parties to decide this.  Apart from the numerous previous casualties showing NoK in recent years, the evidence to contradict the change in policy is irefutable.  Many records show a soldier died at home with their family being the informant.  The family then received pensions and the service / pension records regularly identify them as the nominated NoK.
I met some people last week and CWGC has now agreed to review the change.  I remain optimistic and will not be letting this drop.
Please don't start criticising CWGC in public because our charm offensive seems to be working and we don't want to lose the moral high ground.

[Tim Bell]

30 March is the day that three newly commemorated men died

Thomas Birch in 1917 https://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=10262.msg74220#msg74220
Ernest Jones in 1920 https://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=10613.msg68771#msg68771
Sydney Morbey in 1921 https://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=11423.msg74277#msg74277

[Tim Bell]

CWGC are catching up with the backlog of non coms and we now have more than 110 men who served in the Manchesters since we started the WFA Card review in 2019.  Sadly the the evidential requirements have become more stringent in the period and there are quite a few rejections.  These men are recorded on the Forum at the very least.
We're still waiting for a review on whether next of kin and basic address records will be reinstated on new commemorations.

[Tim Bell]

Another appeal for relatives including many of our cases
https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/news/appeal-for-relatives-june-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2A95XnYWxUm11gG6CZXq79fURZqTqVWPhNt3yXK7bOxVIKHr5tI3FrKto_aem_hpKlGaVJLlzf_dVoh1fPMA

[Tim Bell]

We've had a huge number of burials accepted recently.  Numerous headstones are being produced.  I haven't had a chance to visit the cemeteries in Manchester recently.  If anyone in passing Southern, Phillips Park, or St Joseph's, Moston, it would be good to know if there are any new headstones yet.  My Public Engagement contact, Liz Marsland, is no longer receiveing photos from the NW Ops team, so we're in the dark as to physical progress with the headstones being erected.