Guidance

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.

From:
Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK
Published
26 September 2019
Last updated
35 October 2023 — See all updates

Our future services, current appeals and past cases

This autumn we will be undertaking a number of services in France:

Wednesday 25 October 2023

  • 11am - A burial service for Lance Serjeant Robert Brand of 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry who was killed on 13 April 1918. Two unidentified soldiers of the same Regiment will also be buried during this service, which will be held at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium.

  • 2.30pm – A rededication service for Private Peter Keill of 7th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed in action on 1 October 1918. The service will take place at Dadizeele New British Cemetery.

Thursday 26 October

  • 10.30am - A rededication service for Second Lieutenant James Ferris of 16th Battalion The Highland Light Infantry who was killed in action on 2 December 1917. This service will take place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.

Funeral Service, Crown Copyright, all rights reserved

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:

*[Graves of Two Scottish Soldiers Rededicated in France] (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/graves-of-two-scottish-soldiers-rededicated-in-france)

*[Remains of Coldstream Guards missing since 1944 found in France] (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/remains-of-coldstream-guards-missing-since-1944-found-in-france)

*[Grave of Wolverhampton soldier killed in Normandy during World War Two identified] (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/grave-of-wolverhampton-soldier-killed-in-normandy-during-world-war-two-identified)

*[Graves of three comrades killed in Normandy following D-Day identified] (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/graves-of-three-comrades-killed-in-normandy-following-d-day-identified)

*[Three Great War soldiers buried in Belgium] (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-great-war-soldiers-buried-in-belgium)

Related information

Published 26 September 2019
Last updated 35 October 2023 + show all updates

  1. Links added for details of past services

  2. Details of the September services were removed and details of forthcoming services in October were added.

  3. Details of an additional blessing service added

  4. Added details of services in late September.

  5. Added details of services planned for mid-September

  6. Details of early September 2023 services included

  7. Update for September services.

  8. Added a link to the service held on 21 June 2023 in France

  9. Derails of service for 20 June 2023 included.

  10. Included an update to provide details of the services for June 2023

  11. Links to the three May services included.

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

  13. Details of 3 more burial/rededication ceremonies added.

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

  15. Updated with details of two past services from March 2023.

  16. Details of services on 18 and 19 April have been added.

  17. Details of three new rededication services added.

  18. Details of an appeal for family have been added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  25. Details of further 4 services added.

  26. Details of forthcoming services added.

  27. Details of "Forthcoming case" changed to "Past Case"

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

  29. Details of forthcoming services added.

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

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

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

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

  34. Additional information on the service to be held at New Irish Farm cemetery on 30 June 2022.

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

  36. Addition of 3 more Forthcoming Services.

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

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

  39. Details of another 5 rededication services added.

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

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

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

  43. Details of "Forthcoming Services" for May 2022 published.

  44. Details of ceremonies that have now taken place have been removed from "Forthcoming Ceremonies" and moved to "Past Cases".

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

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

  47. Details of 3 x April 2022 rededication services

  48. Details of 4 additional rededication services in Belgium on 22 March 2022.

  49. Adding details of an additional 5 rededication services

  50. Addition of forthcoming events

  51. Update to appeals section

  52. New appeal for WW1 casualty's family launched.

  53. Details of today's service removed and link to news release about it added.

  54. Additional information on forthcoming service.

  55. Details of completed services now deleted from Forthcoming Services section. Links to recent service reports added.

  56. Details of additional military funeral November 2021.

  57. Details of 3 more commemorative funerals published. Link inserted to "previous cases" to news item about Royal Flying Corps casualty.

  58. Removed details of ceremonial services that have now taken place.

  59. Change to COVID restrictions in France.

  60. Details of additional service uploaded.

  61. Statement regarding ceremonial burials - Autumn 2021

  62. Family appeal deleted as appeal has been successful.

  63. New appeal for family added and previous one deleted.

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

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

  66. Notification of cancellation of the rest of 2020 burial and rededication ceremonies.

  67. Notification of further cancellations

  68. Deleting details of services that have had to be posponed.

  69. Changing calendar of events

  70. Details of additional ceremonies added

  71. Change to dates of when services may resume.

  72. Cancellation of all scheduled services due to COVID-19

  73. Changes to details of appeals and services.

  74. We have added details of additional services and appeals

  75. To add details of future services

  76. Deleted details of services that have now taken place,

  77. First published.

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