Missing – Kingussie Remembers

During the First War the remains of many casualties were unidentifiable and were buried in a grave with the headstone bearing the simple words chosen by Rudyard Kipling. “A Soldier of the Great War – Known unto God“.

At the end of both World Wars, extensive efforts were made by both the military authorities and the Imperial War Graves Commission (since 1960 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission) to identify the last resting place of those who were listed as ‘Missing’. However due to battlefield conditions, subsequent shelling and delays in recovering bodies full identification of casualties was not always possible. In a few cases remains could be partially identified by fragments of uniform establishing Nationality or Rank or Regiment.

Gravestones "Known Unto God" — Gravestones “Known Unto God”

A British Soldier of The Great War - Known Unto God — Gravestones “Known Unto God”

Unfortunately, in many cases no identifiable remains were found, and from both World Wars, these casualties are commemorated on Memorials to the Missing close to the battlefields where they fell. The Navy Memorials to the missing are at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth and at Lowestoft for the Royal Naval Patrol Service. The RAF Memorial to the missing is at Runnymede and Merchant Navy Memorials are at Tower Hill and Liverpool.

Current Recoveries

Even today, the remains of the missing continue to be recovered from the former battlefields of the Western Front. A planned new canal in France, close to Loos, is expected to uncover many bodies and a new cemetery is being constructed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to provide a fitting final resting place. With time for full archaeological excavation and advances in DNA technology it is hoped that identification of some will be possible. Perhaps the two Kingussie “Missing” at Loos will be found.

https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/loos-british-cemetery-extension/