A misidentified grave in @CWGC Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy, Pas-de-Calais.

Queens Cemetery was founded in March 1917 and following the Armistice it was chosen for the concentration of graves exhumed from battlefield cemeteries in the surrounding area. #WW1 #Somme #FWW (1/9)

There are 140 RMLI & RNVR graves in the cemetery. Of these, 138 are men died between 3/2/17 & 26/2/17. Of the two remaining the first is a man of the RNVR who died in 1918. The other is that of Pte. George Hilton, 1st RM Bn., missing Gavrelle, Arras 28/4/17 & assumed dead. (2/9)

The fact that George Hilton is the only man of 140 RMLI & RNVR graves at Queens who is recorded as died in April 1917 is significant enough to raise question. When one also considers that he went missing at Gavrelle, 30km NNE, then question turns to real concern. (3/9)

The Commission is known to have moved certain remains some considerable distance from their original location and one may think this explains his unusual grave location. However, this is not the case with George Hilton. (4/9)

The burial return shows that the remains of "Hilton" were exhumed from an area near Miraumont. (Green square on map.) Of critical importance is mention on the return that he was ID'd from “Numerals on Clothing,” which due to the locational impossibility is insufficient ID. (5/9)

Hilton was serving with the 1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division in February 1917 and doubtless took part in the Battle of Miraumont, 17th-19th February 1917. (6/9)

Instances of clothing being borrowed or stolen was fairly commonplace, and doubtless a comrade of 1st RM Bn. was in possession of part of Hilton’s kit when he died at Miraumont 17/2/17 and this ultimately led to the misidentification of his body for that of Hilton’s. (7/9)

There is little doubt that the grave marked “George Hilton” in Queens Cemetery is in error. It is quite impossible that Hilton could be buried in a battlefield clearance cemetery amongst RND men killed in February 1917 before he went missing at Gavrelle on 28/4/17 30km NNE. (8/9)

In remembrance of PO/861/S Pte. George Hilton RMLI, 5th Platoon, 'B' Company, 1st Royal Marine Battalion. Missing at Gavrelle, Arras 28/4/17 and later assumed dead. (served as George Hilton; the "Mellon" was likely added by his next-of-kin) (9/9)