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Unique IDCWGC/8/1/4/1/2/36
File NumberCCM12562
TitleLieutenant SHRI KRISHNA CHANDA WELINKAR - HANGARD COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION - Royal Air Force
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CWGC_8_1_4_1_2_36 (CCM12562) - redacted.pdf

DescriptionFile of correspondence concerning the grave of Lieutenant Shri Krishna Chandarl Welinkar in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Welinkar was believed to have died in a German field hospital, June 1918, and to be buried in either Rocro, Roucroy or Rouvroy cemetery. He was an Indian Flying Officer and possibly the first to be shot down. Correspondence shows the difficulties that entailed in trying to identify his grave. Correspondence includes a telegram from his mother in Bombay (1919) and a letter from retired officer Barton, previously with the Royal Engineers, investigating the case, who suggested that owing to his surname he may have mistakenly been buried as a German combatant (1920). Further enquiries showed the body had been exhumed and reburied in Maucourt German Military Cemetery. HIs family in India wanted his body reburied in the French civilian cemetery at Rouvray; the IWGC had suggested burying the body in Caix New British cemetery and suggested that as they believed he was Muslim, reburial in the French cemetery might prove difficult. Exhumation satisfied Barton but the GRE representative at the exhumation was not satisfied that the body was definitely that of Welinkar. He was reinterred in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension in 1920. In 1926 a letter was received from his mother in India requesting that the grave be 'fastened...into Indian style to serve as a memorial.' The IWGC replied that this would not be possible. File includes brief discussion of Hindu burials and cremations, dated 1951, stating that if a Hindu soldier had been buried, and the grave was being concentrated, the body should be exhumed and cremated.
Content NoteIncludes: Several photos of exhumation, including photographs of skull and flying boots; Photo of original German cross erected over grave. Also a short note from private detective agency employed by the family to try and trace the grave.
Date24/12/1918 - 2/8/1951
Extent1 file
CollectionArchive
CategoryEfiles
Cemetery_NameHANGARD COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
ArchNotePlease note: 3 photographs showing images of Lt. Welinkar's exhumation have been redacted from the digital version of this file.
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