Efforts are being made to properly recognise Jerseymen who served in the First World War and whose names have not so far been recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Barrie Bertram, a member of the CI Great War Study Group, who lives in Lancashire, is hoping that descendants of the men or their relatives will be able to help him to find service records, copies of any service material, obituaries, or anything which would constitute ‘evidence’ for the Commission.

Those who have not so far been recognised include Second Lieutenant Garnet Cory Burton, who served in the Dorsetshire Regiment; gunner Herbert Henry Cudlipp (royal Garrison Artillery); and Captain Alwin Claydon Bailey (East Lancashire Regiment).

Mr Bertram (pictured) says that many servicemen succumbed to illnesses after the Armistice, or died as a result of injuries received during the war. ‘In most cases, their sacrifice under such circumstances is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, whose register lists the names of those who died up until 31 August, 1921,’ he said. ‘However, it is a fact that there are some who have not been recognised, and this applies to a number of Jerseymen.’

Mr Bertram is looking into instances where these and other Jerseymen are missing from the War Graves Commission register in the hope that they will be properly recognised and commemorated.

In communications with the CWGC, the group has been advised that it should provide evidence that could include copies of death certificates, service records, newspaper obituaries, memorial cards, and letters from Commanding Officers etc, he said.

He will be visiting the National Archive in Kew on Saturday, 21 February to search for service records, and would appreciate it if any information about the men could be forwarded to him before then. Details that he has so far are as follows:

• Second Lieutenant Garnet Cory Burton of the Dorsetshire Regiment, who, according to the London Gazette, relinquished his commission due to ill-health on 20 May, 1916. It is believed that he took over The Gloster Arms as licensee, but died 25 February, 1917, clearly before the Armistice, and still not commemorated. He is buried in the south-west corner of Almorah Cemetery.

• Gunner Herbert Henry Cudlipp (183549) of the Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on 4 June, 1919, apparently from pleurisy, brought on from having been gassed while serving in the War. Unfortunately his service records may no longer exist, so further detail might be difficult to establish. He is buried in the Macpela Cemetery at Sion, in the south-eastern corner.

• Captain Alwin Claydon Bailey of the East Lancashire Regiment, who, according to the London Gazette, was awarded a Military Cross in early 1918, and relinquished his commission on 1 April, 1920. He died on 25 June, 1920 aged 28. He is buried in St Saviour’s Church cemetery, the headstone engraved ‘Pro Patria Mori’!

Mr Bertram is also trying to ascertain the circumstances and date of the death of Jersey company member, Rifleman Walter George Martin, whose grave is in the Caterpillar Valley British Cemetery, west of Longueval village on the Somme.

His headstone and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission register record that he died on 30 July, 1916, but Mr Bertram is not sure that this is correct.

He wonders whether any descendants of Mr Martin, or of those who served with him, including Alfred Le Pennec, Sylvian Bliault, Clarence Dorkins, Edward Giffard, Philip Marais and Francis Louis Vautier, might be able to confirm the date and circumstances of his death.

• Mr Bertram can be e-mailed at bhbertram@tiscali.co.uk or contacted via the group’s website www.greatwarci.net