On the 25th of April, 1944, my grandfather, Robert Cummings, received the following form from the War Office. It is terse, to say the least, and must have caused anger at its lack of sensitivity:
Tel No SLOand 1698 Form E.2.
Any futher correspondence on this subject should be addressed to:-
The Director General, Graves Registration and Enquiries, The War Office, 32, Grosvenor Gardens, LONDON S.W.1 and the following number quoted: GCAE/4358/AG.13.
25th April 1944.
Dear Sir,
I have to inform you that your son No. 1809118 Gunner J.P. Cummings of the 1st Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery, is buried in Syracuse Communal Cemetery, Sicily, Plot 2, Row E, Grave No. 15.
Yours faithfully,
………………………………
Staff Capt. for Director General, Graves Registration and Enquiries
R. Cummings, Esq.,
(25178) Wt24521/6536 20,000 8/43 A & E B.W Ltd. Gp. 698