Lost in No-Man's-Land: The Missing of WW1

Battle Guide2 minutes read

John Kipling, son of Rudyard Kipling, went missing in action during World War I, leading to years of uncertainty for his family. Through extensive research, Second Lieutenant John Kipling was officially recognized in 1992 as the soldier buried in France, providing closure to his family after decades of ambiguity.

Insights

  • John Kipling, son of Rudyard Kipling, enlisted underage in World War I, went missing during a failed attack in 1915, leading to uncertainty about his fate for years.
  • Through meticulous research and correction of errors, Second Lieutenant John Kipling was officially identified in 1992 as the soldier buried in France, providing closure to his family after decades of ambiguity.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What happened to John Kipling during World War I?

    He went missing in action during a failed attack.

  • How many servicemen died during World War I?

    9 million servicemen died during World War I.

  • What was the Battle of Loos?

    A battle where British troops aimed to break through German lines.

  • How was John Kipling identified after World War I?

    He was officially recognized in 1992 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

  • What efforts were made to find John Kipling during World War I?

    Letters, telegrams, and leaflets were used to locate him.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

John Kipling: The Great War Mystery

  • During World War I, 9 million servicemen died, leaving many families without closure.
  • John Kipling, son of author Rudyard Kipling, enlisted underage in the Irish Guards in 1915.
  • The Great War had evolved into trench warfare by mid-1915, with the British planning major attacks.
  • The Battle of Loos in September 1915 saw British troops aiming to break through German lines.
  • John Kipling and the Irish Guards were tasked with advancing across open fields towards enemy positions.
  • Despite initial progress, heavy enemy fire caused chaos and forced the Irish Guards to retreat.
  • John Kipling went missing in action during the failed attack, leading to a period of uncertainty for his family.
  • Efforts to find John included letters, telegrams, and even leaflets dropped over German lines.
  • Conflicting reports emerged about John's fate, with some suggesting he was wounded and possibly taken prisoner.
  • In 1919, remains of an Irish Guards officer were found, but they were located miles away from where John was last seen, leaving his fate uncertain.

15:32

Identification Errors in WWI Soldier Burials

  • Bodies found in square G25 in 1915, despite no fighting there, prompt further investigation due to a possible recording error between grid squares G and H.
  • Private P Glaber of the 15th Battalion London Regiment, killed on October 11, 1915, is identified through his unique service number, correcting the initial name discrepancy.
  • Private McGee of the 6th Royal Irish Regiment, killed on June 6, 1916, died in a shelling incident near point 14 bis in grid square H25c, providing more insight into the location.
  • Private T MacPherson, a Canadian soldier with a specific burial location at h25c 4513, confirms the proximity of the bodies to grid square H25c, not G25c.
  • Second Lieutenant John Kipling, initially unidentified due to rank confusion, was officially recognized in 1992 as the soldier buried in plot 7 Row D Grave 2 at St Mary's Advanced Dressing Station in France, after extensive research by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.