‘Known only unto God’ the missing of the two world wars
About a third of the men who were killed while serving in the British Army during the First
World War have no known grave. Their bodies were shredded by shrapnel as they crossed
no-man’s land or lay forgotten in shell holes Their sacrifice is recorded on memorials such as
the Menin Gate and Thiepval. Even now their remains are being discovered and reburied in
the war cemeteries.
Using their stories and those of their relatives this talk will explore how why these men met
their fate, how their relations tried to find about their deaths, and what happened to their
families after the War.
Simon Fowler was a professional researcher specialising in the wars of the twentieth century
and central government. His book Known Only To God: the missing men of the First World
War will be published by Amberley in the autumn of 2025.At present he is undertaking a PhD
in local history at Leicester University.