tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434701420960162731.post3376540155561296009..comments2024-03-19T11:37:07.200+00:00Comments on The GENES Blog: Scottish First World War soldiers' wills go onlineChris Patonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05073425769475523109noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434701420960162731.post-81195219169306595902014-05-27T11:04:56.414+01:002014-05-27T11:04:56.414+01:00"Like many unmarried soldiers, Andrew Cox lef..."Like many unmarried soldiers, Andrew Cox left all of his possessions to his mother". Ever wondered why mother and not father? It seems that the example will in the soldier's Pay Book quoted mother. So, most followed pretty much the exact wording... <br /><br />The other intriguing thing is that the survival of wills that are (like Andrew Cox's) taken from the Pay Book, suggests (but does NOT prove) that the body was found as the Pay Book was supposed to be kept on the soldier's person at all times. There were mandated exceptions - when the soldiers went on trench raids, e.g., they were supposed to remove ALL forms of id so the enemy would not find out who was opposite. And no doubt plenty disobeyed instructions and left the Pay Book in their pack. But overall there is a distinct suggestion that Andrew Cox's body was found but subsequently lost, perhaps when the battlefield grave was over-run in later years. <br /><br />AdrianAdrian Brucenoreply@blogger.com