Is this LW pilot still in a Plymouth cemetery?

[Adam Lewis]

It might need a miracle

Ian, Jim,
Thank you for the recent replies. I well remember your valiant efforts to rescue Dr. Laumann from the dustbin of history. Perhaps it will take more than we can do.

Here's his funeral card which attributes his death to being shot down by an enemy plane.

Cheers!
Adam

[Ian Jewison]

Adam,

I have had a quick look through my info and unfortunately I can not add anything further.

Erkennungmarke (ID Tag number) - 74197 - 1 + 2 Staffel/Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe Deblin-Irena. Later became 8 Staffel/Schlach-Geschwader 4. This was formed from 8 Staffel/Schnellkampfgeschwader 10. III/SKG 10 became III/SG 4 on 18.10.1943.

Interestingly the same unit but not same Group as he was currently serving with.

This item below was taken from "The Blitz. Then and Now".

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Here's his funeral card which attributes his death to being shot down by an enemy plane.

Incidentally Adam it states "during a raid over England he sacrificed his young life for his country" and not that he was shot down by an enemy plane.

/Ian

[Adam Lewis]

Feindflug

Ian,
Thanks for another interesting reply. I assume 52554 was the Wr. Nr. for the 190?

I could not find Feindflug specifically listed in my German-English dictionary. I translated "bei einem Feindflug" as "by an enemy plane". How do you translate that word?

Many Thanks,
Adam

[Ian Jewison]

How do you translate that word?

Adam,

Try this site for individual words......

http://www.dict.cc/?s=feindfl%FCge

It means, sortie, raid etc......literally combat flight against the enemy.

/Ian

[Adam Lewis]

Hi again Adam,

I drive right past Weston Mill Cemetery every day on my way to and from work. It's a constant reminder to me that we never did resolve the issue of where Oswald Laumann's grave really is.

The office staff at the cemetery were genuinely concerned that that the location of his remains were apparently unknown at present. We spent quite a few hours searching the records to see if we could find movement orders from Plymouth or any information of their receipt at Cannock Chase. Absolutely nothing apart from the fact that 22 were exhumed.

A member of the office staff went on a visit to Cannock, not specifically for this but couldn't glean any useful information.

It saddens me that although he was once correctly buried he now has, as far as we know no marked grave. I would really like to see the matter closed and to be a part of it. If I can still be of any help in the matter following up any leads in Plymouth please let me know.

Jim

All,
I'm bringing this thread up again because I found a recent statement here http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=39832&st=0&p=326850 that Laumann and the other missing Germans were buried back in Germany! It surprises me that the repatriation of Laumann's remains was not kept on record at Weston Mill.

This might explain too why I received some burnt pieces of the uniform and a Polish coin with the estand lot. I was informed off-line that such items were not exchanged with Germany during the war and that these items were likely not Laumann's. Now I believe they could be. Perhaps these were sent back in 1963? The coin was documented as recovered with Laumann at the crash site in 1943.

If the post on the 1914-1918 forum is confirmed, what a nice end to an apparently bungled transfer.

Adam

[Jim Maclean]

I missed your reply to this post, my apologies.

I would be very surprised had one deceased been selected for repatriation. It's established that those either side of Laumann's resting place at Weston Mill are buried at Cannock in the correct order, absent Laumann. Why would one of 22 be selected for repatriation?

I think he lies at Cannock and there may well be more bodies than graves.

Edit: Just read the link, if he has actually been claimed and repatriated then that indeed is well and good and a great relief. I shall call into Weston Mill during the week to see if this lead gives any information. Meanwhile perhaps some good person could look into cemeteries in Laumann's home town.

[Adam Lewis]

I missed your reply to this post, my apologies.

I would be very surprised had one deceased been selected for repatriation. It's established that those either side of Laumann's resting place at Weston Mill are buried at Cannock in the correct order, absent Laumann. Why would one of 22 be selected for repatriation?

I think he lies at Cannock and there may well be more bodies than graves.

Edit: Just read the link, if he has actually been claimed and repatriated then that indeed is well and good and a great relief. I shall call into Weston Mill during the week to see if this lead gives any information. Meanwhile perhaps some good person could look into cemeteries in Laumann's home town.

Jim,
It's nice to see your name again after so many years of trying to find Laumann.

Joe Potter and I have exchanged several emails since I first discovered his post from last December. He has an excellent reputation for identifying German war dead buried in the UK. Joe has contacts in Germany and has joined the hunt for Oswald Laumann. All credit to Joe for what follows.

There are two important replies from his German contacts that Joe forwarded to me:

Oswald Laumann was buried in Düsseldorf-Heerdt in June of 1963 (field 012, grave No. 0453-WG). The grave certainly was replaced. So, I think you couldn't find a gravestone.

AND

Mr. Oswald Laumann was re-buried. His grave existed until the year 1995 on the cemetry in Düsseldorf Heerdt , Heerdt is one part of our town on the left side from the river/creek " Rhine".<O></O>
If there are further questions about the grave, try to phone to the cemetry directly under 0049 211 50 18 77, the chief's name is Mr. Herbert Schimmel.<O></O>
We hope we could help you so far.<O></O>

<O
It seems in Germany one can 'rent' a burial site for 30 years. Thus in 1995 or so the grave was perhaps given to another family. We don't know what happened to Laumann's remains but Joe is trying to find out.
I posted a thread asking for help here...http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575413 but didin't get a response. BTW - Dusseldorf is where Laumann's NOK lived for many years up to at least 1943.</O

I don't know the custom in Germany but over here a family has the option where to bury their KIA. In WW2 many choose to have them buried with their comrades-in-arms in far away cemeteries, others choose to have the remains shipped home for burial in family plots. If the Laumanns chose the last option then the burial sequence at Cannock Chase makes sense, I think.
Just when I thought the elusive Dr. Laumann was in hand he slipped away again. If I get any additional info I'll post it.

Adam

[Adam Lewis]

Joe Potter forwarded to me a reply from the Volksbund about Laumann's grave. It says

"I can confirm that Laumann’s remains were brought home from Plymouth Weston Hill (sic) Cem. Grave 19731 to Düsseldorf Heerdt. By this way he looses the status of a war grave and his data does not occur in our online search. The grave site and situation today are not registered here."

Also, a friend of Joe's walked the German cemetery and could not find a grave stone for him. A check in the cemetery office records did not reveal a record of any.

Shot down - buried - exhumed - lost - found - lost again.

Adam

[Jim Maclean]

I went to Weston Mill during the week, the lady that was so helpful earlier has now unfortunately retired. I told the new lady the story but I'm afraid she wasn't that interested.

I mentioned having the grave with a headstone for 30 years and she told me that it is also common practice here. I asked what happens to the original occupant of the grave? Apparently the new owner just gets put on top, so perhaps Laumann isn't lost just hidden.

Good luck Adam!