Originally Posted by
Recc
Technically, the BBC gives 51k as a baseline figure. In other words, this is the number of combat deaths (excluding "DNR" and "LNR" ) that could be conclusively established.
According to the account on the BBS WS, the criteria are even more stringent than that - the figure quoted is for deaths that are identifiable by name, from a range of sources including social media, press, cemetery inscriptions, etc.
I'd be amazed if the actual number of KIA didn't come to twice, or even three times that number.