Unusual death?

[iain2210]

Have found the following to a chap who died with HMS Euryalus, 3rd July 1916:

"Killed or died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action"

I can't think what this could mean, apart from suicide or murder. Any suggestions? (He's buried in Colombo, Sri Lanka).

[Guest]

Apparently " July 3, 1916 Hoffman, William F. Able Seaman Fell overboard, drowned "

From HERE

Cheers Mike

[iain2210]

Thanks Mike..!

[aglastonbury]

But surly that is accidental?

[Piorun]

In the context of the Navy, possibly not. Accident would mean shell handling, mechanical disaster, etc. In heavy seas, going overboard wouldn't be considered an accident, rather a hazard of employment. Antony

[horatio2]

On 05/08/2011 at 07:02, aglastonbury said:

But surly that is accidental?

Indeed, some drownings count as accidental death. I am not clear where these strange descriptors are being found but they bear little relationship to the full, official Admiralty descriptors. I have a feeling that they are rather poor abbreviations of the offical categories - where are they being found? Ancestry.co.uk? The official Admiralty causes of death, in their full form, are to be found at Post #6 in the following thread:-