How Much was a War Widow's Pension

[Researcher11]

My grandfather William Henry Welsby died in January 1924 in Liverpool.

His DC gives cause of death as: "Myocardial Degeneration - accelerated by being gassed in the late war." My grandmother was left with 5 children, three of her children were still dependent. Their ages were - 4, 10 and 12.

Her 17-year-old was in the Navy & her 21-year-old son suffered with TB and died the following year on the same day as my grandfather had died.

My question is; How much would my grandmother's widow's pension have been? I expect a widow's pension would be effected by the amount of dependant children she had ? I've not found any records.

Thanks you for reading this.

Researcher 11

[museumtom]

This is from November 1915;

Allowances to Dependants.

A Government Paper issued on 27th, October sets out in general terms, the principal features on the scheme approved by the Government for allowances from Navy and Army funds to the dependants (other than widows and children) of sailors and soldiers whose deaths are due to the war. It bears the signatures of Mr Macnamara, Financial Secretary, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty and Mr Forster, Financial Secretary to the War Office, is as follows;--

Fathers, Mothers, &c.

For a parent or parents wholly dependant on the sailor or soldier, and allowance to be given not exceeding in any case (whether for one parent or two) of ascertained dependence prior to the mobilisation or entry into the Service if later, or the widow’s pension appropriate to the the sailor’s or soldier’s rank (10s a week for the lowest rank with no increase on the score of age), whichever be less. The allowance to continue so long as no other means of support (e. g. other children reaching full age) exist.

For other dependants incapable of supporting themselves, including a parent or parents partially dependant, and allowance, not exceeding the amount of ascertained dependence prior to mobilisation or entry into the Service, if later, or 5s a week, whichever be less, subject to periodical review as to the continuance of the incapability.

Disablement (but not sickness) benefit under the National Health Insurance Act and old age pension to be reckoned in diminution of above benefits.

For able-bodied dependants a grant by way of gratuity or weekly payment, not exceeding in all a years pay of the sailor or soldier, or a year’s allowance at the rate at which separation allowance and allotment were paid for the 26 weeks after the notification of death, whichwver be greater, to be given at the discretion of the Admiralty or War Office.

Women who have been entirely dependant of a sailor or soldier for their maintenance and who would otherwise be destitute, and children of the sailor or soldier in their charge.

If there are no children of the sailor or soldier and the woman is in good health a grant by way of gratuity or weekly payment, not exceeding in all the amount of a year’s allowance at the rate of which separation allowance and allotment were paid for the 26 weeks after notification of death, to be given at the discretion of the Admiralty or War Office.

If there are no children of the sailor or soldier and the woman is wholly or partly incapable of supporting herself from infirmity or age, and allowance of from 5s to 10s a week, according to circumstances, to be given, renewable from time to time on medical certificate When the disability ceases a terminal gratuity not exceeding the amount of 26 weeks of such allowance may be given

If there are children of the sailor or soldier in her care, and allowance of 10s a week to be given in addition to the usual allowances for the children. When the last child reaches the age limit, or dies, the woman, if in good health, to receive a terminal gratuity of £13 (half the annual value of the allowance). If she is wholly or partly incapable of supporting herself, she may be granted an allowance of from 5s to 10s a week, according to circumstances, renewable from time to time on medical certificate, and on the cessation of the disability a terminal gratuity not exceeding the amount of 26 weeks of such allowance.

Disablement (but not sickness) benefit under the National Health Insurance Act and old age pension to be reckoned in diminution of above benefits to the woman (not to the children.

All the awards referred to will have effect after the expiration of the 26 weeks for which separation allowances are continued after the notification of the death of the sailor or soldier.

This scheme provides only the grants to be made from the Votes of the Admiralty and War Office, not those which may be made out of funds at the disposal of the Body proposed to be established by the Bill now before the Parliament. The duty of determining the facts on which a grant may be based will be among the duties of that Body and the Admiralty or the War Office mat at their discretion entrust it with other duties in connection with the administration of such grants.

[RFT]

The matter of Pensions appears to have been a rather complicated subject.

War Pensions were made a statutory right on 19th August, 1919, previous to which date the claim to a pension was as "a matter of grace.". The claim for pension had to be made within seven years after the date of discharge or within seven years after 23rd August, 1921, whichever is the earlier date.

The widow of a soldier, sailor or airman who had been killed in the war, or who died in consequence of his service within 7 years of being wounded or removed from duty was entitled (subject to Article 11 Royal Warrant) to a pension of 20 shillings a week, or if she had children or was over 40, 26s 8d a week.

Pensions for Children

The child of a deceased soldier may have been awarded a pension not exceeding 12s a week where the child becomes motherless or has been removed from the control of its mother. Where 2 or more children are maintained by one person in the same household or institution, the amount was reduced to 11s after the first. Illegitimate children received 8s a week.

Allowances to Widows

Pensioned widows received an allowance at the following weekly rates for each child under the age of 16 so long as the child is maintained by her:-

For the first child, 10s.; second child 7s 6d.; and 6s for each child after the second.

Special Grants were also made e.g. Where a widow or child was suffering from prolonged illness causing necessary additional expense which could not be met out of present income, a sickness grant not exceeding 10s per week could be granted.

Gratuities

Widows may have received a gratuity to meet expenses consequent upon the soldier's death not exceeding £5 for herself and £1 on account of each child. Her pension would have ceased on re-marriage, when she may have been given a gratuity equal to one year of her widow's pension.

Hoping this reply may help to shed some light on the topic.

Rob

[Retlaw]

Australia seems to have been more generous with pensions. Private James Ormerod moved to Australia with his father circa 1910, his mother remaning in Accrington. James was killed in Sept 1917, his mother was awarded a pension of 40 shillings per fortnight from 7-12-1917

[Rory175]

I am also a relative of William and he got gassed in French trenches didn’t he?

Thanks, Rory