johnboy Posted 13 August , 2016 Share Posted 13 August , 2016 I have seen some nurses as dying of strain and overwork. Was this used in place of something else or was it a genuine cause of death? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 9 hours ago, johnboy said: I have seen some nurses as dying of strain and overwork. Was this used in place of something else or was it a genuine cause of death? Well you couldn't put it on a death certificate nowadays. Were these certified causes of death or anecdotal evidence in letters? Could you post some examples of the circumstances of deaths? Makes you wonder if there were underlying causes :undiagnosed cardiac diseases, depression leading to suicides, anorexia etc, but that the deaths were attributedas being due to strain or overwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 The refs come from pics. I will try and post one later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 (edited) MISS EDYTHE HELLYER Miss Edythe Hellyer, Voluntary Aid Detachments. Died from overstrain of hospital work 16 December 1916. Could not post the pic. Edited 14 August , 2016 by johnboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 It seems unlikely that much trouble was taken with post mortem examinations in those circumstances, so maybe a best guess sufficed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 (edited) 37 minutes ago, PhilB said: It seems unlikely that much trouble was taken with post mortem examinations in those circumstances, so maybe a best guess sufficed? Yes , more than likely. Although I wouldn't rule out suicide. Telling the family she died a heroine rather than the unpalatable truth, would have been a much easier and neater solution. How old would she have been? Edited 14 August , 2016 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 (edited) Madame Angèle Pettit has been mentioned on forum before. Sue Light put up a copy of a letter containing her name. .TEW Edited 14 August , 2016 by TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 I suppose a stroke could be put down to strain and overwork ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 OK. A stroke. Usually either a bleed into the brain, or a blockage of an artery in the brain or neck due to a clot (thrombosis). Almost always caused by arteriosclerosis, sometimes a genetic predisposition. Predisposing factors for arteriosclerosis are increasing age, male sex, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and several other things, but 'Strain' and 'Overwork' although perhaps aggrevating blood pressure would not be acceptable nowadays as a direct factor in the causation of death. Nowadays the certificate would say something like: I.a) Cerebral haemorrhage due to b ) Arteriosclerosis due to c ) Hypertension and Diabetes mellitus II) Any other disease contributing to death, but not causing death eg. Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease You will see that 'Strain' and 'Overwork' would not appear. I think you would in any case be hard pushed to find anyone during the war years who were not under strain or overworked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 The description I have seen is only for nurses. As they are from a medical establishment it intrigued me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 johnboy, Just a thought. The photograph says 'Overstrain'. Is this perhaps a mis-translation of hypertension (High Blood Pressure)? Don't know what they would have called it in France in 1918, I think it's hypertension in France nowadays. 'Tension haute' might mean high voltage, but you could see it as a possible source of confusion. Maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 I'll go back and try and find others. I was looking for something else at the time but you know how it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 I believe Haig`s demise (heart attack?) was similarly attributed in various texts to the strain of his war service and post war charitable activities . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 Would these deaths be recorded by CWGC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 1 hour ago, johnboy said: Would these deaths be recorded by CWGC? I couldn't find her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 That is why I asked. Should she be listed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 I think J M Kirk is Jane Millar Kirk who has 2 VAD cards. One states 'died on active service No. 7 convalescent camp France'. http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War/Card?sname=kirk&page=3&id=126998&backwards=true However, her engagement was terminated in July 1917, 5 months before her death. Perhaps her engagement terminated when she got ill so 'died on active service' is not quite right, and another reason she is not on CWGC. Anyone on British committee French Red Cross will not feature on CWGC. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 14 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2016 Thanks for the link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 15 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 15 August , 2016 Share Posted 15 August , 2016 H M Peel, chauffeur to BRCS in France. Again, service terminated prior to death. 2 cards available http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War/Card?fname=helen&sname=peel&id=236255&backwards=true TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 15 August , 2016 Share Posted 15 August , 2016 (edited) I wonder if any of the labouring classes of that time (miners, navvies, etc) ever officially died of overstrain! Edited 15 August , 2016 by PhilB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 16 August , 2016 Share Posted 16 August , 2016 (edited) From my database, these were recorded as death through strain or a contributing factor of it :- Olive Louise BENNETT, VAD Mary E.E.M. BOSHELL, VAD and Belgian Red X (actually committed suicide because of it) Margaret Ellison DUCKERS, QAIMNS, caused through conditions in Macedonia F.M. GIBSON, VAD Doris GLEADOW, VAD Mary M. HADLEY, VAD Edith Caroline HELLYER Jane Millar KIRK, VAD Flossie Hannah LEWIS, VAD Elizabeth MARCHI, factory worker Lady Mabell OGILVY, VAD (and appendicitis) Angele PETTIT, French Red X Florence Jane SETTLE, VAD Henrietta F.B. WILDASH, VAD Irene WILLIAMS, VAD (and heart attack) ps Helen Peel died of spotted fever Edited 16 August , 2016 by Jim Strawbridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 16 August , 2016 Share Posted 16 August , 2016 Margaret Ellison DUCKERS' WO399 record gives death on 16/5/1918. And a long correspondance on her general health and state of mind, including; And a rather heart tugging letter from her mother. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now