Gnr Alfred Simpson RFA 786126

[PaulC78]

I looked into this man over a year ago on behalf of another forum member but could only find his medal card/roll and soldier's effects. Just going through the records on Fold3 and there is a pension card which states cause of death as "influenza & acute pneumonia cont on a/s". In the absence of a service record would this be sufficient for commemoration, DC pending of course?

 

[Terry Denham]

Paul

 

No because 'contracted on service' is not the qualification. Many post-discharge deaths do not qualify though the fatal condition was 'contracted on service'.

 

The qualification is dying of an illness 'due to' or 'aggravated by' service.

 

This may seem like nit-picking but they are not always the same thing. You need evidence for a discharged man that the fatal illness was due to/aggravated by service. This is usually found in the full pension record, sometimes on the pension ledger page (not here though) or in the Widow's Pension record.

 

The actual fatal illness is irrelevant as it is the 'due to/aggravated by' conditions that are the criteria.

 

Of course, if this man was still service at death, the cause of death and how contracted would be irrelevant also as serving men automatically qualify.

[PaulC78]

Cheers Terry, thanks for clearing that up.