RNVR mystery - stuck in a rut - any steer appreciated

[TullochArd]

I am trying to unravel this local gravestone addition "John Sugden Head/ RNVR their only son/ died February 27th 1919/ after serving his country in the Great War/ aged 36 years" 

 

I've tracked down the service record for Z/3249 John Sugden Head (RNVR Mersey Division) who served from 1916 and was discharged after the War with a War Gratuity.  I also have a Will for John Sugden Head who left £1586.3s.9d. to his wife in Cheshire on his death on 27 February 1919.  Despite the memorial (not the grave) being in Newchurch, Rawtenstall they are the same man.

 

The text "died February 27th 1919 after serving his country in the Great War" initially suggested to me (dangerous assumption) that the parents might have thought his service was attributable to his death. However his Service Record shows him discharged with no reference to injury/sickness and any attributable injury/sickness would have gained IWGC/CWGC recognition which it hasn't.

 

Perhaps the text merely acknowledges his service in the Great War rather than actually attributing his death to it?

 

So - are there any other clues/suggestions/other avenues out there I could follow up or is this a dead end? 

 

As ever, I'd value your wise counsel and/or comment.

 

Ian

Edited 12 April , 2020 by TullochArd

[horatio2]

The RNVR medal roll is annotated "I.C. 1665/1919." a reference to a death recorded in the Admiralty Index Casualty in 1919. This matches the note that his Victory and British War medals were claimed by and issued to the Legal Representative of his father (probably in 1921). It does not indicate an attributable death but merely that his death had been notified to the Admiralty in 1919. There is nothing in the records to link his demobilisation and his death four days later. A death certificate might tell a different story.

[TullochArd]

Thanks Horatio.  That's clear and really useful. I'll track down the death certificate now, which as you point out, might tell a different story.  Regards.  Ian.

[The Inspector]

Hi Ian

12 hours ago, TullochArd said:

have a Will for John Sugden Head who left £1586.3s.9d. to his wife in Cheshire on his death on 27 February 1919.  Despite the memorial (not the grave) being in Newchurch, Rawtenstall they are the same man.

This is obviously from the probate record. Granted 12.7.1919. Frances Eleanor Head (nee Sugden) widow, was John's mother not his wife. She died 17.8.1922, Millgate, Shawforth, Lancs.

 

His father John died 31st March, 1919 see  :-https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1904/31874_222416-00136?pid=1706642&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid%3D1904%26h%3D1706642%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_vc%3DRecord:OtherRecord%26rhSource%3D7579&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.1358258.229826353.1586160776-1783877415.1578070585 Probate to widow Frances Eleanor Head. 22.5.1919.

Regards Barry

Edited 13 April , 2020 by The Inspector

[TullochArd]

3 hours ago, The Inspector said:

Hi Ian

This is obviously from the probate record. Granted 12.7.1919. Frances Eleanor Head (nee Sugden) widow, was John's mother not his wife. She died 17.8.1922, Millgate, Shawforth, Lancs.

 

His father John died 31st March, 1919 see  :-https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1904/31874_222416-00136?pid=1706642&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid%3D1904%26h%3D1706642%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_vc%3DRecord:OtherRecord%26rhSource%3D7579&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.1358258.229826353.1586160776-1783877415.1578070585 Probate to widow Frances Eleanor Head. 22.5.1919.

Regards Barry

 

……..  it was the probate record Barry and well spotted - mother not wife - many thanks.

[TullochArd]

22 hours ago, horatio2 said:

The RNVR medal roll is annotated "I.C. 1665/1919." a reference to a death recorded in the Admiralty Index Casualty in 1919. This matches the note that his Victory and British War medals were claimed by and issued to the Legal Representative of his father (probably in 1921). It does not indicate an attributable death but merely that his death had been notified to the Admiralty in 1919. There is nothing in the records to link his demobilisation and his death four days later. A death certificate might tell a different story.

 

……. ADM 171/126 Page 519 ……. now that was a new experience for me ! 

 

Many thanks for the steer Horatio

[The Inspector]

Hi Ian

Death cert, 8a, 782, 1st qtr 1919, Wirral, Cheshire. John S Head, 35 yrs, b.abt.1884.

Regards Barry

[TullochArd]

On 13/04/2020 at 19:53, The Inspector said:

Hi Ian

Death cert, 8a, 782, 1st qtr 1919, Wirral, Cheshire. John S Head, 35 yrs, b.abt.1884.

Regards Barry

 

Cheers Barry