Lt T B Francis MGC - Access to Medical Documents?

[kelvintruss]

Good day,

My 199 Coy/ 41 Bn MGC research leads me to a 2nd Lt T B Francis, mentioned in 199 Coy MGC war diaries as joining the Coy on 18 Apr 17. The only othe records match I can find is in a Register of Soldiers Effects, where he appears to have been classified as 'Insane', and then a medal card for a Lt T B Francis of the London Regt (presumably the same person) stating that he commited suicide (and I think I saw somewhere that this occured in in 1920).

Where might I find additional records on this unfortunate individual and his evident menatal health dterioration?   

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60506/images/42511_6129999_0213-00395?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=CXt31&_phstart=successSource&pId=437233

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1262/images/30850_A000565-00331?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=CXt33&_phstart=successSource&pId=5350856

[TEW]

There is a MH106 admission to 139 field ambulance for him between 24/11/1917 and 13/1/1918. I can't see the original so can't add any more. It should indicate how he was discharged from that unit and where he went from there, plus the cause of admission.

This is with findmypast, paid up subscription needed

Being an officer he may be mentioned in the diary for 139 FA.

TEW

[Allan1892]

Image of admission to field hospital below, he is 11 down from the top. (image courtesy of Find My Past)

[Allan1892]

Hopefully the attached images will be of help to you.

The first one is from the National Probate Calendar (courtesy of Ancestry)

The next three images are a newspaper report on his death (courtesy of Find My Past)

[kelvintruss]

Thanks very much. Very useful. Francis is mentioned 3 times in the Coy diary at the beginning of Jan 18, collecting money, overseeing wire being laid etc. No mention then of him being sent to rest but there is an entry recording his return to the Coy from Div rest station on 29th, consistent with the document above.

Anyone any idea what NYD might be in Diseases?   

Exceptional, thanks Allan1892

 So very sad.

[Allan1892]

3 minutes ago, kelvintruss said:

Anyone any idea what NYD might be in Diseases? 

Possibly 'Not Yet Diagnosed'

[Colin W Taylor]

Kelvin,

Worth taking a look at his officer file if you are at Kew in the future (or if you wish to hire a researcher). This would probably record any mention of medical conditions or medical boarding (assuming it hasn't been weeded).

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C695619

Regards

Colin

 

[kelvintruss]

Thanks Colin. Great source. Given the amount of research I have backing up I suspect hiring a pro might be the best option.

Kelv

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

22 hours ago, kelvintruss said:

Where might I find additional records on this unfortunate individual and his evident menatal health dterioration?

I understand that Ticehurst House was for many years one of the more enlightened and progressive institutions in England for treating those unfortunates with mental illness. The house still operates today as a Priory group hospital.

You could I suppose approach them to ask whether records still exist from that pre-NHS era. NHS paper records are generally destroyed 7, 8, 10 yrs? after death or last treatment, but it may be different for the private sector, especially for mental health records.

You could approach the institution directly. Public access to any records  (even if they still survive) would be difficult I think.

[michaelpi]

or you could try an internet search

https://wellcomecollection.org/works/xysguff2

 

[TEW]

Just been looking at the Wellcome catalogue which says they have admissions, discharges, deaths, post mortem and case files. Some items seem to be online but when I click it nothing happens. Maybe my browser?

TEW 

[kelvintruss]

Thanks all. Checking it out now, although having similar access problems as TEW

[Allan1892]

Looks like the records haven't been digitised. (I've got a feeling that there is 100 year rule involved) 

Edited 1 December , 2021 by Allan1892
To add thoughts on time limit of records

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

I think the 'Online' box is just an indicator of whether the records are online, the box is coloured white, and isn't an active Html button.

Alongside it is 'Archives and Manuscripts' which is coloured, suggesting the entire archive is still held as paper records and is not online.

Lower down is this rather contradictory information:

"A digitised copy is held by the Wellcome Library as part of the Asylum and Beyond. Material closed in accordiance with Data Protection legislation has not been digitised".

I assume some bits have been digitized, some bits haven't, but none of it is online?

[kelvintruss]

I called them and they advised me to change browser and use Chrome, whch has worked. Thanks again