Death of Henry George Abbott RFA

[richardanthony]

Trying to find the death record for Henry George Abbott serving with RFA. He was serving at Kilkenny Baracks in 1915 when he married a local girl Elizabeth Delaney. His father was George Abbott,  occupation collier. Both Henry and Elizabeth were unmarried at time and over 18 years of age.  It is believed that Henry was from England possibly Tonbridge and died in Great War. I can find 2 Henry Abbotts through CWG both were drivers with RFA L/40692 and 23833 but i can not make a link.

[David Porter]

You need to look at the Pension and Soldiers' Effects Records for 28776 Henry John Abbott. Discharged on May 4, 1917 and died after that.

[richardanthony]

Thanks David, is this available from the basic sites ancestry and FMP

or do i need a more specialised site. I did try ancestry and couldnt find anything perhaps i missed it.

[Matlock1418]

14 hours ago, David Porter said:

28776 Henry John Abbott. Discharged on May 4, 1917 and died after that.

Image courtesy of WFA/Fold 3

There are two other cards. 

One is the related linking card to his widow and the other indicates an earlier Chelsea Hospital disability pension claim/payments of 13/9 pw from 5.5.17 to 6.11.17 [the rate of 13/9 pw is indicative of a 50% disability]

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
disability rate

[Matlock1418]

Henry John ABBOTT 28776 - Ancestry have a Pension recorded citing Elizabeth DELANEY [I can't access it but it is likely to be a pension record including a number of pages from his Service Record]

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
add

[Allan1892]

48 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said:

Henry John ABBOTT 28776 - Ancestry have a Pension recorded citing Elizabeth DELANEY [I can't access it but it is likely to be a pension record including a number of pages from his Service Record]

M

Looks as though his death was from OR associated to Diabetes (images courtesy of Ancestry)

[Matlock1418]

3 minutes ago, Allan1892 said:

Looks as though his death was from OR associated to Diabetes (images courtesy of Ancestry)

Thanks for posting these images - very handy.

Medical discharge from diabetes

Disability pension for diabetes

Widow's pension citing diabetes

= What is needed next is his Death Certificate.

M

[Allan1892]

Just now, Matlock1418 said:

= What is needed next is his Death Certificate.

Agreed

[Allan1892]

Mr M -- the pension card that you posted -- I'm reading 'Died 1.8.18 Diabetic Coma'

What are you thoughts?

 

[Matlock1418]

IWM LOTFWW for Henry John ABBOTT https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2064 

Quite a few sources quoted incl. two for death/burial [BMD/GRO and FamilySearch]

A note on his IWM LOTFWW  'Life Story' evidence notes against his death record "When discharged unfit, returned to where Census showed him working before the war, living with a brother" = Rather looks like worth seeking out the 1911 Census.

Also on LOTFWW there is an image of a memorial roll of honour plaque: "In St Nicholas Church, North Bradley. An identical plaque is in the Baptist Church" [Recorded on plaque as John ABBOTT]

FamilySearch have this record: 

Name: Henry John Abbott  Sex: Male  Age: 22

Death or Burial Date: 7 Aug 1918

Death or Burial Place: North Bradley, Wiltshire, England  Death or Burial Place (Original): N. Bradley, Wilts County

Birth Year (Estimated)1896

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
memorial plaque info

[Matlock1418]

23 minutes ago, Allan1892 said:

'Died 1.8.18 Diabetic Coma'

= Coma caused by diabetes = death from Diabetes in my opinion [coma = a pretty usual part of of death from diabetes I believe]

In my opinon if confirmed on a DC should make a case for a seeming non-comm to be commemorated by CWGC.

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
clarif

[Matlock1418]

Search for Henry John ABBOTT death in 1918 at GRO turns up:

ABBOTT, HENRY  JOHN                                 22  

GRO Reference: 1918  S Quarter in CARDIFF  Volume 11A  Page 400

Right quarter [Q3/J-S] for registration of a 1.8.18 death.

FreeBMD have as Henry J ABBOTT

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
freebmd

[Matlock1418]

Henry John ABBOTT, 28776, RFA

MIC https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D986970 [also on Ancestry and WFA/Fold3] shows first ToW as (1) France, 2.9.15 so a 1914-15 Star, BWM and VM - there will be two Medal Rolls [unfortunately I can't access these MR]

 As discharged sick there was a Silver War Badge entitlement [unfortunately I can't access]

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418
add WFA

[Allan1892]

First image = his Silver War Badge entry

Second image = his Star Medal rolls entry

Third image = his rolls entry for the Victory Medal and British War Medal

Fourth image = his Medal Index Card

[Allan1892]

When I was looking at his papers, I noticed a remark that his pension would be withheld when he was in prison. The notation said that he had been arrested on the 19 November 1917. This led me to search newspapers to see why he had be in prison.

The newspaper, Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 24 November 1917 reported on the case. Henry had been arrested for the theft of several items of clothing and selling them on. The report ended 'He would go to prison for 14 days - in the second division. Not being sentenced to hard labour, the man would not forfeit his pension' -- Seems that the Army decided otherwise!

In the report, it mentioned that he had been living with his parents, there was no mention of his wife at all.

(images courtesy of Find My Past)

[richardanthony]

Thanks for all your help, excellent as always.

[Matlock1418]

20 minutes ago, richardanthony said:

Thanks for all your help, excellent as always.

Do you fancy getting a Death Certificate?  Will you?

And, as might be appropriate, perhaps putting forward to CWGC for potential commemortion?  Might you?

M

[richardanthony]

I am helping a neighbour but will ask her if she will get certificate. Seems a really good idea.

[Matlock1418]

2 minutes ago, richardanthony said:

I am helping a neighbour but will ask her if she will get certificate.

For CWGC you only need to get the £7 PDF version via online of a DC from the GRO https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp [unless you really want to spend £11 on a full paper cert via post]

M

Edited 16 May , 2022 by Matlock1418