Lieutenant - Commander Bruce Lloyd Owen (Lloyd-Owen)

[temptage]

I was perusing local newspapers from 1916 and found, firstly, a report on the death of the above named gentleman local to me. Having been researching locally for the past 15 years, his name didn't ring any bells, so took a photo of the report. In the next edition of the newspaper, there was a funeral report for him (dated 26/05/1916), and some additional information about him.

 

Now, to me, that reads that clearly states that he was placed on the retired list due to ill health contracted on active service just a month before he died. He was given a full military funeral with Naval Honours (10 Officers, 140 O/R's and 70 armed escorts)

I can find no record of him on the CWGC database. There are several mentions of him on TNA, and on various websites, but nothing else mentioning his passing.

If anyone else can find anything relating to Lt-Com Owen, ideally the exact reason he was added to the Retired List, then we can see if it was for the same reason that was given on his death certificate below

 

The simpler version would be if he was still a member of the Royal Navy, Retired list or not, then his death should be accepted without any further questions.

What say you?

[Matlock1418]

WFA/Fold3 have a widow's pension claim pension index card Rank given as Lt-Cdr [Act Cdr]

Unfortunately all it further offers is that his widow was named Ethel - there is no indication of his condition, as to how she fared with her claim or her address,

M

Edited 8 February by Matlock1418
addition

[horatio2]

The only note in his ADM 196 papers is:  "Placed on Retired List 30/3/16 - Physically Unfit."   -   https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8121753

His trio of WW1 medals was issued to his Residuary Legatee, marked as Commander RN.

[temptage]

1 hour ago, horatio2 said:

is trio of WW1 medals was issued to his Residuary Legatee, marked as Commander RN.

Interesting! 

[PaulC78]

It's a pity the ADM documents weren't scanned at higher resolution as I find the handwriting difficult to read, however I can pick out the following...

ADM 196/46/119
"27/5/15 Admitted Chatham Hospital (nephritis) 3 weeks" ... "30.3.16 Medical Report states, is very ill from chronic Brights Disease of the kidneys"

ADM 196/142/492
"9.3.15 sick at home nephritis"

So a possible case of nephritis contracted on active service. The fact that he died less than three months after being placed on the retired list may play in his favour, however extensive pre-war service may go against him. I would suggest that it's worth a try, though.

The CWGC website is playing up at the moment, but it may be worth checking the grave registration report forms for Stallingborough Churchyard.

FMP have the full article posted above by Temptage, which includes a detailed report of the funeral and a photo of the funeral procession.

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001819%2F19160526&page=6&article=087&stringtohighlight=lloyd+owen+newcastle

 

[Matlock1418]

55 minutes ago, PaulC78 said:

it may be worth checking the grave registration report forms for Stallingborough Churchyard.

I am not familiar with the reasoning for suggesting that churchyard but never-the-less ...

There appears to be only one casualty in STALLINGBOROUGH (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/380568/harcourt-sutcliffe-farebrother/#&gid=1&pid=2

M

[temptage]

Yes i photographed the full report when i found it in the newspaper. 

Yes he was buried in the Churchyard at Stallingborough, but there are no records to show he ever had a headstone, and there would also be a very small chance of actually locating the exact position of his burial due to the vagueness of Church records, unless he was buried in a prominent position which i doubt, as the Churchyard had been used for several hundreds of years previously. 

[temptage]

1 hour ago, PaulC78 said:

The fact that he died less than three months after being placed on the retired list may play in his favour, however extensive pre-war service may go against him. I would suggest that it's worth a try, though.

 

The truth is that it could be only a maximum of 6 weeks, even if he went on the Retired List right at the start of April 16. He died mid-May, so could even be as little as 2-3 weeks between Retirement and death. 

[temptage]

@Terry Denham What do you reckon to this one?