Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi All ~

This may seem like a rather macabre line of enquiry, but my grandfather's brother took his own life during the mid 1920s.

His name was Sydney McQuinn and he was born in Liverpool in 1898. He married Alice Fox about 1920 and they had three children. Sydney committed suicide around 1926.

I'm wondering whether there may be a coroner's report into his death; and if so would I be able to obtain a copy? (I haven't managed to find his death in the BMD Index, and I have no idea where he is buried.)

I'm aware that suicide was 'unlawful' in the UK until the mid-1960s, so I've been wondering how this would have affected his immediate family.

If anyone can offer any suggestions with regard to researching this case I'd be really grateful.

Hi I found this death: on FreeBMD

Deaths Mar 1927 (>99%)
McQuinn Sydney 29 W.Derby 8b 887

Victoria

hello Zed

marriage

1920 st john evangelist everton liverpool on lancashire bmd

Doe
7631

Hi Zed

The children:

Births Dec 1921 (>99%)
McQuinn Sydney L Fox W.Derby 8b 700
Births Sep 1923 (>99%)
McQuinn Ronald J Fox W.Derby 8b 537
Births Jun 1925 (97%)
MCQUINN Doreen M Fox W.Derby 8b 681

Victoria

Hi Zed

There are also WWI records for Sydney McQuinn he signed up age 17 years.

Victoria

Many thanks Doe and Victoria ...

I've been able to order a Death. Cert. now.
I don't suppose there will be any way that I can find out what prompted this tragedy. Very sad to see that Sydney's children were so young when he took his own life.

Bestest,
Paula.

Hi Paula - there was a medical record for 1923 - who knows what those young soldiers experienced during the war.... very very sad.

It also looks as if Alice remarried in 1928

Marriages Mar 1928 (93%)
McQuinn Alice Everitt W.Derby 8b 650

Victoria

Hello Zed,
The death cert will give you the place and cause of death and whether an inquest was held. The Liverpool Coroner's Office may still hold the records, although they could now be in the LRO. I understand that there is no legal requirement for them to be held longer than 10 years, but you might be in luck.

The place of death could give you a clue as to where newspaper reports might be archived.

If there was a suicide and the inquest records are available, as MaryA pointed out recently in another post, be prepared for unpleasant details including the autopsy report.

Dickiesam

If there was an inquest, the coroners records are at Liverpool RO.

http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Images/tcm21-146178.pdf

Jan

Hi Victoria ... when you say there was a medical record in 1923, do you mean an armed services medical recrod; and if so, is it possible to access these records?

I had no idea that he'd enrolled in the armed services, so it hadn't occurred to me that his suicide could be linked to his experiences of WWI.

Yes you're absolutely correct, his widow re-married and went on to have another 3 children with her 2nd husband.

Thanks for the LRO link Jan ... and thank you for your advice Dickiesam, I will certainly bear that in mind.

Bestest,
Paula.

Hi Paula

There is a WWI British Army Pension Record Card for Sydney McQuinn born 1898 on Ancestry and also his medical history.


Victoria

Hi Paula

There is also a British Army WWI Medal Roll Index card for Sydney McQuinn too on Ancestry.

British War Medal
Victory Medal

and as

Medal card of McQuinn, Sidney
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Field Artillery 690215 Driver

On the National Archives.

Victoria

Victoria, you probably have the best record on Ancestry, I've been told there is more information on there for Medal Records than on the National Archives.

Hi

Thanks Mary for the information - I really do learn something everyday from this forum!

Victoria

Don't we all Victoria.
I can't find the 1923 medical record for him if you could copy/paste please.
Zed I hope this helps, warmies Tina

Hi Tina

I have sent a PM to Paula with the WWI records.

V x

Victoria, well done and thanks

Tina

Many thanks Tina & Victoria ~

Apologies for the lateness with my response but for some reason my emails have been going AWOL so I hadn't realised that other pieces of research had appeared in the thread.

Many thanks also to Steve who pm'd me a scan of the inquest document held in Liverpool R.O.

You're all absolute stars!

Bestest,
Paula