Help needed from our Military experts.

Post by **42aitch** » 28 Jun 2011 20:09

I am researching WW1 soldiers and came across one who had been discharged from the army on 19/2/1919 as Physically Unfit. Another of the service records states his disability as VDH Attributable to Service with 40% disability.

What is VDH?

Later it states that on 25/2/1919 he was in Edmondton Military Hospital seriously ill with Pneumonia.

A receipt for his will on 22/6/1920 is signed by his sister.

Would this mean he had died from his disability/illness?

There is no trace of him on CWGC or FMP Military records. I do know that some soldiers who died after the war ended are commemorated on CWGC and other sites.

His name is George Seddon, he enlisted 6/4/15 his address then was 26 Hands Street, Litherland. He served with West Lancs (Howr) Bde
Eileen

Post by **MaryA** » 28 Jun 2011 21:20

Googling seems to turn up VDH as being Vascular Degeneration of Heart, do you think this would make sense?

Post by **Katie** » 28 Jun 2011 21:35

There are so many soldiers who died of war related injuries not commemorated by the CWGC. I keep coming across roll of honour notices for soldiers who died of war related injuries well after the war had finished. Daggers had a article published in the June Journal regarding the cut of point well worth reading it.

Post by **Hilary** » 28 Jun 2011 21:58

I would suggest you obtatin his death certificae which will show a cause of death. Although he may have received a pension in respect of disability from his service it may not necessarily be what he died from. Influenza springs to mind.

Post by **dickiesam** » 28 Jun 2011 22:57

MaryA's google find of Vascular Degeneration of Heart is more fully explained here, if you can wade through the medical jargon.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... 4-0005.pdf

DS

Post by **daggers** » 28 Jun 2011 23:22

If the death certificate gives his war service as a reason or partial reason for his death you should be able to submit the details for possible inclusion in the CWGC register. There is an 'In From The Cold Project' which handles these submissions, and I can look that up in the morning [past bedtime now!].
D

Post by **daggers** » 29 Jun 2011 07:59

Here is the link to the project's site. There is a button on the left 'report a missing casualty' and on the screen which opens, another click on the word 'here', near the foot of the page among some pictures, will lead you on.
I take it you have his regimental number from the documents you hold. Which of the West Lancs Artillery units was he in ? There should be a number with its title.

http://www.infromthecold.org/

Daggers

Post by **Mark Abbott** » 29 Jun 2011 10:48

CCLXXVIII (IV West Lancs) (How) Bde, RFA broken up October 1916

http://www.1914-1918.net/55div.htm

Post by **Stephen Nulty** » 30 Jun 2011 09:35

If you are thinking of submitting a case to the IFTC project, be aware that the criteria to have a man commemorated by CWGC is quite tight. As Daggers says, the DC needs to be quite explicit in linking the death to military service.

I have submitted 5 Prescot men for commemoration, and each has been rejected. This includes one man whose DC states that he died of Gas Poisoning, the reason for the rejection being that this poisoning could have taken place in his kitchen because of a gas leak.

IFTC works and has an admirable record of getting men commemorated, but it is not easy. Don't let this put you off, just be prepared.

Post by **42aitch** » 30 Jun 2011 14:20

Wow you have all been busy.

It does look probable that VDH could be as Mary says. He does appear to have spent a number of spells in hospital whilst serving but the writing is poor and I can't make out the causes. I am however, reluctant to pay out for a death certificate as it is not family related and I do not have a definite date of death either.

I am involved with research for Merseyside Roll of Honour and came across George Seddon whilst gaining the information for his brother Henry who is on CWGC. I am afraid I tend to get quite involved with the information on the families whilst doing the biographies and like to try and tie up the loose ends.

George did change regiments and had two different service numbers. He was transferred to 251st Northumbrian BDE on 17/10/16 and then later to the 48th R.F.A.

Thank you all for your help and if I do manage to get any further information I will post it.

Eileen

Post by **Stephen Nulty** » 30 Jun 2011 16:28

This man....

http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/ca ... _Neve.html

died from VDH but because I cannot link his death to the reason for his discharge from the army, CWGC will not commemorate him.

Post by **42aitch** » 01 Jul 2011 11:51

Stephen, thanks for showing your link to your wonderful site. It is so well presented and it has obviously been well researched and with much thought. The Dedication page is especially beautiful and expresses so well what we owe to these young men.

I have shed many a tear myself since starting my own research of the Litherland men. I only started it in September last year but it feels sometimes to have taken over my life!

Eileen