One For Sunday Afternoon

[northeagle]

I have a George William Brydon 198597 Pvt 2nd class, RAF: died June 29, 1918 at Recruits Depot. Anyone know if this was illness or accident etc?

Best Wishes.
Robert.

[Resmoroh]

Robert,
I can find a George Brydon (NB - no "W") aged 20 who died Q2 1918. The death was Registered at Blandford (Vol 5a Entry 258). Must have been very early in the RAF as he's still referred to by an Army rank!! Although his Service Number would indicate he Enlisted from "Civvy Street".
HTH
Peter Davies

[Resmoroh]

Robert,
Further to my last. A George William Brydon's birth is Registered in Q3 of 1898 at Alnwick (10b 466). Looks like this might be yr guy? Keep us posted if you find out who he was, and how he met his end!
HTH
Peter Davies

[northeagle]

Hi Peter,
Thank you kindly for your replies. The first one is correct although he should have a 'W': George William. He is buried in Pegswood Cemetry, burial was July 4, 1918 and Blandford was in the cemetery entry.
What I was hoping to find was how he met his end. It just hit me, possibility, the Flu epidemic. Not a hundred percent, hopfully someone can say yes or no.


Best Wishes.
Robert.

[Resmoroh]

Robert,
I've sent you a PM
Peter

[Errol Martyn]

Robert,

From Chris Hobson's 'Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918:

29.6.18
RAF
Pte F F Atkinson, Rec Depot. UK
Pte II G W Brydon, Rec Depot. UK
Pte II C J Willday, Rec Depot. Died of pneumonia, UK

Note that only Willday's death is identified with a cause, though it would appear that those of the others is very likely to have been similarly related.

The source of this information would have been the WWI casualty card collection held by the RAF Museum at Hendon. Since publication of the book in 1995 further cards have come to hand, so it might be worth checking with the Museum to see if more detail about your man is now available.

Errol

[northeagle]

Hi Errol,
Thanks for that very interesting. I'll check it out.

Best Wishes.
Robert.