RAF Cranwell - 1933 casualty

[PeteS]

On 9th July 1933 at RAF Cranwell, one of its Drill Instructors died of gun shot wounds to the stomach, 353226 Sergt Ernest Edwin "Septimus" Clegg.

I am keen to discover more about the incident and if he is actually buried in the local churchyard which I understand was used by the RAF.

Pleased can anybody help ? thank you Peter

[Resmoroh]

PeteS, Hi,

Death Reg

Deaths Q3 1933
Clegg Ernest E 36 Sleaford 7a 412

The DC will probably give the precise medical details.

HTH
Peter Davies

[alclark]

If he isn't buried locally to Cranwell he may be buried in the London area as that is where he was from, his birth was registered in Q4 1896 in the St Giles area of London. I cannot find any marriages registered with his name against them.

[Resmoroh]

PeteS, Hi,
A retired colleague - who was stationed at RAFC Cranwell for some time - has suggested that a call (or visit) to the RAFC Library/Archive may possibly provide some additional info! Best I can do!
HTH
Peter Davies

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Pete

I have photos of the RAF graves in St Andrews Churchyard at Cranwell and I can't find his amongst them so suspect he isn't buried there.

Malcolm

[Martyn A Critchlow]

Pete,

There are some reports in the local papers about the suicide. He apparently left two letter, one to a Sergeant and one to the Coroner. He said he had suffered from stomach and intestinal problems for years and this was a 'cure'.
The reports don't give and location of burial.
If you want copies of the pages, send me a private message with your email address and I will send you the pages.

Martyn

[PeteS]

Thanks so much for your help chaps. Thinking about it he was probably denied a burial in consecrated ground if he committed suicide.

Ernest Clegg had served 1914-18 in the Army with Kings Royal Rifle Corps and then the Machine Gun Corps, he'd suffered a severe Gun Shot Wound on the Somme in July 1916, long period in hospital but returned to duty in France and received a severe Gun Shot Wound to the right leg in Oct 1917 (Passchendaele ?) long period in hospital but returned to France.