1918 Flu in Leicester

[martync]

My Great Uncle died in the center of Leicester in November 1918 from Flu his widow was the informant on the death certificate and was also in Leicester but the death is registered as a Coventry death . I wondered was the flu very bad in Leicester and so some of the registrations were made by Coventry? I can't think of any other reason at the moment why it is recorded by Coventry as none of the family had any connections with Coventry and the death was in the center of Leicester not in the County on the Coventry side. He is buried at the Welford Road Cemetery.

If anyone knows or has a theory about that I'd be interested to hear.

Thanks,
Martyn

[Jebber]

I believe over 50 million died in the 1918 flu epidemic, if you Google you will find a lot about it.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWinfluenzia.htm

Jebber

[martync]

Hello Jebber,

Thank you for that link, it's interesting, the death certificate says Influenza,  pneumonia and heart failure so it ties in with the typical cases referred to in that article.

All the best,
Martyn

[Mike from Leicester]

Greeting's....... Martn.

If you can post the Surname
Then I can have a look at the
Burial records 1849  ~ 1950. for Welford Road Cemetery
which I have on Disk
It might give us a few clues ?

MIKE.

[martync]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your kind offer Mike he is in Welford Road, I also have a copy of the CD, a very good investment for people with family in Leicester, thank you to anyone involved with it's creation who is reading. I found a lot of relatives on the disc and made a visit during my last trip to Leicester.

I am still intrigued as to why this death that occurred in Leicester, was reported by his widow who was living in Leicester and he was buried in Leicester is recorded as a Coventry death. As I said earlier I wondered if Leicester was particularly badly hit by the flu.

Thank you again for the offer,
Martyn

[Mike from Leicester]

Greeting's Again Martyn.

Just an Idea. . . . .. .
 
1918. Umm = World War 1.

Could be the Leicester Registers Office was closed due to the war
Business transfered to Coventry Office ?

MIKE.

[martync]

Thanks Mike,

I didn't think about the record offices being closed but it could have happened I'll have to see if I can find out. Maybe if I e-mail the Leicester Register Office someone there would know if it did close at all during WWI or the records office would know if there were a gap in the records they hold, maybe the records office is a better bet.

All the best,
Martyn