Cause of death "An Accident" - How to find out more.

[Tidgy]

Hi All

A quick question if I may….

I am intrigued by an ancestor who died in WW1. John Gayden b1891  died on 8th July 1916 and on his soldiers effects record it states the death as “An Accident”.

Normally I would purchase the death cert, but because this is a WW1 death I have no idea if the cert would disclose any detail of the death.
Does anyone know if this would benefit me or are the death records of soldiers who died in the War just a record of death without further info?

Thank you

[groom]

Where did he die?

[Tidgy]

France and Flanders Western European Theatre

Enlistment Place   Hackney Baths, Middx.
Rank   Gunner
Regiment   Royal Garrison Artillery
Regimental Number   6942
Type of Casualty   Died
Theatre of War   Western European Theatre
Comments   Formerly 125, Hackney Bty., R.G.A.
Other Records   John Gayden -

[nanny jan]

If the relevant War Diary has survived it might be noted there.

Do you have his service record or was it one of those lost in the Blitz?

[Tidgy]

No service record survived the Blitz, I have located the Soldiers Effects record and that is where the death is recorded as "an Accident"

I'd be happy to purchase the access to the relevant war diary if anyone can help me locate it?

[nanny jan]

Some are available on Ancestry.  I was looking for one very recently..... RootsChatter MaxD came to my aid and located the incident I was hunting....an "OR" got injured.

If you do not have a subscription you can usually find that your local library will have a subscription on their computers or you can purchase the diary on the National Archives site.

[Tidgy]

Thank you nanny, I have a subscription and have searched extensively. I believe I have got all the records i can from it, but still no joy on the service record.

What i'd really like to know is, will it be worth my buying a death certificate? Will there be one and do they hold 'cause of death' information for War deaths?

[nanny jan]

The War Diary search can be very frustrating but those on the Armed Forces board might be able to find it for you.

I only have a WW2 death cert for my uncle who was in the RAF....cause of death...."Air Operations".  His plane was shot down.

I don't know how WW1 death certs would record the details;  again those on the Armed Forces board might have knowledge of them.

[nanny jan]

His entry on CWGC site gives....152nd  Heavy Battery.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/74376/gayden,-/