William Upton - was he gassed in WW1?

[ankerdine]

Edith Blakemore (nee Silvers) married William Upton when her first husband was killed in 1918.

The family story was that he suffered from the effects of having been gassed during his own service. How can I prove this statement please?

Judy

[hepburn]

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mhh/


This is the link to The War Graves Commision..

[jim1]

So who was gassed William Upton or 1st. husband?
OK I see it's William.
Was he born 1878?
Was he 35577 11/Worcs?
OK again I see from his marriage he was born 1888.
There are 3 other William Upton's in B'ham on the Absent Voter's list. Your man appears to have been in Leamington pre war so unfortunately I can't say if any of these 3 are him as I don't know where he was at the outbreak of war.

[MaxD]

Proof positive - only if his record is found and it has a definitive reference to wounding (gassed) (as it was commonly called).

For background, it is generally accepted that some 70% of gas casualties were able to return to duty within 6 weeks.  The effects of a gas attack often left problems behind that became worse over the years, lung problems for example giving difficulty in breathing and susceptibility to TB.  Perfectly possible that a man so affected could have no sign at all on his record but still have suffered long term. There must have been many thousands of such men.

MaxD

[ankerdine]

Thank you for that useful comment, Max. You are quite correct as apparently William Upton did suffer with severe breathing problems later on in his life but he did have two children of his own and helped to bring up three step children too.

Judy