TOPIC:

Hi I am new to this site and I am researching my Great Grandad Private Frederick Gibson 3683. His name is listed on here and it says he died in UK 11th December 1899. This I know is fact as I have his death certificate.
I know the 12th Lancers arrived at The Cape 16th December 1899 so I don’t think it’s possible he could have gone with them. He died in “Lunatic Hospital “ Netley as it’s written on the certificate I know we wouldn’t word it like that these days! Cause of death Mania and exhaustion, which I also know could mean a lot of things. He was only 25 years of age was married to my Great Granmother Annie and had two daughters under 2 years old when he died.
What I would really like to know is, Did he ever go to war? If so Was the mania what we would now call PTSD?
His name is there as In Memoriam by S Watt. Would anyone know any way of finding out what caused his illness.
Thanks Anne

Hello Anne

Interesting story.

He does not appear in Ancestry's medal rolls and as you say he couldn't have deployed to SA with his regiment, so. I don't think he ever saw campaign service and therefore didn't suffer from combat related PTSD. Unless you find an obituary which may describe the circumstances of his death and hence a cause I don't think you will ever know exactly what led to his "mania".

Regards
Meurig

Thanks Meurig for your help.
Yes it is a bit of a mystery, I am still curious why his details were entered on here.
The source says In Memoriam S Watt which I understand is a book which I shall try to find to see if it gives any other information.
My local library doesn’t have a copy so I’m working on that.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Ann

Steve Watt found a document listimng deaths at the Royal Victoria Hospital Netley which was for the armed forces and obviously included all those that occurred during the period of the war. He did not check whether those men actually served in the war or not.

There will not be any more information - this site copied his book.

Regards
Meurig

Hello Meurig
Thank you that explains it for me, I wondered if that were the case. I have since found out he married my Great Grandmother in Ballincollig, Cork in 1897 and I believe the 12th Lancers were there around that time. So I don’t know what caused the illness.
Thank you once again for taking the trouble to inform me.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Ann, this may be too late for you but I have just read your post about your great grandfather. He is buried in Netley MIlitary Cemetery. I have a copy of the burial records. It doesn't say anything other than the date he died and his regiment numbers and age. There is no headstone now, there may not have been one at all.

Hope this helps.