11th January 1941 AISTON, Frank, Leading Seaman, C/J111345 [SUNDERLAND (BISHOPWEARMOUTH) CEMETERY] L/Sea Aiston's ship is listed as HMS Southampton. That cruiser was lost after being attacked by German Ju87's in the Sicilian Narrows on this date. So as he is buried in Sunderland, I wonder was he was lost when the cruiser was sunk or did he co-incidentally die in the UK on the same day that his ship was sunk in Mediterranean? Regards, Steve
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Frank Aiston Death Age: 33 Birth Date: abt 1908 Registration Date: Jan 1941 [Feb 1941] [Mar 1941] Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration District: Sunderland Inferred County: Durham Volume: 10a Page: 1338
I have a Frank Aiston departing Liverpool bound for Halifax N.S. on 28 August 1940 (Naval Party ex-Chatham) aboard DUTCHESS OF RICHMOND. The party consisted of many naval ratings ex-Chatham, ex-Portsmouth, ex-Devonport as well as merchant seamen and RAF personnel. Destination only given as Halifax N.S. with no details of units. Frank Aiston died on 11 January 1941 in Sunderland Royal Infirmary - no cause of death mentioned. Regards Hugh
No certainty implied but in the era of unpasteurised/unsteralised milk always a possibility. A killer of thousands pre-war and beyond. Example of wartime parliamentary exchange re same, albeit for another area of the UK in link here; https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1943/jan/28/tuberculosis-death-rate The bad old days when nigh on every hospital had a specific ward, not to mention specialist hospitals. Folks did well to make it to convalescence. A recent academic book on the subject referred to here; New book authored by Union experts explores the devastating consequences of the simultaneous outbreak of TB and war | The Union Kind regards, always, Jim.
Dear folks, I apologise profusely for the tenuous possibility I've raised regarding cause of death of this casualty, but the spectre of TB and its effects are often overlooked or underestimated. For a personal aspect, scroll down within the link to "Nursing Tuberculosis at Ladywell Hospital" (the recollections of Cissie Ridings) Read it and weep. BBC - WW2 People's War - Nursing Typhoid and TB in WW2 Always remember, never forget, Jim.