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*TBC Archive?* 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:32 pm
by ChrisR
Does anyone know if there are any records of the people who died in the 1918 Flu Epidemic?

I'm looking for the death of William Ernest Graham b 1890 july/aug/sept Sunderland, Tyne + Wear.

He got married on 5/4/1915 age 24

And on the 1901 census he is 11 years in Gateshead, Durham

Any pointers on where to look?

Cheers

Chris

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:17 pm
by peterd
try the 1911 census will cost you, but it might give you some more info on him

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:51 pm
by gardener
I've not heard of any list of people who died of the flu.
You could try applying for a death certificate, citing his birth details, expected death year, and probable address based on birth certificate of his child. I don't know if it would be possible to get that done at the local office or at the main one, varies a bit from office to office I think.
Are you sure that he died in 1918? Or was it just sometime during the epidemic, so possible 1918-20?

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:36 pm
by ChrisR
Thanks for the advice - I'll give the records office a try and see if I have any joy.

I'm guessing that during an epidemic they'd have used mass graves rather than individuals as they would have been pretty busy.

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:49 pm
by linell
There were no mass graves in 1918 Chris, in 1830 there were but things were more civilised by 1918. A death was a death, you would have to find your ancestors death certificate and see what the cause of death of was, the same would apply for anyone else who died of whatever in 1918.

Linell.

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:51 pm
by ChrisR
Ah, cheers for that Linell - good to hear that things were civilised in the 1900's.

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:19 pm
by linell
Well hopefully more so than 1800 Chris. Mind you I was watching a TV Programme last night about the Bombing of Coventry in WW2. They had mass graves there, but hopefully someone kept a record of all the names! Best Wishes from Linell.

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:43 pm
by LES IN PRUDHOE
Have you tried CWGC a lot of troops were still in on the continent well after the 1918 armistice.One of my wifes relatives died in France in 1919 of influenza.

Re: 1918 Flu Epidemic

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 8:01 pm
by grangers14
Can anyone add any more information?
If not this will be archived.
Jo :)