Hi all, Looking for a bit of information that perhaps someone has or can point me in the right direction. When researching a death to a Canadian Engineer, 75085 Cpl Cecil Dyne Harrison, I came across something curious. He seems to have been transferred from 4th Canadian Divisional Signal Company to the Canadian Engineer Training Depot (CETD) and then on to the Aeronautics School at Denham. He died on 27 June 1918 "from misadventure". So, I'm looking for details on what this "misadventure" may have been and what training he was undergoing at Denham. If anyone can assist I'd be very grateful. Cheers, Joe
Hi Joe, According to his service file he had transferred to the Royal Air Force at the time of his demise. You might want to order the death certificate from the GRO: Registration Services - Certificate Ordering Service - Contact Us You'll need the info contained in the attached. The last "death by misadventure" I saw in a WW1 Canadian service file was the case of two wounded men who, after recovery, consumed a lethal dose of morphine. Regards, Dave
Snippet from local paper: Denham boxing tournament Cadet Cecil Dyne Harrison was matched against Cadet Craddock in a six two-minute round contest and within a few seconds of the of the last round Craddock delivered a blow which caused Harrison to fall to the ground, his head coming forcibly into contact with the floor. He died a few hours later.
Should have added: The deceased came from Vancouver, and had seen service with a Canadian Divisional Signalling Company in France for two years. He was an only son, and it is stated that his father, who was also serving with a Canadian contingent, was killed in France a few weeks ago. Captain J Harrison gave evidence of identification and said the deceased was going through a course of instruction for the Royal Air Force. He was 26 years of age. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died as a result of an accidental fall, caused by a blow whilst boxing. He was buried in Denham Churchyard. Possible father? Casualty
Thanks all! Amazing what people can turn up. Tony56: Can you provide the local paper's name and date for reference please? I don't think that's the right casualty report on the father. The age is stated as 34 which would make for only an 8 year age difference between father and son.
Definitely not his father. His service file (page 6 of 74) shows Dad as Francis E. Harrison, assistant postmaster of Vancouver. The marriage certificate for Francis Edgar Harrison and Catherine Rose in Vancouver, 1906 shows him as a 45 yo widower and postmaster. Death certificate has him dying in Vancouver 7 July 1934, age 73.
Does anyone know what connection Cecil had with the village of South Warnborough in Hampshire? He is one of 15 names but we can find no record of him living in the village. TIA
Maybe grab a copy of his death certificate England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Cecil D Harrison Death Age: 26 Birth Date: abt 1892 Registration Date: Jun 1918 Registration district: Eton Inferred County: Buckinghamshire Volume: 3a Page: 910 Should provide a cause of death TD