Hi, In the book ‘Chronicle of the Second World War’ it refers to a suicide by a Great War veteran on 1st February 1940. The reason given is the fact he is unable to participate in the Second World War. I wonder if anyone has any further information on this individual and his death? Many thanks, Steve G
Hi, I have now discovered this man's name through the British Newspaper Archive. A tragic story of a retired naval commander who took his own life seemingly because he was too old to fight in the Second World War. Steve G
Hi, Thankyou ARPCDHG, I did not know this. I think the film is online here and I’ll get on to watching it: Medal for the General : Louis H Jackson (uncredited) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. Stefan, his name was Cecil James Read Livingstone-Learmouth. The newspaper article in the Daily Mirror of 2nd February 1940 states he was a retired naval commander and aged 72. I suspect this is him too in The Peerage: Person Page (scroll to bottom). Clearly he was a man of action, having served in the navy and army, as well as having an interest in many other things. Certainly, a man of the Empire! Steve G
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Cecil J R L Learmonth Death Age: 71 Birth Date: abt 1869 Registration Date: Jan 1940 [Feb 1940] [Mar 1940] Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration District: Chelsea Inferred County: London Volume: 1a Page: 765 England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 Name: Cecil James Reid Livingstone-Learmonth [Cecil James Reid Livingstone Learmonth] Death Date: 30 Jan 1940 Death Place: London, England Probate Date: 26 Apr 1940 Probate Registry: London, England Note recorded date of death TD Name Learmonth, Cecil James Reid Livingstone Date of Birth: 05 February 1868 ... | The National Archives Reference: ADM 196/43/8 Description: Name Learmonth, Cecil James Reid Livingstone Date of Birth: 05 February 1868 Rank: Retired Commander Date of Appointment: 15 July 1881 Date: 15 July 1881 Held by: The National Archives, Kew £3.50 if you want to download the file I am informed that during lockdown these are free
Category:H.M.S. Britannia (Training Ship) Entrants of July, 1881 - The Dreadnought Project https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26188/page/4070/data.pdf (1441) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1916 > July - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland Tin Investigation. Report of the Subcommittee ... on H. Res. 404 and H. Res. 71... 1935
Would these be related David James Livingstone - Learmonth (1899-1959) -... a family grave buried in Somerset
Cecil was an Uncle of David David James Learmouth 1899–1959 BIRTH 14 SEP 1899 • Sherborne, Dorset, England DEATH 27 SEP 1959 England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: David J Livingstone-learmonth Death Age: 60 Birth Date: abt 1899 Registration Date: Jul 1959 [Aug 1959] [Sep 1959] Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep Registration District: Chelsea Inferred County: London Volume: 5c Page: 259 His father: Lestock Frederick Reid Learmouth 1872–1949 BIRTH 28 AUG 1872 • Ercildoun, Vic, Australia DEATH 16 NOV 1949 • Yeovil, Somerset, England This surname seems to change between Learmouth and Learmonth even within the same tree !! TD
