Ernest Edward Stubbington

Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Ernest Edward Stubbington
Private 117830
19th Company (Chester) Royal Army Medical Corps.

War Plot Division 71 & 72

Ernest Stubbington was the husband of Catherine H. Stubbington, of 58, Brickfield Road, Portswood, Southampton.

Ernest Stubbington died on 12th July 1917, aged 37. He took his own life and the Reading Standard published the following information.

 Standard July 14th 1917

“Earnest Stubbington R.A.M.C. stationed at Whalley, was on Thursday found dead on the line at Reading.  His head was shockingly injured.  An inquest will be held today (Saturday)”

 Standard July 21st 1917

Ernest Stubbington, aged 37 years, a Private in the R.A.M.C., had been married for 18 years and had 6  children.  He was “described by his widow and his military officer as being of jovial disposition, and getting on well with his work”.  “He committed suicide on the railway line last week”.  He was called up for military service on May 15th last, and was engaged in office work in Whalley.  Granted 4 days leave, and a pass from Saturday to Tuesday, he went home to Southampton.  He left there Monday morning in order to join his unit by Tuesday midnight.

On Tuesday his wife received the following letter, bearing the post mark Paddington, 3.15:-

Dear Wife, – My heart fails me to return to prison life, as you are so rotten towards me, and I know that I shall only be a nuisance to you in a month or so, as I am telling you the truth-I am going blind in one eye-I am going to quit this earth tonight and I shall lay my head down to rest and peace.  That is what has been worrying me so, and end it I will tonight, so you will be free now, and I only hope the children will get cared for by someone better than me.  You can have your fling now….So farewell all, and the best of luck to you; you have never understood me so its best.  Good bye.!”

The body was found on Thursday morning on the line from Reading to Paddington near Woodley Bridge.  The back part of the skull had been torn away.  In one of his pockets a piece of paper , bearing the pencilled words “Only a nuisance”.

A verdict of premeditated suicide was returned.  The widow said her husband had been depressed for about 12 months, though for no particular reason.  He had complained of bad eyesight and also of his heart.  She couldn’t account for the tone of the letter, there was no reason to refer to her in that way.  She did not think he had friends in Reading or that he had been “carrying on” with other women.  The Quarter Master at Whalley spoke well of his military character.

Agnes Maude Russell

Nurse, Registered War Grave

Agnes Maude Russell
Staff Nurse
Queen  Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Division 3

 CIMG2079

 

Military honours were accorded at the funeral of Sister Agnes Maude Russell, who died 4th October 1916, at Queen Alexandra’s Hospital for Sick Sisters. Sister Russell, aged 42, was nursing soldiers in Malta when she was invalided home on the 27th September.  The soldiers would probably have been those requiring treatment as a result of action in the Dardanelles.

Formerly she had been a  school nurse employed by the London Education Committee.  She was also a Sunday School teacher at Westminster Chapel, where the first part of the funeral service was conducted.

Before the interment a service was held at Kings Rd. Baptist Church, the Rev. R. G. Fairbairn officiating.  The hymn “For all the saints”, was sung.    The mourners were Mr. Augustine Russell (father), Mr. E.A. Russell (brother), her sister, brother and sister in law and cousin.  The congregation included members of Westminster Chapel, Matron Q.A. Hospital, members of staff London Education Committee, Matron of No. 1 War Hospital, Numerous floral tributes including from her father, the Girl Guides of Westminster chapel, members of staff London Education Committee, Nurses and staff No. 1 War hospital, the School Nurses League.

Her grave has a CWGC headstone.

Leonard Noel Sutton

Army, Berkshire Yeomanry, Graves

Page under construction

Noel Sutton
Captain Berkshire Yeomanry

Division 65

Sutton N photo

 

Leonard Noel Sutton was the grandson of Martin Hope Sutton and the eldest and only surviving son of Leonard Goodhart Sutton and his wife Mary Charlotte (nee Seaton).  Born in 1894 he died in 1965 and is buried with his father and mother in the family grave.