London burials/cremations 1943

[stevemoss]

I've hit a wall in trying to locate the burial place of my paternal late great grandmother and would appreciate any views people may have. She lived in Balham from circa 1890 and died in St John's Hospital Battersea in April 1943. Her husband (my great grandfather) died in 1930 and was buried at Streatham Cemetery in Garratt Lane, Tooting. Her son (my grandfather) died in 1945 and was buried in Lambeth Cemetery in Blackshaw Road, Tooting. My great grandmother is in neither of these locations nor in any of the cemeteries in Wandsworth or Southwark or others in Lambeth. I've also had a search undertaken at Streatham Vale, Rowan Road but nothing found. She originated from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, but I find it hard to believe that half way through WW2, she would have been taken to Suffolk. Any thoughts or opinions gratefully received, thanks. Steve

[louisa maud]

It does happen that the dead are transported elsewhere, my fathers Gt grandfather died in Ipswich and was taken back to Lambeth to be buried with his mother, so perhaps spreading out a bit might find her resting place
It does all depend if finances allow of course, a council burial which often happened would be to a local cemetery

Happy hunting

Louisa Maud

[stevemoss]

Thanks Louisa Maud, maybe I should start looking closer to where she was born. There may have been a family 'agreement' that when she passed on, she would be transported back to where the family originated and where her mother and father were laid to rest.
Thanks again

Steve

[deebel]

What about Brookewood Cemetery. Did the funeral trains not run from Waterloo until after the end of  ww2?

[stevemoss]

I had not considered Brookwood as it seems so far away from either Battersea (where she died) or Balham (where she lived). I'm not familiar with the term funeral trains. Thanks for your input though.

[deebel]

It was once the largest cemetery in the world. Funeral Trains left from Waterloo with special rolling stock for coffins and carriages for funeral parties. The railway went right into Brookwood cemetery and there were two stations depending upon denomination etc. Coffins were partitioned according to ticket class and denomination  just like the mourners

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Necropolis_Railway#Hearse_vans

It still operated sporadically during the war although it does appear that the service was going into decline. Nevertheless you might want to check it out. Looking at the map the distance between St Johns Battersea and the Brookwood Necropolis station is negligibe. I imagine that local undertakers in Battersea used the service extensively in its heyday

[stevemoss]

This is most informative, Deebel, thank you. I will look into this further. Do you have any insight into whether, during wartime, funerals/burials at 'local' cemeteries was halted? I am trying to understand the rationale for my great grandmother having not been buried nearer to where she lived and where her immediate family were buried. Thanks again for this, I will let you know if I have any luck.

[deebel]

This is most informative, Deebel, thank you. I will look into this further. Do you have any insight into whether, during wartime, funerals/burials at 'local' cemeteries was halted? I am trying to understand the rationale for my great grandmother having not been buried nearer to where she lived and where her immediate family were buried. Thanks again for this, I will let you know if I have any luck.

I suppose like most sprawling cities and particularly so in London it became ever more difficult to find a burial plot hence the reason for establishing Brookwood. It also appears that it was a fairly inexpensive option as I read that other undertakers not using the service complained.

[deebel]

Did the hospital arrange her funeral. Perhaps there is a record. Someone on this board may know if there are archives covering the hospital