Gay Flier

[Lodger]

My grandfather died in Stobhill Military Hospital while he was home on leave in 1919, his cause of death was directly linked to the war and his death is recorded in the 1919 returns, not in the Service Returns.

[MonicaL]

Hopefully Falrkryn's suggestion of making contact with the dedicated NHS Archivist at the Mitchell may yield something new.

Monica

[sancti]

You probably have this, but thought to add as it gives some more detail to the story although no answers:

Another fleeting recollection of 1915 was the swift passage through wartime Glasgow in a bleak week of smirring drizzle and gloom, of an exotic party of Canadian Indian troops commanded by Chief Clear Sky.  They were on their way to the war and sampled Glasgow hospitality enjoying a first, and no doubt last, taste of black pudding.

But they left one young Indian behind.  His name was Gay Flier.  He was very very ill with flu and died in Govan Military Hospital.  My grandpa had been seeing to Chief Clear Sky’s men when they were in Glasgow and so’s not to let the boy get buried in an unmarked grave he claimed the body and saw to it that there was a right funeral in Glasgow with magistrates there, a gun carriage and a party to fire a salute at the grave.  It wasnae among his own open-air folk, but it was better than being not heeded at all.

https://dianacranstoun.com/tag/world-war-i/

Monica

PS: Just realised that aside from me calling you Alan rather than Alistair, I have also been referring to Walter Freer as William. I must have bopped by head yesterday!

Would a serving soldier who died in a military hospital be buried in an unmarked grave?

[RJ_Paton]

Would a serving soldier who died in a military hospital be buried in an unmarked grave?

It's possible, as the CWGC did not come into being until  1917 (Royal Charter dated 21st May 1917)

[Cramond Brig]

Would a serving soldier who died in a military hospital be buried in an unmarked grave?

It's possible, as the CWGC did not come into being until  1917 (Royal Charter dated 21st May 1917)

I feel sure that Walter Freer would not have allowed him to be buried in an unmarked grave. It is believed he claimed the body and arranged the funeral. Again, it is believed he was buried with military honours.

[Cramond Brig]

The Southern General Archivist says, "I can confirm that we hold a substantial archive from the Southern General Hospital (formerly Govan Parochial Poorhouse Hospital) at Merryflats.  I am sorry to have to say that we cannot help you as we do not possess any records of Govan War Hospital / Govan Military Hospital. The records of temporary military hospitals were all gathered up in 1919 for use by the Ministry of Pensions.  The Ministry had been created to deal with claims for disability pensions, widows’ pensions, etc.  To the best of my knowledge and belief, the records of temporary military hospitals are in the custody of the War Pensions Branch of the Department of Social Security.  Unfortunately the DSS does not provide a research service. There is some uncertainty as to where Govan War Hospital / Govan Military Hospital was located.  The minutes of the Parish Council show that they offered the army the use of premises at Merryflats and were turned down.  One possibility is that the terms Govan War Hospital and Govan Military Hospital may refer to the British Red Cross Hospital in Bellahouston Park.  This, however, makes little difference as the Bellahouston records seem to have been collected up with the rest."

[MonicaL]

Mmmm  That is a disappointment.

It is a pity the Glasgow Herald is not searchable by key word from 1900. I have tried all sorts of key word searches on the Daily Record, Sunday People and the Scotsman but nothing showing for me.

As fantastic as it is to have google's images of the Glasgow Herald through the 1900s, images can be quite hard to work through page by page https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC

What's left, Alastair? Walter Freer's book, 'My Life and Memories'?

Monica

[scotmum]

Craigton interment records had a good number of folks buried from Merryflats in the few weeks after mid December, but no obvious 'Gay Flier'. Their books also noted who owned/purchased the grave, but none of those checked  for the period seemed to be Walter Freer, unless I missed any when looking (they aren't indexed, unfortunately). If anyone wants to double check, they are available at :

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01nt4/

With Craigton for the timescale being https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/008012786?cat=1305975

[MonicaL]

As a side note, Walter Freer and some family members were buried at Cathcart Cemetery www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2164838/memorial-search?firstName=&lastName=freer&page=1#sr-158275666

Monica