Charles Peck, Bugler, Royal Marine Light Infantry

[seaJane]

Just posting this here as a curiosity; I found an envelope in the last archive box I checked, on the day I retired, and thought people might be interested in it and its contents.

Charles Peck's attestation pack can't be downloaded from TNA, but the Discovery catalogue says "ADM 157/2708/30 - Description: Folios 303 - 307: Charles Peck, born: Gosport, Hampshire; Age at attestation: 14; Attested: Gosport; Joined in: 1911; Discharge reason: Invalided at RN Hospital Haslar; Discharge year: 1917."

His service record could be downloaded, and I add it here.

The autographs are on the back of the invitation card. I read them as follows:

Eugénie Godfrey-Faussett (wife of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Godfrey-Faussett) / Bridget Keppel https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/AUTH227495 / Violet V???? / Alexandria? / ???? Lister Kaye / Hedworth Meux https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedworth_Meux / Lily Lincolnshire.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 6 January , 2022 by seaJane

[Neil 2242]

Interesting discovery!

For what it's worth, 2 of the autographs that you partially got I would say are:

- Violet Vivian

- Natica Lister Kaye

 

[michaeldr]

Well spotted Neil!

2nd from the bottom is AF Sir Hedworth Meux

edit to add: Top signature is Eugénie, the wife of Sir Bryan Godfrey-Faussett [Wiki gossips that she had a decade long affair with Beatty]

edit II: The last name, “Lily Lincolnshire,” could be the Cecilia, Marchioness of Lincolnshire

edit III: 2nd from the top - Lady Bridget Keppel was the wife of Sir Derek Keppel, the Master of the Household

Edited 7 January , 2022 by michaeldr

[Neil 2242]

The middle signature, "Alexandra".... could this be the dowager queen, mother of George V?

Compare her known signatures, especially the "....dra" at the end.

https://www.historyforsale.com/queen-alexandra-of-denmark-great-britain-autograph/dc176571

[michaeldr]

I think that your right there, Neil; it compares very well

[Neil 2242]

Some background to the event, it was for convalescent soldiers.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19160323.2.4

Note the part: "They crowded round Queen Alexandra while she busily autographed the programmes, undismayed by the length of the queue of waiting soldiers"

[seaJane]

On 07/01/2022 at 17:11, Neil 2242 said:

Violet Vivian

- Natica Lister Kaye

Thank you! Here is Violet Vivian https://www.rct.uk/collection/2930998/the-honourable-violet-vivian-d-1962

Natica Lister-Kaye https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp101723/natica-nee-yznaga-lady-lister-kaye

On 07/01/2022 at 17:19, michaeldr said:

Hedworth Meux

Thanks Michael, I'd got all the others (the links are at the top of my post) except that I could not find a link for Lily Lincolnshire. She does definitely crop up as Lily Lincolnshire in some Google Books references but it may be a nickname, I suppose.

 

On 07/01/2022 at 18:01, Neil 2242 said:

"Alexandra".... could this be the dowager queen, mother of George V?

Thank you! That does look right. And I should have recognised that one; my former colleagues of the QARNNS Archive have a signed engraved portrait of her in their office.

 

On 07/01/2022 at 20:28, Neil 2242 said:

They crowded round Queen Alexandra while she busily autographed the programmes

It must have been quite a show. Thank you for the link! That's going on the archive notes.

Much obliged to everyone for their thoughts.

 

sJ

Edited 9 January , 2022 by seaJane

[michaeldr]

Hi SJ,

Sorry about the duplication. I was carried away by the thrill of the hunt (and no doubt by the unaccustomed glass at lunchtime  )

A fascinating topic. Thanks

[seaJane]

6 hours ago, michaeldr said:

carried away by the thrill of the hunt

Happens to all of us some time or another!

[seaJane]

This seems to be him - the dates and place fit although the middle name isn't recorded: "passed peacefully away" November 1919.

He is not on CWGC, but FreeBMD has him born and dying in Alverstoke.

https://rmhistorical.com/DAPShowGraveFile.php?id=1823

 

[seaJane]

Further, this, which says he died "from the effects of wounds received in the Dardanelles."

I've checked again and he definitely isn't on CWGC. Is this an "in from the cold" case?

[Bardess]

3 hours ago, seaJane said:

Is this an "in from the cold" case?

Possibly. You'd need to buy the DC to see what he actually died of and if it was war-related. 2 1/2 years is a long time. Good luck with it

[Neil 2242]

12 hours ago, Bardess said:

Possibly. You'd need to buy the DC to see what he actually died of and if it was war-related. 2 1/2 years is a long time. Good luck with it

I'd agree with this comment.

The newspaper article would be a useful supporting document, but what the death certificate says will be key. It's all about what you can prove from primary sources.

 

Not directly relevant, but he seems to be mentioned in the log of HMS Grafton when transferred to the hospital ship Gloucester Castle....though not by name.

Scroll down to 4 Jan 1916.

https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-05-HMS_Grafton.htm

 

 

[seaJane]

1 hour ago, Neil 2242 said:

4 Jan 1916.

Thanks for that, it seems entirely probable that the bugler is him.

I've ordered a copy of the death certificate.

sJ

[rolt968]

There is a Pension Card for Charles Peck. No ledgers turned up in index. (WFA)

RM

Edited 12 January , 2022 by rolt968

[seaJane]

6 hours ago, rolt968 said:

Pension Card for Charles Peck

Thanks Roger!

Still waiting on the death certificate - can't remember how long they said it would take.

seaJane

[The Inspector]

Hi All,

Just to confirm ......

1911 census Charles Benjamin Peck at 13 Whitworth Rd., Gosport (Pension Card address) with his parents and siblings including Henry George his elder brother as per grave details . Tree on Ancestry.

Regards Barry

[seaJane]

Thanks Barry. House is still there, viz Google Street View:

[seaJane]

1). Pulmonary tuberculosis

2). Cardiac failure.

I don't think that's going to cut it with the CWGC. Heigh-ho.

 

[rolt968]

That's a pity.

A vague possibility. Do we actually know his condition when he was discharged? He may have had TB.

I have looked for a Silver War Badge entry and haven't found one.

RM

[Neil 2242]

His Silver War Badge was numbered RN 9152.

The entry doesn't add any further information though.

 

 

Edited 15 January , 2022 by Neil 2242

[Neil 2242]

Shame about the death certificate. Unless we can somehow show that the TB was contracted on war service.

Newspaper articles are suggestive but nothing more.

 

[horatio2]

On 06/01/2022 at 13:43, seaJane said:

"ADM 157/2708/30 - Description: Folios 303 - 307: Charles Peck, born: Gosport, Hampshire; Age at attestation: 14; Attested: Gosport; Joined in: 1911; Discharge reason: Invalided at RN Hospital Haslar; Discharge year: 1917."

His ADM 159 ledger record does not give the reason for invaliding but the above ADM 157 should have his discharge papers which will state the reason. I say "should" because it depends on how badly his ADM 157 papers have been weeded by TNA. Some sets of papers have been decimated.

[seaJane]

Thanks Horatio! I will see if my friend going to Kew in February has any space on his order form.

[seaJane]

(Also thanks to Neil and Roger, of course.)