TOPIC:

Can anyone find any record of this man's war service, and of his death?


Mrs. Board, of 18, Elmore-street, Islington, asked Mr. D'Eyncourt, at the North London police-court, yesterday, to assist her in finding her husband, who has disappeared under rather singular circumstances. He - Charles Board, an army pensioner, aged thirty-eight - had been wounded in the face during the late war in South Africa, and had a mechanical contrivance in his mouth to assist in the healing process. He accidentally swallowed part of this apparatus, and left on Monday to go to the Metropolitan Hospital to have it seen to. But he did not go to the hospital, and has not been seen or heard of by her since. The man's description is: 5ft. 8in. in height; long, thin face deformed owing to gunshot wound. He was wearing a dark pilot jacket and Trilby hat. As he appeared depressed, it is feared that some ill has befallen him.
Evening Express, Friday 28th August 1903

Edit - The Metropolitan Hospital was a free hospital, in Kingsland Road, Hackney, and is approximately half a mile from Elmore Street, with Regent's Canal not too far away. It closed in 1977. hackneybuildings.org/items/show/19831

It may end up being converted to a hotel. lovingdalston.co.uk/2011/03/hotel-planners-just-love-hackney/

Another great story Berenice.

Only one C Board was wounded in the ABW and this man fits many of the details:

Charles Henry Board b. 1870, Bermondsey, Surrey height on enlistment 5' 7".
#3989 1st bn Northumberland Fusiliers, wounded 28-11-1899 Modder River, 3 gunshot wounds. He was discharged later in the year. No mention of wife in his service papers. Given the extent of wound described in the newspaper it is not noted as a distinguishing mark on his discharge papers.

It is unfortunate his wife is not identified. A Charles Henry Board (age 33) married Emily Helen Rawlings on April 7th 1901 in Islington.

A Charles Henry Board age 36 died in the July quarter 1903 Southwark Registration District.

Regards
Meurig

I wonder what the "medical contrivance" in his mouth was. Could he have lost part, or all, of his tongue?