The Scottish War Graves Project

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

I have two problems with this lady, the first being that she is recorded by CWGC as buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery that I cannot find on SWGP. I do however have a photograph of her grave acknowledged to ‘gourdongirl, Inveresk Cemetery’ but checking through that cemetery I cannot now find a photo of the grave. I have email gourdongirl to check if I have recorded the wrong cemetery but, so far, no response. Does anybody recognise the photo and where the grave is located also does Prestonpans New Cemetery exist?

My second problem is that I have recently received information that Cecilia died in the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh from compound fracture of the skull following gunshot wound. Would anybody have any further details regarding how she sustained the gunshot wound, press report, etc.?

Grateful for any assistance.

Tony

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

"Severely wounded in the head by a buckshot rifle, Mrs Cecilia Sunshine, 29 High Street, Prestonpans was on Saturday admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Mrs Sunshine, who is 19 years of age, was conveyed to the Infirmary by Red Cross ambulance"
- "Scotsman" Sept 14th, 1942.
_________________
There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

Thanks Derek

No indication of accidental or deliberate. Don't know if there is any significance but no mention of her husband on CWGC Certificate only her parents. He was Arthur Sunshine, Gunner Royal Artillery.

Tony

gourdongirl · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:45 pm Post subject:

I have just been along to Prestonpans New Cemetery and there is a CWGC stone for her there.

I will post the photo over the weekend.

Shona

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

She is entitled to war death status and a CWGC stone, regardless of the cause of her death, as she was serving in the A.T.S. at the time.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

Jim

She is commemorated, I am just curious as to the circumstances.

Death Cert quotes "Compound fracture of the skull result of gunshot wound", 11.30 pm 13th September 1942 (a Saturday) at 29 High Street, Prestonpans (quoted as usual residence), Informant registered as Arthur Sunshine, Widower, Gunner Royal Artillery.

CWGC Cert. quotes "Daughter of George and Helen Edmond of Prestonpans" No reference to husband.

No indication if accidental or ?.

Tony

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Tony,
In the case of a "suspicious" death, I would expect to see an abreviation on the certificate to indicate that it had been investigated.
Is there any such addition to Cecilia's?
_________________
There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

Nothing that I can see Derek.

What makes me suspicious is a 19 year old girl - 11.30 at night - a shotgun wound - suicide or what ?

Tony

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Sure there isn't an RCE (Record of Corrected Entry) associated with this death register entry?
I would have expected some kind of investigation by, or at least a comment from, the local Procurator Fiscal even in the case of the death of a serving member of the military.
Ken

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

What I have, passed on to me by a colleague, is not an individual Death Cert. it is a page with 3 deaths recorded and Cecilia is the bottom one, what is different to her entry is the first column is blank in the top two but in hers there is a small oval stamp with, what looks like 'Recognition' hand written with other unreadable printing around it.

The other document is a 'Register of Corrected Entries' the only difference is she is recorded as "Cecilia Cochrane Edmund or Sunshine" whilst on the D.C. it is "Cecilia Cochrane Sunshine". Edmund is her parents surname.

Tony

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

I have just studied these two documents again - The document "Register of Corrected Entries" - First line reads "The following Report of a Precognition has been received touching the death of Cecilia..........."
This document is also dated 27th December 1943, 14 months after the death.

Searching Google to find out what 'Precognition' means produced, in one title. - "Precognition is psychic knowledge of something in advance of its occurrence. The faculty of seeing into the future is called "second sight" if it is not induced by ... ".

Unless there is another meaning for 'Precognition' that now leaves me completely confused as the oval stamp that I referred to in my previous email is not 'RECOGNITION' it is 'PRECOGNITION'

Tony

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

RCE = Compound fracture of the skull result of - gunshot wound

D.C. = Compound fracture skull 1 day following gunshot wound

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Tony

Had it been considered suicide / accident / homocide I wouid have expected something to that effect to be detailed on the RCE.
Mystery continues.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Tonym · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 91 Location: East Sussex

Jim

It has to have been one of those three options and the addition of the family name 'Edmond' on the RCE suggests to me that this could have been at the parents request. I have my own thoughts as to why but not on here.
I have just looked at Scotlands People and the on line display is exactly the same as the print out that I have so I have to assume that a copy of the actual DC will be the same and a waste of credits, so a mystery it will probably remain.

Tony