Ennis, circa 1890
This theory can easily be proven in the world of the 19th century Gentry class in Ireland.
In 1843, Frances Burke-Browne (1820-1890) married James O’Brien (d 1845) who worked for the Bank of Ireland.
When James’ father, Terence O’Brien (d 1849) retired from the Bank in 1846, John Harnett Milward (1817-1870) succeeded him as manager of the Bank’s branch in Ennis.
The next year, John married Terence’s daughter, Ellen Maria O’Brien (b 1820-).
In 1860, Frances Burke-Browne’s brother, Edmund Burke-Browne (1823-1891) married Bessie Reilly (1833-1881).
Bessie’s brother, Henry Patrick Reilly (1838-1894) married Mary Frances Julia Milward (1855-1904) in 1872.
Mary Milward was John Harnett’s daughter; Terence O’Brien’s granddaughter and James O’Brien’s niece!
Henry Patrick Reilly was John Harnett’s son-in-law; Edmund’s brother-in-law; James’ nephew-in-law and Terrence’s grandson-in-law!
The circle is complete!
Ellen Maria and John Harnett Milward had a total of 14 children - which included two sets of twins, identical and fraternal.
Born in 1855, our great grandmother Mary was their seventh child and first daughter. She was right in the middle.
By the time their father died in 1870, only three of the Milward children were still in Ireland. Six had died and five had emigrated.
One of the émigrés was the sixth son who was just two years older than our great grandmother.
Lt Col. Edwin Oswald Milward, MD.,LRCS, LRCP is the focus of this post.
His father, John Harnett Milward, managed the Ennis branch of the Bank of Ireland. In those days, banks customarily provided their managers with very comfortable lodging in "Bank Houses" which were usually located above the bank which they managed.
Edwin was born at the Bank House on Jail Street, Ennis on November 9,1853.
Bank House, Ennis
Despite their humble exteriors, these homes were very fashionable and big enough to accommodate large Irish families - including the requisite two or three live-in servants.
Baptized two weeks later at Sts Peter & Paul in Ennis, Edwin’s godparents were Catherine Hayes and his uncle, Harnett Milward.
Sts Peter & Paul, Ennis
Edwin’s Baptism Record
As commodious as was the Ennis Bank House, soon after Edwin’s birth John decided to relocate his growing family from Town Central and into a property with some acreage.
Fountain House was his choice. Situated on 125 acres, Fountain House offered the acreage needed for farming and was an idyllic setting for raising his growing brood.
In the 19th century, it was not unusual for businessmen to also farm.
Some rented large tracts of land which they would sublet to subsistence farmers or they employed people, at subsistence wages, who worked the land for them.
They - especially bankers - were able to obtain favorable terms on these leases.
But, according to Hugh Weir in Houses of Clare, JH Milward owned this estate.
Here is his entry for Fountain House -
Within 10 years, eight more children were born at Fountain House - including Mary Frances Julia who was born there in 1855.
It must have been an idyllic setting, indeed. In addition to including a very large house, the acreage of the estate provided enough land for farming, raising animals and riding horses and there was even a small watering hole on the property which was perfect for a family of active boys.
When he was about 12 years old, Edwin was sent to join his older brothers at boarding school in Ennis - Springfield College.
Springfield College
Springfield College was described:
"....... stands on three acres of land, tastefully laid out, including extensive play-grounds, noble racket-courts and, in the absence of out-door exercise, large play rooms.
".... The school rooms, which are spacious, lofty and thoroughly ventilated, are capable of accommodating 200 pupils.
".... The Dormitories, large, elegantly ventilated, can accommodate 60 boarders.
"... There are two Resident Masters engaged who, in turn, supervise the students and continually attend upon the pupils.
"... The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered up in the College Chapel and Catechetical Instructions are given by one of the Rev. Gentlemen of the Parish."
"....... stands on three acres of land, tastefully laid out, including extensive play-grounds, noble racket-courts and, in the absence of out-door exercise, large play rooms.
".... The school rooms, which are spacious, lofty and thoroughly ventilated, are capable of accommodating 200 pupils.
".... The Dormitories, large, elegantly ventilated, can accommodate 60 boarders.
"... There are two Resident Masters engaged who, in turn, supervise the students and continually attend upon the pupils.
"... The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered up in the College Chapel and Catechetical Instructions are given by one of the Rev. Gentlemen of the Parish."
Springfield College
The curriculum was as rigorous as was the beauty of the campus at Springfield.
The Courses of Instruction included the following Languages: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, English, French, German and Italian.
In addition, there were courses in:
Ancient and Modern History, Geography, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Mathematics, Bookkeeping and Commercial Correspondence, Botany, Zoology, Mineralogy, Music, Drawing and "the various other branches of a thoroughly classical and commercial education."
"...The students are taught to write and speak French and Latin with ease and correctness. But, the cultivation of the English language and Mathematics always form a prominent feature in the curriculum of the College."
It was in 1865 when Edwin joined his older brothers - John, William, George, Fred and Charles - who were all already studying at the College.
At the end of that year, three of the Milward brothers had earned Honors. As explained by the Headmaster, the students’ academic performances were scored on a scale from 1 to 10. Only those students earning scores closest to ten would be considered Honor students.
George Milward scored 8; Frederick scored 7.5 and Edward/Edwin (the youngest) scored 9 points!
Graduating from Springfield in 1868, Edwin was next sent to another boarding school located in Limerick.
Situated at 1 Raymond Place, the Limerick Collegiate Academy was known as the principal boarding school in the City for preparing its students for all of the College, Civic and Military examinations.
Edwin was not alone at Limerick. But, although he attended with two of his older brothers, William and George, at Limerick junior pupils were kept separate from the older boys.
They were placed under the charge of an experienced Teacher whose entire responsibility was devoted only to them.
Boarding students were not permitted to go into Town alone. When they did go to town, they were always accompanied by a resident Master.
At Limerick Collegiate, ALL of the students were prepared for the most important competitive examinations in the country.
That intense preparation ensured that every student at Limerick was successful ...... without exception.
Edwin again excelled in his studies - winning a Second Place Classical Scholarship to Queen’s College in Galway in 1870.
From Limerick, Edwin joined his brother, George, at Queen’s College in Galway where he continued to excell each semester.
Repeating his success in Sophomore year, he earned another Junior Scholarship......
After his Junior Year, Edwin won yet another scholarship -
In July 1873, Edwin Oswald Milward graduated FIRST in his class from Queen’s College Galway with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
At graduation, he was also awarded a Senior Scholarship to help with the expense of his Master’s Degree.
Queen’s University
So, that is what he did. The next year, Edwin returned to Galway and was awarded a Master’s Degree in Science in 1874.
During his years at school in Limerick and Galway, the Milward family in Ennis had experienced serious emotional blows.
The father of the family, John Harnett, passed away on December 16, 1870.
John Harnett Milward
John Harnett Milward was highly respected in his community. His sudden death at 53 years of age (the obituary has it wrong) left his widow with four young children under the age of ten and sent ripples of condolences throughout Ennis.
Two years later, on August 14, 1872, the second oldest son, William Harnett, drowned on the river Fergus while fishing with his brother George.
William’s tragic death at 23 years of age, ended his promising career in medicine.
This tragedy occurred just a week before the wedding of his little sister, Mary Frances, to Henry Patrick Reilly.
Three of his brothers had emigrated to America while Edwin was away at school.
John Henry (1848-1925) had been in Louisville, Kentucky since 1867.
The identical twins were both gone -
Charles Albert (1852-1912) was the first twin to leave Ireland. In 1868, we find him working as a glass polisher in Boston.
His twin, Frederick Freeman O’Brien (1852-1920), joined him in Boston two years later.
Louis Alfred (1857-1873) had died at only 15 years of age.
Two babies also had died during Edwin’s years at school. Ernest and George were each about a year old when they passed away.
Sometime after John’s death, his family moved from Fountain House to Clonroad House which was on the Causeway of the river Fergus in Ennis.
Clonroad House
Clonroad House
The Milward Family was living in this house on the river Fergus where William drowned.
These must have been very sad days for Mrs Milward......
Home from school for the Christmas holidays in 1876, Edwin had a brief run-in with the law.
Evidently, he and some of his lads were arrested for drinking in a pub after hours.
Petty Sessions
After appearing in Petty Sessions Court, the boys paid their fine
Now that he had earned his Bachelor and Master Degrees, Edwin was ready to begin medical school.
He wanted to be a surgeon so he chose the toughest medical school in the United Kingdom - Edinburgh University Medical School.
Edinburgh School of Medicine
Throughout the 18th century until the First World War, the Edinburgh Medical School was widely considered the best school of medicine in the English speaking world.
One of the reason students were attracted to this School of Medicine - and they came from Ireland, America plus the Colonies - was its reputation for attracting brilliant teachers.
Established in 1726, during the Scottish Enlightenment, it is also one of the oldest medical schools in the English-speaking world.
Edinburgh School of Medicine
The Edinburgh Model was a method of teaching medicine that had developed at the University during the 18th century and was later widely emulated around the world.
First, this method offered its students studies in all branches of science, not just medicine.
Edinburgh University
Furthermore, it had a two-tiered educational system which allowed a great number of students to matriculate, yet few met the requirements to graduate.
The requirements for an MD Degree from Edinburgh were very stringent.
Students had to attend all lectures with the exception of midwifery (although it was strongly encouraged nonetheless); they had to study for a minimum of 3 years; they had to write a series of oral and written examinations in Latin and they had to compose a Latin thesis which was to be defended in front of the entire faculty.
Despite these obstacles, Edwin succeeded and graduated in 1879.
During the latter part of the nineteenth century (1859), the “Double Qualification in Medicine and Surgery” was established in Scotland.
This meant that its graduates had earned degrees - and were proficient - in not just Medicine but in Surgery, too.
It also meant that they would have a long and confusing set of initials after their name in the Medical Register.
It looks like this: “Lic.R.Coll.Phys.Edn., Lic.R.Coll.Surg.Edn."
With his Double Medical Degree in hand, in 1880, Edwin decided to join the Royal Army Medical Service.
To be considered for the Service, a doctor needed to be certified with the Army, unmarried and over 21 years of age.
The candidate then had to undergo further examinations in physiology, surgery, medicine, zoology, botany and physical geography including meteorology, and also satisfy various other requirements (including having dissected the whole human body at least once and having attended 12 midwifery cases).
These examinations and training were administered at Netley Hospital in Southampton. Netley served as the home of the Army Medical School and is where civilian doctors were trained for Army service.
This was a difficult time for the Army Medical Service. There was much unrest in the Corps.
Medical officers did not actually have military rank but "advantages corresponding to relative military rank" (such as choice of quarters, rates of lodging money, servants, fuel and light, allowances on account of injuries received in action, and pensions and allowances to widows and families).
They earned inferior pay in India and were assigned excessive amounts of Indian and colonial service (being required to serve in India six years at a stretch). They earned less recognition in honors and awards. They did not have their own identity as did the Army Service Corps, whose officers did have military rank.
(Unlike medical officers in some other countries, medical officers in the AMC do not use the "Dr" prefix. They only use their rank, although they may be addressed informally as "Doctor". Also, unlike in the Royal Navy, doctors in the AMC do not prefix "Surgeon" in front of their rank.)
Eventually, in 1898, these officers and soldiers who were providing medical services became incorporated into a new body known by its present name, the Royal Army Medical Corps.
The RAMC began to develop during the Boer War of 1899–1902. During this Conflict, the Corps itself lost 743 officers and 6130 soldiers.
But, Edwin began his military service in the Army Service Corps in 1880. As you will learn, he spent many many years in India, at reduced pay.
In the British Army at the time, every brigade of infantry or cavalry had attached to it a medical section, comprised generally of three officers and about fifty-seven men.
In Battle, the wounded would be conveyed by ambulances to dressing stations. After receiving treatment there, they were either returned to their unit or referred to a field hospital for more care.
However, the reality of war often meant that provisions for the sick and wounded were inadequate. For example, at the battle of Modder River, two field hospitals had to deal with 800 patients.
In addition to their medical duties, the RAMC also had responsibility for hygiene, sanitation and water supplies etc.
Edwin began his Army training at Netley Hospital in Southampton in 1880.
In August 1880, Edwin graduated FOURTH in his Netley class.
He then learned to speak Hindustanee!
In April, 1881, we find Edwin aboard the Euphrates-class troop ship, HMS Serapis..... heading for India.
The HMS Serapis spent her entire career in the transportation of troops.
HMS Serapis
For 18 years (1876-1894), she carried British and Colonial troops from the United Kingdom to India.
This was a route that averaged 70 days, each way.
Edwin was stationed in the city of Bengal, India for six years - until 1887.
During those six years in India, he was promoted to Captain and he also was initiated in the Freemason Lodge of Charity in December 1882.
Freemason Lodge of Charity
In 1887, Edwin received his orders to return to England where he served in Southampton until 1892.
Consulting the Ireland: City and Regional Directory and the UK and Ireland Medical Directory, we can follow Edwin’s career.
During the five years he spent in Southampton, he lived in three areas: Portsmouth, Gosport and Marchwood.
It was in 1889 that he married Enid Susan Plumridge. The wedding took place on September 26, 1889 in Southampton.
Edwin’s late father-in-law was Admiral James Plumridge, K.C.B.
Admiral James Hanway Plumridge
K. C. B. - “Knight Commander of the Bath” is an Order awarded by the Queen in recognition of conspicuous services to the Crown.
The Order of the Bath takes its name from the symbolic bathing which, in former times, often formed part of the preparation of a candidate for knighthood.
The Admiral’s naval career had extended from Trafalgar to the war in the Crimea. But, his career was not without controversy.
In the Crimea in 1854, he commanded his frigate to bombard a number of Finnish settlements. This action destroyed fortifications, telegraph apparatus, and captured enemy shipping.
He was afterwards sharply criticized for firing on civilian settlements.
Furthermore, the destroyed Finnish commodities were, for the most part, actually bought by British customers and often paid in advance.
He had effectively pillaged on his own nations's goods.
Although his command was not renewed, Plumridge was still made a K.C.B. in 1855.
Edwin never got to meet his new father-in-law. The Admiral had died in 1863 when Enid was only a year old. Her mother - 30 years younger than her twice widowed hushand - was seven months pregnant when she was widowed.
But, before her father died, the family of Edwin’s fiancée, Enid Susan (1862-1942) grew up living in one of the wealthiest districts in the world - Belgravia in London - at 66-67 Chester Square.
66-67 Chester Square, London
The late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, later lived down the block at 73 Chester Square.
The former Plumridge home at 66-67 recently sold for £28 MILLION! Take a look at it now: https://oracleoftime.com/stunning-home-londons-chester-square-market-28-million/
According to the 1851 Census, there was a total of seven servants who lived with the family. These included a cook, a parlor maid, a Lady’s maid, a house maid, a nurse and TWO nurse’s maids!
But, after the Admiral’s death, his widow seems to have downsized. According to the Census of 1871, 1881 and 1891, she always lived as an “annuitant” - living off annuities - and she moved every ten years.
At the time of her daughter’s wedding in 1889, she was living in Millbrook - now known as Freemantle - in Southampton.
And it was in Christ Church in Freemantle, Southampton where Edwin and Enid were married on September 26, 1889.
Christ Church, Freemantle
Rev J. D’Arcy Preston officiated at the wedding.
Rev, D’Arcy Preston
Rev Preston was from a seafaring and clergy family. His grandfather was Admiral D'Arcy Preston of the Royal Navy. He had one brother who was a major in the Army and another who was Rear Admiral. Three of his sisters married clergymen.
In marrying Enid Susan, Edwin was surrounded by the Royal Army Service elite.
After their wedding, the newlyweds lived with Enid’s mother, Lady Georgiana Skinner Plumridge (1822-1897) at 141 Millbrook Street in Southampton.
141 Millbrook Street
The 1891 Census reports seven people living with Lady Georgiana at 141 Milbrook Street: Edwin & Enid, Her Ladyship’s sister (Frances Skinner), Enid’s younger brother, James, a cook and a domestic maid.
In August 1892, Surgeon-Captain Milward was back in Bengal and Enid was with him. That November 23, their daughter, Gladys Muriel, was born in Simla, Bengal.
Gladys Muriel’s Baptism Record
While in India, Edwin was promoted to Major in 1895. The family stayed in India until 1897 when Edwin was shipped to South Africa.
Although undocumented, Enid and Gladys probably returned to Southampton at that time.
Edwin served in the RAMC during the Anglo-Boer War from 1899-1902.
RAMC, Boer War
The Boer War, often called the “Forgotten War”, was fought between a great empire and two small Boer nations who were fighting for their lives and their very existence.
It was the last great Victorian Imperial War. In some ways, it was the last 19th century war: The Boer War was fought with cavalry but it also employed the tactics and methods of 20th century warfare.
Regarded as ʻthe last of the gentlemanʼs warsʼ, it was a highly mobile, guerrilla war requiring skilled horsemanship and marksmanship - techniques that the Boers had perfected.
The Boers would quietly group themselves together and then take the British Army by surprise by charging at a full gallop with their German-made Mauser guns blazing.
They became masters in the element of surprise, and their passage was unfettered throughout the whole area.
This mobility provided a major logistical problem for the British military strategists.
In retaliation, the British ruthlessly adopted the ʻscorched earthʼ policy of burning the Boersʼ farmsteads and crops and taking their livestock, ensuring that their sustenance lines were cut.
They then moved the Boer women and children and native servants into centralised concentration camps.
These policies caused international condemnation.
This Conflict is known as the “Forgotten War” because it was overwhelmed by the First World War. Also, information regarding those who took part was never collected or has been destroyed or is too difficult to access.
Edwin Oswald Milward served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Africa from the beginning of the Conflict in 1899 until Peace was declared three years later in 1902.
During this time, he served in several major theaters of battle.
And was mentioned in War Dispatches TWICE:
To be Mentioned in a Dispatch means that a soldier’s name appeared in an official report written by a superior officer and then sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.
He was with General Ian Hamilton’s Forces and served at the Relief of Ladysmith, the attack at Colesco, at Spion Kop, Vaal Kranz, Tugela Heights and Laings Nek.
General Ian Hamilton
Edwin was the Principal Medical Officer of the Eastern Mobile Force and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July 1900.
Edwin served in operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony and he is mentioned in several dispatches.
Finally, Lt Col Edwin Oswald Milward, LRSC., LRSP was awarded the prestigious King’s South Africa Medal with Two Clasps (South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902). This medal was always paired with the Queen’s South Africa Medal.
"
King’s & Queen’s South Africa Medal
Britain faced many challenges in the execution of this Conflict. Disease and very long logistics lines had been difficult to overcome.
This, combined with having to fight against a disciplined and capable enemy composed of excellent horsemen and marksmen who had perfected guerrilla warfare, made the King’s South Africa Medal a hard-won prize.
In addition to soldiers often having had to go without basics such as food and water, enteric fever had killed several thousand and was a constant drain on manpower.
Published casualty rolls run to over 50,000 names, while studies of contemporary publications and reports put the actual figure for all casualties at 97,000.
This war is notorious for the British scorched earth policy, which was implemented when it became clear that the guerrilla tactics practiced by the republican Boer forces could not be overcome by conventional means.
During the Boer war, 22,000 troops were treated for wounds inflicted during battle.
During the siege, the number of beds used in the hospital camp grew from the initial 100 to a total of 1900.
Of the 22,000 who were treated for wounds during the Second Boer War, the majority survived, largely due to the efficiency of the medical teams which cared for them.
The Royal Army Medical Corps played a key role in the treatment of the wounded in this conflict. In 1899, the RAMC had begun recruiting a number of specialist surgeons to its ranks.
The salaries of medical corps doctors had gradually increased and better training improved both the system and the quality of the medical services.
Surgery had made considerable advancement in the late nineteenth century, and the army surgery facilities were considered state of the art at the time.
Regarding warfare, the Anglo-Boer War offered the first opportunity for the large-scale use of modern small arms.
The large, soft, leaden bullet of previous wars was replaced by the small calibre projectile, which was propelled at a high velocity by a smokeless propellant (Nitro-cellulose).
The difference in the amount of tissue damage caused by these new small calibre, high velocity bullets was striking when compared with the disastrous effects of the large, expanding, soft bullets of previous wars.
Medical treatment was primitive by today's standards, and antibiotics had not yet been invented. However the British did make a real effort to provide adequate care for their wounded. Hospital ships were stationed offshore to provide a mobile hospital base, and field hospitals were organized along the most modern lines of the time. X-rays to locate shrapnel in the body started to be used during the Boer war.
These well coiffed stretcher bearers with their bombastic hats look particularly ridiculous. Did they stop from time to time to make sure they were perfectly attired, while the wounded bled to death on the battlefield? But that was the weirdness of the Boer War. It was a modern war, with modern weapons, fought by men from the century before - the last hurrah of the Victorian Empire.
Enid actually was able to go to Africa at least four times to see her husband.
There are Ship Manifests listing her as a Passenger to South Africa from Southampton on March 1, 1901, August 17, 1901, October 19, 1901 and March 1, 1902.
More than 600 officers and men were on the SS Gaika when it left South Africa on July 5, 1902. The Gaika landed at Southampton on July 26.
Our Lt Col Edwin Oswald Milward, MD., LCRP.,LCRS was among them.
Up to this point in time, Edwin’s story is very straightforward. However, now it gets confusing.
Edwin had been home from War only 6 weeks when, on September 17, 1902, we find him on board the SS Orinoco sailing from Southampton for Barbados.
His wife, Enid, was also aboard the Orinoco but their daughter was not on the Passenger List. Did they leave her behind in Southampton?
We don’t know his assignment there nor where he was actually stationed while in Barbados.
It just seems strange that he wasn’t given more R&R before being shipped overseas again.
Two years later - on November 17, 1904 - he returns to Southampton.
But, he is not alone.
Sailing with him from Barbados are two young girls. One was over the age of 12 and the other was younger than 12.
Their names were: Alice Milward and Eliza Milward.
Who were these girls? What had they been doing in Barbados? Why did they come to Southampton with Edwin?
They do not seem to be the daughters of any of his brothers. I have found no records for girls with these names except for this Ship Manifest.
So that is a mysterious bit of information.
On July 5, 1905, Lt Col. Edwin Oswald Milward and his wife attended a lavish Garden Party hosted by the Mayor at Red Lodge Nursery in Bassett (3 miles from Southampton).
Red Lodge Nursery
Since Edwin attended the party with Mrs Milward seems to indicate that they were still living together.
Edwin retired from the army on July 26, 1907.
However........ just 2 months later .......
On September 27, 1907, we find Edwin committed to The Warneford Lunatic Asylum in Oxford, Southampton!
What could have happened to have him declared insane and committed to a Lunatic Asylum?
Warneford had been established in 1826 to serve “non-pauper” patients of “superior condition” who were split into three classes and who paid according to their financial means.
The Warneford
In the 19th century, Lunatic asylums were often constructed in rural settings. At the time, exposure to the outdoors was considered to be of great comfort to patients.
The Warneford aimed to recreate the atmosphere of a gentleman’s country house. “On the summit of Headington Hill is the Warneford lunatic asylum, opened in 1826, for the accommodation of lunatics selected from the higher classes of society.”
The Warneford
According to the hospital records, Edwin’s brother, George, had come up from his home in Ennis to have his younger brother committed to Warneford insane asylum. There is no elaboration in the records.
Why was George the person chosen to commit Edwin?
Wouldn’t that have been his wife’s responsibility?
Was Edwin out of control?
We do not know.
All we know is that, on September 27, 1907, George Robert Milward traveled from Ennis, Ireland to Southampton to have his younger brother committed to an insane asylum.
And then he returned to Ennis.
Six days later, Lt Col Edwin Oswald Milward was dead. He died at Warneford Hospital on October 4, 1907. The cause of his death was not specified.
Edwin’s Death Record
He was 53 years old.
And that is not the worst news.
When patients, who were deemed by the asylum to have been abandoned by their relations, died they were buried in the parish in which the asylum stood.
Those Warneford patients whose bodies were never claimed by family were buried - with no headstone - in the Holy Trinity Churchyard at Headington Quarry.
Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry
‘
So, when Edwin died, did George just stay home in Ennis and not go to his funeral?
What about his wife, Enid, and their daughter, Gladys?
Why didn’t anyone claim Edwin’s body?
Edwin’s Will does not mention either his wife nor his daughter.
Edwin’s Will
We have no answers to these questions.
If Edwin were an insane person, it is difficult to understand why it took so long for the authorities to have noticed.
What happened?
Did he have some sort of mental breakdown?
Did he suffer from “Shell Shock”?
PTST?
Had he been considered “strange” his entire life?
This seems doubtful since he passed the rigorous candidate training required for the RAMC and he’d been in combat zones for several years. One would think any mental issues would have been addressed in South Africa.
However, after his death, a government document entitled: RECORD OF OFFICER’S EFFECTS 1907/08 was issued in November 1907.
In the highlighted column is written “Insane” and his retirement date.
When did the Royal Army determine Edwin’s insanity and why was this not addressed earlier in his career?
In the last column, it states: ” com. of axxxx assembled, but takes no action.”
Wonder what that means.
To me, this is very mysterious........ but we will probably never get any answers......
And, what about his daughter?
The only records uncovered about Gladys Muriel are her birth and baptism documents. There is a newspaper clipping dated August 3, 1905 which mentions that Gladys is a member of the Southampton Nautilus Swimming Club. She was 12 years old.
We also found Gladys on a 1908 Ship’s Manifest to Ceylon.
Another passenger on this ship is her maternal uncle - King Hermann Plumridge - who lives In Ceylon.
Could Gladys have stayed In Ceylon?
That is all we’ve learned about Gladys Muriel Milward.
And what about Eliza and Alice Milward?
What were they doing in Barbados with Edwin? Who were they? Where were they born? What happened to them?
Four years after Edwin’s burial in an unmarked grave, we find his widow, Enid Susan Plumridge Milward, in the Census of 1911.
She is now labeled a Lunatic and is a patient committed to Herrison Hospital in Dorset.
Since she is financially supported by “private means”, she was not a pauper.
But, unlike Warneford, Herrison was a public institution. Private asylums catered to a “higher class” of patient and those facilities were usually very comfortable.
Herrison House
But Herrison House was a public institution.....
In 1863, the Dorset County Asylum opened on 55 acres of land in Herrison.
By 1899, 339 additional acres of land had been acquired to extend its farm and to erect a separate building for private patients.
Aerial View of Herrison House
In 1913, at its peak, there were 957 patients at the hospital.
This over-crowding took its toll with a high death rate from typhoid, dysentery, tuberculosis, and influenza. The percentage of accidental fractures also increased considerably, possibly due to the reduced diet.
Anne Brown, an archivist at the Dorset History Centre, states: “The treatment that the patients received at the hospital, through our modern eyes, was really quite harsh and not very humanitarian. There were no anti-psychotic drugs, or medication like we have today. It was just a case of keeping people in secure accommodation away from the rest of society."
Herrison House was opened in 1904 for private patients and by 1932 the hospital had become a self supporting community with its own farm, laundry, ballroom, cinema, theatre and dentist.
Despite this, Anne explains it was a "pretty strict and harsh" place.
Enid Plumridge Milward had been admitted to Herrison House sometime before 1911 and she died there in 1942. Thirty years in a Lunatic Asylum.
What was she doing in a Lunatic Asylum?
She died at Herrison House on November 20, 1942.
She was 80 years old and had spent the last 30 years of her life in a Lunatic Asylum.
Enid Susan Milward was buried on November 20, 1942 in the Charminster Cemetery in Dorset.
So, there we have all of the information found regarding Edwin Oswald Milward, his wife Enid and their daughter, Gladys Muriel.
It’s a rather sad story. I’m sorry this post about him is so long but I imagine we are the only people who have even thought about him and his family in over 100 years and I thought we should acknowledge his life in our family.
Thanks for reading.
EPILOGUE
History gives a nation its bearing on what it is and how its people are affected by what has happened in the past.
Its kings and queens, its wars - with victories and defeats - these all mold a nation’s culture into the way it views itself in the present.
In the same way, a family history presents how a family has survived and come to terms with the great social and cultural experiences of the ages.
We hope these stories will give each member of our family a foundation and, in some small way, explain how we came to be what we are today.
Hopefully, through these vignettes, our future generations will gain a knowledge of the energy and dynamism, the loves and hates, the errors and mistakes, the victories and failures, the struggles and successes that make us what we are.
Our family history presents a fascinating read - and, hopefully, some lessons to be learned in the process.
