Watching a TV programme about the epidemic at the end of the 1914-1918 war reminded me of a puzzle concerning my uncle Ralph THUBRON, born in Southwick, Sunderland, on Oct 3 1900. My mother, who was a very upright and truthful sort of person normally, told me that Ralph, her brother, served in the War and was invalided out with influenza, from which he died, during the notorious epidemic which appears to have been anywhere from 1916 to 1920 according to which experts are pontificating at the time. Imagine my surprise, when I eventually found out his date of death and got the certificate, to find that he actually died in the Sunderland Royal Infirmary as late as August 8th 1922, of "Acute pneumococcal meningitis", and that he was an Electric Tramcar Conductor for Sunderland Corporation. My search at the PRO at Kew for any military service record was unsuccessful, but his papers must have been amongst those destroyed because I have a photo of him in uniform. I suppose his health could have been ruined by the epidemic which made him more likely to suffer the meningitis, but surely if he was that unhealthy he wouldn't have been a tram conductor? Does anybody know if meningitis was considered to be the sort of illness you didn't confess to at that time, or maybe the doctors decided that the average person wouldn't understand the term and told his parents it was 'flu? My mother was 17 at the time, quite old enough to understand what was going on, and I wouldn't have thought the family would or could have pretended Ralph was a casualty of the war that long afterwards. Adrian

----- Original Message ----- From: <ADRABBOTT >>"Acute pneumococcal meningitis", Pneumococcal meningitis is often a secondary problem to an upper respiratory tract infection - which certainly could be the flu. People don't usually die of the "flu" itself, but rather complications brought on by the persons weakened state eg they develop pneumonia. So for example in your uncles case what probably happened is that he got the flu and then the pneumococcus bacteria attacked because of his weakened state and led to the development of pneumococcal meningitis. The onset of pneumococcal meningitis is VERY rapid. He probably had the flu and then developed the meningitis and died within hours or days of the meningitis symptoms showing. So chances are that family members never actually saw the meningitis symptoms, only that he had the flu. Pneumococcus is actually a very common bacteria. Its responsible for ear infections, certain types of pneumonia and all sorts of other infections. Its a very short step in someone who is already ill for an ear infection to go to meningitis. Also remember that during WW1 many soldiers ended up suffering weakened lungs from the gassings. So it is certainly plausible that a severe dose of influenza could have been the final trigger to a medical discharge. So yes he could have worked as a tram conductor after that. He probably would have had chronic lung problems though and many did. Here in Australia jobs on the tramways and other government places were often given to returned servicemen and women in preference to civilians. Accomodations were made for ill health because they were "heroes". And that of course is what modern day servicemen get upset about - but thats a whole other story. I hope that helps some.......... Karen from Sydney, Australia

Pneumococcal Meninigitis was and still is an infection one can die of. Memingitis is an inflamation of the membranes surrounding the brain. It is now possible to vaccinate against this bacterial infection. I can't see that it would be an infection you didn't confess to- there was 'no shame' to it. Maybe the circumstances under which he may have got the infection were the problem? Families certinly did'cover' things up if they were perceived as shady or as I used to hear " not proper!" One had to maintain the family-'Good Name'!-and these were NOT things for children's ears to hear!! Betty.