The Raj: See How They Died

You have to feel sorry for some of these Raj rulers. Stuck in an unhealthy climate, harried by mosquitos that seemed to leave the locals alone, felled by cholera and other strange tropical diseases, they had to be tough. I've walked through so many Raj cemeteries in India and Burma and so many of them died young, quite sad in its own way. Here I am flipping through the Register of European Deaths and Burials for Burma. Published by BACSA, flipping through is quite instructive. A few random entries:

"Died in 1928 of illness from the delayed effects of an un-healed wound." (Maymyo). Un-healed wound?

"In loving memory of Edward, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Moss of Shwegyin." (Maymyo). Poor baby. And, it certainly is odd that the Moss's identify themselves as being from Shwegyin.

"GLENDINNING The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. Joined the Corporation in about 1881. Died of Cholera in 1882. Presumed buried in Prome." (Prome Cemetery) Didn't take long for the East to get him! And, apparently the poor man's body is still awol.

And, what about this poor guy:
"OREN The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. Joined the corporation in about 1882/82. A Swede or Norwegian. Killed by dacoits. No further details." (Paungde cemetery) Nationality unknown, details of death unknown. Presumably there are Orens out there who have no idea that they have an ancestor who was killed by dacoits in far away Burma.

"Sacred to the memory of Captain John Swinton Browne, deeply regretted, who departed this life, aged 29 on the 5th of May 1834. ... said to have died of bilious fever." If that doesn't signify that the poor man's doctor had no clue what disease he was dealing with, nothing will.

"In loving memory of the infant son of Captain & Mrs F.L. Orman, 10th Gurkha Rifles, Born Maymyo 19th April 1908 died Maymyo 23rd April 1908." (Maymyo) The poor kid. I wouldn't want anyone to undergo childbirth in Burma today and one can only imagine the odds of survival in 1908.

Why, you might ask, this macabre passtime. I was looking for some information on half a headstone that I found in Maymyo (Pwin u Lwin) when I was there a few months ago. If I read this headstone correctly, a hefty chunk of the family of the Wingate's perished at around the same time and curiousity as to what killed them got the better of me. Unfortunately, this headstone is missing from the register.

.....also of John Bruce
Who died at Maymyo on the 16th July 1900
aged 10 months
Infant children of
John Bruce and Isabel Wingate

BACSA publishes registers recording known deaths and burials on the Indian Sub-Continent and in Burma.