Cornelius Alfred Alexander Tester

Service no. 966031

Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, 301st Bde.

Died of influenza and bronchopneumonia on 12 December 1918, aged 28

CWGC: "Son of Alfred and Charlotte Tester, of 53, Hasebrigge Rd., Clapham; husband of Marie Tester, of 17, Franconia Rd., Clapham, London."

Remembered at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Clapham-born Cornelius Tester, then a 20-year-old clerk in the tramway offices, was living with his parents and siblings at 40 Crescent Road, Clapham, where they shared four rooms. His father, Alfred Tester, 52, was a house painter, born in Lambeth; his mother, Charlotte Stead Tester, 50, was a laundress, born in Acton, west London.

William Tester, 12, and Frances Tester, 7, were at school; they were born in Clapham.

British Army Service Records

Attested at Woolwich 27 October 1915, aged 24 and 10 month, occupation "clerk"

Examined at Woolwich:

5 feet 10 half inches

144 pounds

chest 34 inches + 2 inches

Physical development: fair

Note: "Heart acts nervously and quickly and believes [had] heart disease in infancy."

Judged Ai but had dental caries. "dental treatment required"

12 July 1916 attached to 25th AA Battery

9 August 1916 Admitted to hospital

30 August 1916 Posted to 301st Brigade

? September 1916 Neurasthenia

31 September 1916 Returned to duty

3 December 1916 Embarked Marseille

12 December 1916 Disembarked Salonika

11 June 1917 Embarked Salonika

16 June 1917 Disembarked Alexandra. Joined C Battery

Unknown date: Granted Class II Proficiency Pay

Died of influenza at 17th General Hospital, Alexandria, aged 28

Cause of death: "Influenza. Pneumonia. Cardiac failure due to myocarditis. Oedema of lungs"

6 December 1918 "2 days ill at Sidi Bisha". Cough and dry cyanosis

7 December 1918 Given oxygen and alcohol (medicinal)

9 December 1918 Delerious at intervals; given digitalis with camphor

10 December 1918 Constant noisy delerium

11 December 1918 Same as 10/12

12 December 1918 Worse. Given NaHCO3 (sodium-hydrogen-carbonate) and ???? Died at 8pm

"The disease was attributable to active service."

No will.

Served 3 years and 47 days.

Tester's effects were lost or stolen in transit. Missing items included a gold ring, purse, watch and money.

Widow (Marie) granted 13s and 9d a week pension from 30 June 1919. There were no children.

Other

Baptised 22 February 1891 - Clapham Park, St James, Surrey

Married 28 November 1915 - Marie Newbury (daughter of Charles Newbury, a plumber; address 68 Crescent Road)

Service history available

Died in Egypt (pneumonia)