Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Thomas John Vaughan

1880 –1922

Born in South Wales, served in the 2nd Boer War; settled in Berkhamsted but took his own life

• Christopher Dolton

THOMAS JOHN VAUGHAN; 1880 – 1936

Thomas was born in Kidwelly, a town seven miles north west of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was one of eight children[1] born to James Vaughan and his wife Ann. James worked in Kidwelly Tinplate Works[2] as a “doubler”[3] whose job it was to fold over rolled tin plate and squeeze the folds in a squeezer. He was baptised in May 1882 at the age of two, together with his older brother William.

At the age of 18 Thomas was working as a coal miner and in November 1898 he joined a Militia Battalion of the 24^th Foot (South Wales Borderers) which required him to attend regular drill and Field Days. He was short in stature at only 5 feet 3 ½ inches in height and weighed just under 8 stone. On medical examination he was found to be “underweight, otherwise fit.” He had a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.[4]

Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War Thomas’ battalion was embodied in February 1900 and he volunteered for active service, setting sale for South Africa later that month. Thomas served throughout the war, returning to Britain in September 1902. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal and the King’s South Africa Medal. Thomas continued to serve with the Militia during 1903 and most of 1904, being discharged on expiry of his term in November 1904.

1n 1902 Thomas married. The marriage took place in Pontypridd during the second quarter of that year. His bride was Margretta Phillips. By 1911 Thomas and Margretta had five children, Elsie May, 1904-1961; Elizabeth Ann, 1906; Sarah Bronwyn, 1907-1908; Thomas John,1908- 1962; Daniel James 1910 – 1965.

At the time the census of 1911 was taken, Margretta and the five children were staying with Margretta’s parents in Rhondda, Glamorgan. Two of Margretta’s brothers, another grandchild and a boarder were also living there in what must have been cramped and crowded conditions. Thomas himself was absent and indeed has not been traced in either the 1911 or 1921 census returns. We do know however from the Electoral Rolls that the family had settled in Berkhamsted by 1929, but it is not known why the family moved to the town or what Thomas’ occupation was. 

Sadly, Thomas’ mental health was not good and he worried that his physical health had suffered as a consequence of his taking drugs and pills. He was twice admitted to an asylum. He made threats to take his own life and had tried to poison himself with coal gas in March 1936. Later in November that year he did indeed take his own life. An inquest held into the circumstances of his death returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.

“WORRIED BY ILL HEALTH.

–

ATTEMPTED GAS POISONING: DEATH BY ASPIRIN.

The death of a Berkhamsted man by taking approximately 50 aspirin tablets was the subject of an inquest at Watford on Tuesday evening, and a verdict of ‘suicide while of unsound mind’ was given after evidence that the man had ben a patient at a Mental Asylum on two occasions and last March attempted to take his life by coal gas poisoning.

The man was Thomas John Vaughan, a Welshman, aged 56 years, who had been living in Berkhamsted for the past few years.

In his clothes was found a letter addressed to ‘My darling wife and children’ and stating that he was worried over the fact that he had ruined his health and his inside by taking drugs and pills. ‘My life is not worth living. God forgive me, as I have done wrong to my health’ –‘Don’t worry about me as I will be better off dead than alive.’

Evidence was given by the widow, Margretta Vaughan, of Grove End, Elm Grove, Berkhamsted, and by two sons, that the deceased man had often threatened to take his life, had tried to do so on one occasion and had been a patient at Hill End Asylum.

On the evening of Friday last Vaughan was seen by his son to drink what appeared to be milk. Later he was taken ill and told them he had taken 100 aspirins. The police and a doctor were called and he was removed to ‘Shrodells’, the Public Assistance Infirmary at Watford, where he died on Saturday afternoon.

Two aspirin bottles were found, each had contained 25 tablets, one was empty and the other had three tablets in it.

Dr Marjorie Edna Roberts said that 100 grains – 20 tablets – had proved fatal but in the case of a week man like Vaughan, a smaller dose would be fatal.

A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned.”[5]

Thomas was 56 when he died, he was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery on 13^th November 1936 by the Baptist ministry H. H. Thompson.