Unfortunately Frederick William Darling’s military records have not survived. We do know, however, that he served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in France during the First World War. The RAOC was responsible for supplying weapons, ammunition and equipment to the British Army. It has to be asked if his wartime experiences contributed to the state of his mental health and the onset of neurasthenia.
Neurasthenia is described as an ill-defined medical condition characterized by lassitude, fatigue, headache, and irritability, associated chiefly with emotional disturbance.
Frederick was born on March 22, 1888 the son of Richard and Louisa Darling and baptised at St. Marks Church on April 16. Frederick William was one of eight children and grew up in Horsell Street. His father worked as a blacksmith in the GWR Works as did Frederick and his elder brother Charles.
Frederick married Ella F. Wills at the church of the Holy Apostles, Charlton Kings, Gloucester on August 1, 1921. The couple later moved to Cardiff where Frederick died on September 2, 1927.
Cardiff Man’s End
Neurasthenic Poisoned By Gas
Dr R.J. Smith, the Cardiff Coroner, on Monday enquired into the death of Frederick William Darling (39), a blacksmith, who was found dead near a gas oven. Darling had suffered for two years with neurasthenia, and his widow, Mrs Ella Fanny Darling, informed the Coroner that he was in Whitchurch Mental Hospital last May, but was discharged on probation in July, when he seemed much better. During the war he served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
Cecil Elder deposed to finding Darling in a house at Bloom Street, Canton, Cardiff and Dr. Pittard said death was due to coal gas poisoning.
A note left by Darling, addressed to his mother, read: “Don’t worry; I cannot live this life any longer.”
The Coroner returned a verdict of “Suicide while of unsound mind,” and expressed sympathy with the relatives.
Frederick was buried on September 7, 1927 in grave plot C1889. He is buried with his parents Richard, who died in 1926 and Louisa who died in 1945.
Arthur Lancelot Darling was Frederick’s younger brother. He was born on June 14, 1894. Aged 16 he was working as a machineman in the Works.
Arthur served in the 7th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment and was killed in action in Salonika on April 24, 1917. He was 22 years old. There was no body to bury – he was presumed dead. Arthur is commemorated on the Dorian Memorial in Greece and on his parent’s grave in Radnor Street Cemetery.
Radnor Street Cemetery 