The re-imagined story …
In the Spring of 1918 the Spanish flu began its insidious spread around the world, although we weren’t calling it that then – it was just influenza.
Transmitted by the movement of troops and exacerbated by malnourishment and poor hygiene somewhat surprisingly the virus preyed not upon the vulnerable young or the fragile elderly, but upon fit and healthy young adults. My friend Elsie took ill in October of that same year.
Elsie and I began work together in the Telephone and Telegraph Department in the Works on New Year’s Day 1912. We finished our training three weeks later and became qualified operators in the Engineers’ Office. We were both ambitious, but in point of fact there were few opportunities for promotion once inside the claustrophobic telephone exchange. I stayed there until I got married, and to be honest I wasn’t sorry to leave.
During two long years the Spanish flu killed an estimated 20-50 million people – 228,000 in Britain alone. Later it would be revealed that October 1918 would be the month with the highest mortality rate of the entire pandemic.
They published a little piece about Elsie in the Great Western Railway Staff Magazine. They said she passed away as a result of an attack of pneumonia following influenza.
The facts …
Elsie Annie Moody was born on March 25, 1896 the daughter of Caleb Charles Moody a painter labourer in the Carriage Works and his wife Ellen. Elsie was one of only two surviving children from their family of five.
UK Railway Employment Records 1833-1956
Elsie entered the GWR as a Telephone & Telegraph Learner on January 1, 1912. She completed her training on January 22 and worked as a qualified operator in the Engineers Office on a commencing salary of 4/- a week rising to 26/- shortly before her death.
Miss Elsie Moody, of the Staff of the Swindon Works Telephone and Telegraph Office, passed away on October 23rd, 1918, as the result of an attack of pneumonia following influenza. Her cheery disposition had made her very popular with the staff.
Great Western Railway Magazine
Radnor Street Cemetery Burial Registers
Moody, Elsie Annie 22 years 19 Islington Street 28th Oct 1918 (burial) plot E7824.
Elsie’s parents were later buried with her in the same grave.
Radnor Street Cemetery 