O’Fee, S (Stewart)
Naval Schoolmaster Stewart O’Fee was the eldest son of the late Stewart O’Fee and Jane O’Fee, of Kilrea. He served as a naval schoolmaster in the Royal Navy based in HMS Vivid, which was a shore establishment in Devonport, England.
Stewart served as a Naval Schoolmaster from August 1903 in various locations around the United Kingdom. He unfortunately died from the effects of the Spanish Flu.
The Spanish flu is rather deceiving as it did not originate in Spain, but rather it was first openly reported on in Spain due to its neutrality in the war.
The outbreak began around January 1918 and ended at the end of 1920. There were three major outbreaks, each deadlier than the previous. Great efforts were made to suppress the news, but so many people were affected that it became pointless as the flu crept through the armies into the villages, towns, and cities of Europe. There were no vaccines to protect against this flu virus or the infections. No antiviral drugs to treat it, and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. The only tools that authorities could implement was the promotion of good personal hygiene, isolation, and quarantine of the ill, along with the closures of public places.
There are several servicemen in the Counties Cemeteries who possibly died of the illness, most of whom were diagnosed with meningitis, flu, or pneumonia. It especially affected young adults.
Date of Death: 13/03/1920 (Aged 41)
Service: Naval Schoolmaster, H.M.S. “Vivid.”, Royal Navy
Service Number: 346268
Burial Location: North-East of present Church.