Category: St. John’s Church Churchyard, Warminster

Tuesday 30th August 2016

Sheelagh Wurr has made the following enquiry ~

Hi Danny,
I have been helping some people with research into the Teichmans [Major Oskar Teichman and his wife Edith Henrietta Teichman, of Highbury, Warminster].  They came over yesterday and were able to learn quite a lot.  However, we were all puzzled to discover that, despite the family grave being in St. John’s Churchyard [Warminster] with all the names on, Major Oskar and his wife were not actually listed in the burial registers as having been buried there. Obviously the two sons who were killed in the [Second World] War would not be there; the oldest son is – the only one of the family actually buried in the churchyard.  We have the dates of death (Oskar 1959 and his wife 1963).  Have you any idea where they are buried?

Danny Howell replies ~

Hello Sheelagh,
Re your enquiry. Neither Oskar Teichman or his widow Edith had burials at St. John’s Churchyard, Warminster. They were not buried anywhere. They were both cremated.

Oskar Teichman died at his residence Highbury (House), Warminster, on Tuesday 21st April 1959. He had been ill for about a month. His funeral was held on Friday 24th April 1959 with cremation at Bristol (presumably Arnos Vale Crematorium). F. Curtis & Son of Warminster carried out the funeral arrangements. Major Teichman’s funeral expenses included a polished chestnut cremation coffin with plastic fittings, upholstered with a swansdown lining, silk side sets and a silk robe. “Whatley” is referred to, no doubt Mrs Whatley who did most of the laying out of dead people in Warminster for many years. She was paid £2 19 shillings. The total cost of the funeral/cremation was £108 6 shillings. The bill was sent to solicitors Farnfield & Nicholls on 4th June 1959 and paid on 4th September 1959. It is not recorded whether Mrs Teichman had the ashes in an urn, whether they were scattered at Bristol or elsewhere, or interred in the grave at St. John’s. If they were interred in the grave at St. John’s there is no record I can find of that. Maybe his ashes were scattered at Bristol Crematorium but I have no evidence for that.

Edith Henrietta Teichman died at 99a Boreham Road (now renumbered and now part of Rock Lane), Warminster, on Monday 23rd December 1963. She was found dead in bed. Her body was removed to Sambourne Hospital, Warminster, for a post mortem. A coroner’s certificate was issued. Again, Mrs Whatley did the laying out. This time she was paid £2 15 shillings. F. Curtis & Son of Warminster carried out the funeral arrangements. Edith Teichman’s funeral service was held at St. John’s Church, Warminster, on Saturday 28th December 1963. She was cremated at Salisbury Crematorium. Her funeral expenses included the cost of a cremation coffin with moulded fittings, plastic and bronze finish. The coffin was upholstered with a swansdown lining and trimmings, and there was a silk robe. The full cost of the funeral was £80 12 shillings. The bill was sent to Farnfield &  Nicholls on 30th January 1964 and paid on 25th March 1964. The fees for Salisbury Crematorium included the scattering of Mrs Teichman’s ashes.

I think that just about answers your question.
Cheers, Danny.