F117 WILLIAM RICHARD JANAWAY

F117 William Richard JANAWAY, Supply Assistant P/MX798654 Royal Navy on HMS Falcon. Born 30 March 1928 at Fulham, London to Richard William and Annie Kathleen Janaway, nee Gladwell of Fulham, London. Died at Royal Naval Hospital, Bighi, Malta 4th August 1947 aged 19 years of acute anterior poliomyelitis.

At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery Plot F Grave 117

The cause of poliomyelitis in the early 20th century
THE 1947 outbreak of poliomyelitis in England was by far the largest that this country has ever experienced. Epidemics have been common and widespread in North America, Scandinavia, Australasia, and, during the recent war, in the islands of Malta, Mauritius and St. Helena.
The polio virus usually entered the environment in the faeces of someone who is infected. In areas with poor sanitation, the virus easily spreads from faeces into the water supply, or, by touch, into food. In addition, because polio is so contagious, direct contact with a person infected with the virus can cause polio.