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FATAL RESULT OF BICYCLE ACCIDENT An inquest was held at the Library, Parkhurst Barracks, on Tuesday, by the Deputy Coroner (F. A. Joyce, Esq.), on the body of Lance-Corporal H.R. Burgess, D.C.L.I., aged 24, who died at the Military Hospital there as the result of internal injuries received in a bicycle accident at Arreton on Saturday afternoon. —Mr. W. D. Peachey was foreman of the Jury. C.Q.M.S. Joseph Willmott. of the D.C.L.I., Golden Hill. Freshwater. identified the body as that of Lance-Corp. Horace Richard Burgess, D.C.L.I., His home WW1 at Pick-Hill, Tenterden, Kent, and he was a watch-maker’s assistant. John Henry Bignell, of 7 Town-lane, Newport, stableman and cartman in the employ of Messrs. James Thomas and Co., Ltd.. said that on Saturday afternoon he was driving a pair of horses attached to a miller’s van from Sandown to Newport. Between 2 and 2.30 he was going up the Arreton-shute, and when near the top, about 11 yards from the corner, with the horses going at a walking pace. he saw deceased coming round the corner. He came straight into the pole of the van. When witness saw him coming he pulled the horses up short and put the brake on. The effect of that would be that the pole would be pulled up and go down again. Deceased’s body struck heavily against the pole. His bicycle struck the horse’s front leg almost simultaneously. Witness got down, and deceased got up and walked across the road. Witness freed the bicycle from the horses. and went to deceased to ask where he had hurt himself. He said below the stomach, and seemed in great pain. Deceased asked witness to lay him down, and he got the loin-cloth out of the van and did so. He undid his clothes, but could not see any injury. Witness called a boy and asked him to go to the White Lion and tell someone to come. He asked the man who came what to do, and he told him to take him to the first doctor he came to. Witness took him to Dr. Thompson, who advised his removal to Parkhurst, where witness took him. The pole was iron clamped, it had a piece of iron at the end of it. His van was on the left-hand side of the road, close to the gutter, when the accident happened, two or three feet from the left-hand side. The van was 6ft. wide, all but 2in. Deceased had about 12ft, in which to pass. When witness first saw deceased he was about 2ft, from the hedge on his right-hand side. He did not ring his bell. He was on his wrong side. He was 11 or 12 yards from the corner when witness first saw him. He seemed travelling fast. The road was wide there, and there was no other vehicle about. Deceased must have assumed that the road was all right. By the Foreman: Deceased was coming down hill. He had sufficient room to pass. The Coroner said the deceased appeared to have taken the corner as if there was no obstacle. but found one there. If the witness’s statement were correct there was no reason for anything like blame attaching to him. George Cross, a lad belonging to the Boys’ home, Arreton. said that on Saturday he was at Aretton-cross sitting on a gate at the top of the hill, giving a view of the road down to Arreton. He saw the horses and van, driven by the last witness, coming up the shute. They were close to the hedge on the left side. Later on the boy gave a rather contradictory account of the position of the van. and the Corner expressed the opinion that his evidence did not help the Jury. Gr. John Edward Urry, R.G.A., landlord of the White Lion, Arreton, said he went to the scene of the accident because the boy came for him. They had had heavy rain, and he could trace the track of the van up the hill quite plainly. He found the track 10 or 18 yards from the corner, on the left-hand side of the road. The wheel was about 8ft. from the gutter. You could see where the bicycle came round the corner. Practically speaking. the van followed the same track all up the road. Another van could have passed it. The width of the road there was about 20ft. Insp. Sibbock said the road was 21ft. wide where the accident occurred. The Coroner said he thought Gunner Urry’s evidence very helpful. It had cleared up the position, as far as the driver of the van was concerned. As far as he could judge, the deceased took the risk on himself. Gunner Urry: He was on the right side of the road. The Coroner: He must have taken the corner flying. Capt. Richard William Ely Rae, R.A.M.C., stationed at Parkhurst, said he saw deceased on his arrival there. He was suffering from shock. There was only a slight abrasion of the skin on the lower part of the abdomen; you could hardly call it an abrasion. He had had a blow across the abdomen. He said he was on a bicycle and ran into the van. He died the next evening. He was in great pain until he became unconscious. The Coroner said he thought the evidence, which was quite clear, exonerated the driver of the van from any blame. It was obvious, as he was going up a rather steep ascent, that he was not likely to have gone up it at a very fast rate. The deceased took the corner in a way he should not have done. He thought the verdict of the Jury would be to the effect that he died from injuries sustained through an accidental collision with the van, and that the driver was entirely free from any blame whatever. The Jury returned a Verdict to this effect. Isle of Wight County Press 25 Aug 1917
We used to go to an open day at the College years ago. Seem to remember getting little blue cartons of salt as a prize in games.
How lovely to read about your memories, Sally. I am currently trying to fill in a few gaps in my family history and came across this site, which is proving very helpful and interesting. During the ninteenth / early twentieth centuries a Whitworth ancestor of mine was, I believe, a lay preacher at Ompton Methodist Chapel. I think it may have been Arthur Whitworth but I’m not sure. My Smith family of Norfolk also had strong connections with the Methodist Church and attended the chapel in Pot Row, Grimston. Another of their relatives, by the name of Claxton, held a meeting at his house in Wolferton.
This Margaret Shaw was the sister of past President of the Conference (in the 70s) Rev B. Arthur Shaw and her sister Mary was Headmistress of the Methodist school, Edgehill in Devon.
I wonder if this Margaret Shaw was the same one who was my Sunday School teacher in that very year (1953) at Marlborough Road Methodist Church St Albans. She was a school teacher and I seem to remember her father may have been a minister (retired) and he and his wife had been members in the years of the war and following. I collected for JMA myself and have a medal and several bars from the 40s and 50s.
Cookham Rise Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Berkshire In 1940 Cookham Rise Wesleyan Methodist Chapel seated 207 people in pews. There was a school hall and two other rooms. This is a quite remarkable building. The prominent bargeboard and the very unusual tower reflect current trends in architecture but the buttresses and the lancet window in the tower suggest that the architect had not quite thrown off the tyranny of the Gothic Source John Rylands Library University of Manchester DDPD1Methodist Accommodation returns, 1940/110110 Site visit 7.10.2015
Charles Creek was not the only son he had two brothers Arthur and Walley
I have an image of this soldier, would it be possible to add it to this page please?
Colin Adamson
Hello Lorraine, well I was just a young lad when W Ivor Calvert was our Minister at Lund Park, Keighley. I remember him as a gently kind man with a round face and glasses. He and his wife had one son Christopher who I was with at Primary school, but he was later sent to Ashville College, Harrogate as a boarder, aboyt 23 miles away, and Iost touch with him. Of course we only had Rev Ivor for a few years, before he was replaced by Rev Ralph Lowery, whose daughter Susan Howdle has posted above.
I am interested that you knew the Rev. W. Ivor Calvert. He and my father were at college together (Didsbury) and were good friends. What was Ivor Calvert like? My father often spoke of him. My father was Walter Gill, a Minister from the early 1940s till 1964, then again from 1986 to his death in 1995. Lorraine Harding
Reply to Victoria’s post- this is Harvey Adams and though he didn’t backstamp all his items most of these are marked as such. Happy to provide further info. If needed (David.leese@hotmail.com)
Obviously I didnt know Ambrose Wilson, but I did meet his brother Stephen – he was my grandad. RIP.
Thanks for the informations. Very interesting. But I am looking for a definite source, that Harvey Adams really invented the mustache cup. Where is the proof?
Can you take a photo of the plaque and send it to mymethodisthistory@gmail.com ? It would be great if we could add it to this page.
i can now confirm that John Bendall Oliver had 1 child named John Vernon Oliver who was born 23rd March 1906 in Treyford,Sussex.John Bendall Oliver wife Alice Oliver(formerly Vernon) mother lived inTreyford,Sussex. John Vernon Oliver is listed on the 1911 census listed as Jack Oliver living in Sussex with Alices mother.
LILLIE William Presumably Bill Lillie, erstwhile of Mary Fletcher Memorial Church and the Tabernacle, both in Leyton, in the late 1960s. Could not have died in 1901 (12 years before his birth)… presumably should say 2001.
I will contact Brian and ask him if I can give you his email address. Editor
Details and photos of the Methodist church in Romiley are delightful…please can I contact Brian Thornley, the author and organist on behalf of STNA? Thanks
I am looking up history of the Wesleyan Sunday School, Brunswick Mews. I would love to know about it as it is a recovery village for drug and alcohol. It has some beautiful features, I believe some were shops in Brunswick Mews. It still has beautiful coloured glass and lovely verandas. I would appreciate any information about its history. It is situated in William Street, Stockton on Tees and the back door leads into Brunswick Street.
This is a nostalgic tale. it creates in the mind the value that people attach to the lives of others. Am currently an administrator at Adastra school in Choma. As a school we are trying to document the history of this great school since much has been lost over the years. In view of this, I would like to hear the routing (Routine?-Ed) of Adastra in the days of Nozipho Mtshede and David.
Four Oaks, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is a stone built structure situated in a prominent position on rising ground at the junction of Four Oaks Road and Lichfield Road. In 1940 the chapel seated 340 and there was schoolroom and eight other rooms. A modern extension has been added at the back of the building. The section visible from the road has been built in masonry to blend in with the older building but the opposite end has a very modern appearance. Sources Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940, No173 25 inch OS for Warwickshire sheet IV 11, 1901-2. 1913-4. Site visit 7.8.2019
The correct wording on the Memorial Plaque reads:
THIS ORGAN IS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND IN EVER GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED BELOW, WHO VALIANTLY GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
Bishop, Albert E Bishop, George Burgess, Horace R Burgess, John E Goodman, Harold Goodsell, H Allen Goodsell, Sydney J Link, Horace B Parsons, Percy W Taunt, Arthur F Taunt, Herbert J Wiles, Frank
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.
(1) Lance Corporal ALBERT EDWARD BISHOP served with 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales Own) and died aged 18 on 6 July 1916, having married earlier that year. He is buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery France and had lived in High Street Tenterden.
(2) Sergeant GEORGE BISHOP served with 1st Battalion Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and died aged 32 on 2 October 1917, having married the previous year. He is buried at Loos British Cemetery France and had lived at Six Fields, Tenterden.
(3) Private JOHN ERNEST BURGESS served with 1st/5th Buffs (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was younger brother of Horace and died unmarried aged 20 at Gallipoli on 21 August 1915. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial. He had lived at Pickhill Smallhythe Road Tenterden.
(4) Lance Corporal HORACE RICHARD BURGESS, elder brother of John, served with 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and died aged 24 on 19 August 1917 in the Isle of Wight having married earlier that year and shortly after the birth of a daughter. He is buried in St. Mary The Virgin Churchyard at Brading in the Isle of Wight but had been resident in Tenterden.
(5) Lance Sergeant HAROLD JAMES GOODMAN served with 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and died aged 26 on 10 April 1917, having married in Norwich 3 years earlier. He is buried in Cojeul British Cemetery, St. Martin-sur-Cojeul in France. He had a 17 months old daughter and his parents had lived in Gas Lane Tenterden.
(6) Private HENRY ALLAN GOODSELL served with the Machine Gun Corps and died unmarried aged 20 on 9 November 1918 two days before the Armistice. He is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery in France. He lived in Fosten Green Biddenden and is named also on the War Memorial there. His brother Sidney John had also been killed during the Great War.
(7) Lance Corporal SIDNEY JOHN GOODSELL, brother of Henry Allan, served with the Machine Gun Corps and died unmarried aged 20 on 7 June 1917. He has no known grave but is commemorated also on both the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium and the Biddenden War Memorial, having lived at Fosten Green Biddenden.
(8) Private HORACE BURT LINK served with 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and died aged 32 on 4 October 1917, a month before his 33rd birthday. He had a boy and a girl born in 1907 and 1909. He is buried in Tyne Cott Cemetery Zonnebeke in Belgium. He was born in Bethersden but lived at Silver Hill Tenterden.
(9) Private PERCY WILLIAM PARSONS served with 14th Battalion Australian Imperial Force and was wounded in action by shrapnel in France on 28 August 1916 resulting in amputation of the right leg. He was discharged to Australia where he died of pneumonia aged 28 on 15 November 1918 in Melbourne. He had lived in Rolvenden but his mother lived with her sister at High Street Tenterden
(10) Private ARTHUR FRANK TAUNT, brother of Herbert James Taunt, served with 14th King’s Hussars and died unmarried aged 27 on 26 October 1914. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, having lived at Station Road Tenterden.
(11) Private HERBERT JAMES TAUNT served with the Queen’s Own West Kent Yeomanry and died unmarried aged 20 on 31 August 1916. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France having lived at Station Road Tenterden.
(12) Sapper FRANK WILES served with the Canadian 1st Army Troops Company and died unmarried aged 34 on 19 March 1919 and is buried at Seaford Cemetery. His name is recorded on the Virtual War Memorial Index Canada and the Book of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower Ottawa. He was born in Tenterden and lived in Butchers Lane.
Horace R Burgess should be added as one of the fallen named on the Plaque.
Details of the twelve who gave their lives have now been traced noted above.
I have arranged for a Rededication Service at 3pm on Wednesday 13th November 2019 along the lines of the Original Dedication with the organist of Canterbury Cathedral to play.
Ref. — Pte. Tom Robson 2436 9th Bn Australian Imperial Forces
His service record can be found at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8033850 Which indicates he was JOHN THOMAS ROBSON Son of Joseph B. and Margaret Jane Robson, of Favor Lees, Wolsingham, Durham, England.
Missing/Killed In Action, France, 23 July 1916
Commonwealth War Graves Commission indicate no known grave — Commemorated at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL, Somme, France
Hope this helps.
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