Christopher Wilson
Salvation Army Bandmaster
Impressive carving on the headstone of a man killed in an industrial accident.
Several other graves are distinguished by high-quality carvings e.g. of sailing ships, or funerary motifs such as clasped hands.
Where is the grave?
30m past the lighthouse memorial to James Gall.
Walking up the main driveway, pass the Thorncliffe Road/ North Lodge exit on your right. Take the next pathway on the left and follow it as it bends to the right. Take the next left, then first right. The lighthouse memorial is 100m along, next to the path on the left-hand side. The Wilson grave is 30m further on, again on the left, facing Walney Channel.
This memorial first attracted my attention because of the magnificent cornet at its head. In the Barrow News of 1889 I came across an account of his tragic death (see below).
The gravestone reads:
IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND
CHRISTOPHER WILSON
LATE BANDMASTER 177TH CORPS SALVATION ARMY WHO PASSED TO THE HIGHER LIFE AUG 8 1889 AGED 38 YEARS
A FIRM FRIEND, FAITHFUL SOLDIER AND A DEVOTED HUSBAND
AWAY FROM HIS HOME AND THE FRIENDS OF HIS YOUTH
HE HOISTED THE STANDARDS OF MERCY AND TRUTH
FOR THE LOVE OF HIS LORD AND TO SEEK FOR THE LOST
SOON ALAS! WAS HIS FALL, BUT HE DIED AT HIS POST
ELEANOR SWIFT
BORN NOV 18TH 1857 DIED JUNE 14TH 1933
ALSO RICHARD SWIFT
DIED FEB 9TH 1952 AGED 83 YEARS
Eleanor Wilson married Richard Swift in 1891.
Barrow Herald, Saturday 10 August 1889A BARROW SALVATIONIST BANDMASTER KILLED
An inquest was held at three o’clock this (Friday) afternoon, at the Barrow Arms, Cavendish-street, on the body of Christopher Wilson, bandmaster of the Salvation Army, who died at noon on Thursday. The deceased was 38 years of age, and resided at 49 Preston-street, Barrow. He was a sawyer by trade, and was employed at Mr. Walker’s saw mill, North-road. On Tuesday morning he was engaged in cutting across a large square piece of wood with a steam circular saw. The wood was on a travelling bench, and was not quite straight to the saw, when deceased struck at it with a tomahawk to put it straight, but the iron head of the tomahawk came into contact with the teeth of the saw, and the handle was violently knocked against his stomach. This occurred at about half-past nine o’clock. He appeared to be badly injured, and was taken home. Medical aid was obtained, but the internal injuries sustained proved fatal.
Evidence was given at the inquest by George Etherington, 231 Rawlinson-street, who witnessed the accident, and also by Captain Thompson, of the Salvation Army, in whose presence the deceased died. At the direction of Mr. Coroner Poole, the jury (Mr. S. Swindlehurst, foreman) returned a verdict of ‘Accidental death.’
