ULVERSTON FATALITY

SOLDIER DISAPPEARED IN CANAL

“I find in this case that this unfortunate man was accidentally drowned.” remarked Mr. F. W. Poole, Coroner for Furness, at an inquest at Ulverston on Thursday on Sergeant (sic) Philip Reginald Harris, whose body was recovered from the Ulverston Canal on Wednesday.

Evidence was given that Harris, who was staying at Ulverston, but whose home was at 33, Mount-road, Barnsley, swam across the canal and rested on the other side for a short time. He commenced to swim back and was within about four yards of the bank when an eye-witness heard a cry for help and saw Harris disappearing under the surface.

WENT DOWN SUDDENLY

The Coroner asked if he had previously given any sign that anything was the matter with him and the reply was in the negative. Replying to a suggestion that he might have been struck with cramp, the witness said “he went down suddenly,” and all attempts at rescue were unavailing.

Inspector Quine described that after dragging operations the body was recovered.

Artificial respiration was tried and continued for three-quarters of an hour when a doctor arrived and pronounced life extinct. The canal was 60ft. wide and 10ft. in depth at the point where Harris went under. It was dirty and had a slimy bed, the bottom being very soft. Replying to Supt. W. Parker, witness said that inquiries had revealed that the bed of the canal was very muddy and there were weeds and broken bottles all over the place. It was thought that there was at least a foot of mud.

SERGT. P. R. HARRIS, ULVERSTON

The funeral took place on Saturday morning at the Ulverston Cemetery of Sergeant Philip Reginald Harris, of the Army Physical Training Corps, aged 25 years.

Sgt. Harris, who suddenly died whilst giving a swimming demonstration in the canal, was the younger son of the late Mr. Harris, and Mrs. Harris, of Barnsley. Before volunteering for the services, Sgt. Harris was a P.T. Instructor at the Littleworth Senior School.

A private service was held by the Army Padre (Captain Levison) at the Union Hotel.

The chief mourners were Mrs. Harris (mother), Mr. H. Harris (brother), Miss M. Harris (sister); Mr. Harris (uncle); Miss Waddington (aunt); Miss E. Mansfield, (fiancée); Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield; Miss I. Mansfield and Mr. G. L. S. Garratt (headmaster of Littleworth School), Misses Morris, Fletcher, Atkinson, Halsall and Sgt. W. Reid. The Vickers-Armstrong Bolt Store Dept. was represented by Misses Hogan, Ireland and Simson.

The bearers were Sgts. Boyes, Creerie, Dalgliesh (sic), Elliott, Macari, Linden, Robinson and Brown.

Floral tributes were received from Mother, Sister and Brother, Aunt Minnie and Family (Barnsley), Uncle Clement and Aunt Lucy, Aunt Minnie, Uncle John and Margaret, Miss Eveline Mansfield, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Mansfield and Mr. Garratt, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Stanley and Tom, Miss Annie Burton, Mr. Rigby and family, Mr. and Mrs. Kell, Mrs. Atkinson, Margaret and Fred, Sgt. Anderson and Miss E. Garnett, Misses Tomlinson, Fletcher, Morris, Crawford and Pattinson, The Girls of the Bolt Stores, Vickers-Armstrong, Sgts. Mess Officers and Men of H. Q. Company, Lt. Col. G. G. Walker and all officers of the Battalion, Headquarters Coy., all ranks Men of the Battalion, Staff of the Northern Command of the A. P. T. C., Littleworth Senior School, National Union of Teachers (Barnsley) and the Ulverston A. R. P.

The Battalion to which he was attached gave him full military honours and the pipe band with muffled drums playing “Lament” led the funeral to the grave. Officers, N. C. O.’s and men of the Battalion followed the cortege. During the burial service the buglers blew the “Last Post” and “Reveille”.

Sgt. Harris will long be remembered by his comrades and many friends by whom he was so very well respected.

The grave was lined with Cumberland turf.

The funeral arrangements were undertaken by Messrs. T. F. Tyson and Sons, Ltd., Ulverston.

Ex-Bluebirds star Cahill dies

Tommy Cahill, one of Barrow AFC’s favourite players of the 1950s and 60s, died yesterday while on holiday with his wife Margaret in Spain. He was 71.

The solid left-back made 314 appearances for the Bluebirds in a nine-year career, scoring on three occasions.

Cahill signed for AFC in 1955 from Newcastle United and was the first player to join Holker Street from the old first division.

Born in Glasgow on June 14, 1931, Cahill was very popular in and out of football circles.

After moving to Barrow, Cahill settled in the town. He returned to Glasgow, only to come back to live on Walney.

Barrow AFC chief safety officer George Woods, who watched Cahill play, has great memories of him.

He said last night: “He was a good, solid defender who read the game well. There was one unique thing about Tommy as he was the only player that Barrow AFC signed who was still on the retain list of top league club Newcastle. He was still on their books. We have never done that before or since.

“He was a very popular man, a man who probably would, but for his national service, have gone on to better things. But it interrupted a lot of people’s careers, football or otherwise.

“He was destined for big things, because Celtic were keen on him.”

When Cahill joined Barrow part of the deal was for Newcastle, who included the great Jackie Milburn, to bring a team down to Holker Street.

His stepson Mark Nicholson said last night: “He was an absolute gentleman.”

Cahill began his career playing for Scottish junior outfit Vale of Clyde, and it was while there that he attracted the attention of both Kilmarnock and Glasgow Celtic.

While on National Service he attracted the attention of Fulham, and played for the reserve team who were in the London Combination League.

Soon after returning to Scotland, Fulham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aberdeen and Aston Villa all sought his signature.

But he continued to play for Vale of Leven, who were in Scottish Junior Football.

With more league clubs taking an interest, the lure of a St. James’ Park contract proved too much, as he put pen to paper for Newcastle in 1951.

After leaving AFC he played for Vickers SC for two seasons.

Cahill, who was a regular at Walney’s St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Church, leaves two children, eight grandchildren, five step-children and six step-grandchildren.
 

North West Evening Mail

Full-back capture by Barrow

TOM CAHILL FROM NEWCASTLE

MR. JOE HARVEY, Barrow A.F.C.’s new manager, completed his first deal for Barrow A.F.C. on Thursday when he signed a promising young left-back from his former club, Newcastle United. It I the first time Barrow have signed a retained First Division player and the fee involved is a substantial one.

The capture is that of 24 years-old Tom Cahill, who has played several First Division games for his club with whom he has been for three seasons. Cahill, understudy to Irish international Alf McMichael and Ron Batty has been unable to gain a regular place because of the form of these two recognised stars.

Mr. Harvey believes that Cahill has a bright future and is likely to make rapid progress in Third Division football.

Cahill, who weighs 12st., is 5ft. 10in. and has been reared in Central League football.

Mr. David Glicksman the Barrow chairman said yesterday “The amicable relationship now existing between Newcastle and Barrow has made this transfer possible.”

Mr. Harvey, who remained in Newcastle, is hopeful of making a second signing this week-end.

A family photo from a Tree on Ancestry. Tommy Cahill at Holker Street.

The following day, 18 July 1939, the North West Daily Mail reported on the inquest:

Jury See Demonstration of Crash

TRAGIC FLIGHT OF BARROW SPEEDWAY RIDER

INQUEST STORY OF DOG ON LAUNCH CABLE

A demonstration of the crash of the glider in which Frank Charles, the Barrow speedway rider met his death, was given to members of the jury at the inquest at Great Hucklow, Derbyshire, by Mr. A. L. Slater, chief instructor of the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club, who used a small model glider and a piece of string.

By this means the jury were able to follow the course of Charles’ fatal flight from beginning to end. The glider was placed at one end of the table and a piece of string fastened to the nose stretched to the other. Mr. Slater, who acted as official starter on Saturday, when the tragedy occurred, explained the method of starting by slowly pulling the string with one hand and tilting the glider with the other. At the end of the launch he levelled out the glider and then turned it, exactly as Charles had done.

With the string still attached he moved the glider back towards the launching point and showed exactly how the towing wire tightened and eventually pulled down Charles glider, causing it to crash. He admitted that he was surprised that the launch was stopped at 400 feet, as Charles had told him that he intended to have a high launch.

“I saw him turn,” Mr. Slater continued, “and as the glider approached I saw to my surprise that the cable was still attached. Immediately after the cable came into view the glider nose-dived and hit the ground.”

In response to questions by Major A. Goodfellow, of Manchester, representing the British Gliding Association and the High Coroner, Mr. E. M. Brooke Taylor, Mr. Slater made it clear that the pilot was bound to know that the wire was fastened on to the closed hook as he did not fit it there without the pilot’s knowledge. In fact Charles had to pull the release and open the hook to enable this to be done.

RELEASE GEAR IN ORDER

Mr. Slater demonstrated the quick-release gear with the actual apparatus from Charles’s own glider. This, he showed, was in perfect order.

Mr. C. L. Faulkner, of Ethel-road, Bramhall, who was the winch driver, said that a dog shot across the wire when Charles was at a height of about 400 feet, which he considered perfectly safe. He stopped the winch, or the dog would have been cut in half. He saw Charles level out his machine and believed he had dropped the cable.

Major A. Goodfellow (representing the British Gliding Association): Your first thought was the safety of the pilot, and when you had got him to a safe height you could think about the dog? – Absolutely.

Mr. Basil G. Meads, the chairman of the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club, said no machine was allowed to take part unless a certificate of air-worthiness had been produced and, as an extra precaution, the club insisted on a daily examination of the machines with a certificate signed by a competent person. Charles actually signed such a certificate himself.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of accidental death.

On 20th July 1939, the North West Daily Mail carried the report of his funeral.

LAST TRIBUTE TO FRANK CHARLES

MANY MOURNERS AT RAMPSIDE FUNERAL

SPEEDWAY AND GLIDING ASSOCIATES PRESENT

Roose was in mourning yesterday for Frank Charles, the England and Wembley speedway star and top rank glider pilot, who was killed in a glider accident at Great Hucklow, Derbyshire, on Saturday and whose funeral took place at Rampside. Charles, whose home was a 26, South Row, Roose, was one of the most popular men in the town, a favourite whom success had left unspoiled, and there was a throng of mourners to pay a last tribute. A long line of cars followed the hearse to Rampside Church, where the vicar, the Rev. H. Robinson, conducted the service.

Speedway colleagues and gliding associates were among the mourners, the former including Mr. Lionel van Praag, captain of the Wembley team of which Charles was a member.

The principal mourners were: Mrs. F. Charles, widow; Mrs. E. Charles, mother; Mr. and Mrs. C. Jackson, brother-in-law and sister; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Parramore, father-in-law and mother-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Walker, brother-in-law and sister-in-law; Mr. W. Parramore (Gosport), brother-in-law; Miss W. Parramore, sister-in-law; Miss C. Barker, Mrs. Postlethwaite and Mrs. Smith, aunts; Mr. E. Barker, cousin; Mr. T. Searle (Brierfield), uncle; Mrs. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. F. Smith, cousins; Mr. H. Parramore, Mr. and Mrs. H. Swindlehurst, Mrs. Beamish, Miss Beamish, Mr. and Mrs. McLeod, Mr. and Mrs. J. Bramwell, Miss. V. Watson, Mr. W. Raby, Mr. W. P. Kay, Mr. W. Bell, Mrs. Nesbitt.

Bearers were members of the Furness Gliding Club, Messrs. W. Smith, E. Skirrow, J. C. Redshaw, James Bramwell, W. A. Stevens, W. Butterfield, W. Gatehouse and W. Raby, the club also being represented by Capt. J. Fisher, chairman, and Mr. V. Foster.

The new Air Cadet Corps, in which Charles was interested, was represented by Capt. G. J. Locke and Messrs. Burgess, Gleed, Gale and Hutchinson.

The Lancashire and Derbyshire Gliding Club, organisers of the event at which the tragedy occurred, was represented by Messrs. C. Faulkner and Thompson.

In addition to Mr. van Praag, speedway representatives included Mr. A. Jackson, manager at Wembley, Messrs. Cliff Parkinson and Eric Gregory, Wembley riders, Mr. P. Fryer, of Wembley, and Messrs. W. Kitchen and R. Harrison, Belle Vue riders.

Among the general mourners were noted Messrs. J. W. Hackett, P. Haslam, J. Quirk, J. Blackshaw, E. Davies, W. Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wardle, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Middleton, and Mrs. James.

WREATHS

Wreaths included those from the chairman and directors, Wembley; Team Mates (sic) Wembley; Wembley Speedways Supporters’ Club; Speedway Control Board; Wembley Speedway mechanics; West Ham Speedway; Belle Vue team of riders; E. O. Spence and officials of Belle Vue Speedway; rakers and firemen, Belle Vue Speedway; five Wembley Speedway supporters; V. and S. Martin, Ltd., Tottenham; management and directors Harringay Speedway; Furness Gliding Club; Furness Air Cadet Corps; manager and employes (sic), Roose Garage; the people of Roose village; Derbyshire & Lancashire Gliding Club.

Funeral arrangements were made by Messrs. William Ormandy and Sons, Ltd., Church-street, Barrow.

BATHING FATALITY IN ULVERSTON

On Saturday, whilst bathing near the viaduct, a young man, named James Hodgson Thomson, was drowned.

INQUEST

The inquest on the body was held on Saturday evening. The following are the names of the jury: - W. Y. Swainson (foreman), John Tyson, Wm. Stubbs, Joseph Taylor, Thomas Affleck, Robert T. Deason, Henry Holmes, Roger Parkinson, Isaac Martindale, Henry Pennington, William Armer, Christopher B. Gardner. – Isaac Brocklebank deposed: I live in Soutergate, and am a painter. I know the deceased James H. Thomson, who lived in Soutergate.  He was a plumber, and about 21 years of age. He and I went today to bathe. We left the Queen’s Hotel about twenty-five minutes to two. We went to Plumpton. We had just got into the water, he first. I could swim a little, and got across the channel, and was about six yards from him. He tried to come to me, but the current was very strong between us. He was swimming with the tide, and never reached me. He asked me to take hold of him. He got hold of my right wrist. I was out of my depth. We both went down together, and while we were overhead we parted with each other. I never saw him again after that until he was put in the boat, about half-past three. I could swim a little, and got out myself. There were a good many bathing there at that time. I can only mention two Rookes and a McSally’s name. A man called Tyson went down at the same time, and McSally got him out. We were at the low side of the viaduct, and the current was running pretty strong. We had bathed there before. We were in the bed of the old channel. We bathed there about six weeks ago. The tide was going out today. We would be in about 7ft. 6in. or 8ft. at the time. We were about five yards from the side. The distance across the old channel will be about 20 yards. The deceased was not with us when we bathed there before. I can only swim a little. – By one of the Jury: We went into the water about half-past two. – By another Juryman: There was no one else that could swim. – McSally said: I live in Tyson-square, and am 18 years of age. I was coming down with deceased as far as the viaduct from Plumpton farm. We stripped off and had a bathe. I went in first and swam about sixty yards. I am a pretty good swimmer. The water was running out very strong. Kitchen came in next and got safe on to the bank. Tyson came and he tried to get on, but could not. He went down over head once. He and deceased were not together. He went down once, and I went to help him out. I got hold of him by the back, and Kitchen and McDonald came and we got him out. McDonald and Kitchen went off the bank. Tyson went in and went down again, then I got hold of him about four yards off the side, and the men standing there got hold of my head and we pulled him out. Thompson was not out then and I went as fast as I could after Thompson and dived down but could not find anything of him. I went round about the nets to try and find his body but could not. When I passed with Tyson I saw him under the water. He was being carried by the tide. I don’t think I had to go above five yards after I passed him. The water was pretty clear. I thiNk there would be about eight feet of water, but I could not see him. He was nowhere about the nets. Then I put my jacket and hat on. They all went out when Thompson went under. They could not swim very well. I saw Thompson go over the head. Brocklebank was out in the water when deceased went overhead. I did not hear deceased say anything to Brocklebank. I think deceased had his back to Tyson. I called to the others to come back, but none would come. There were about twelve, only about three of whom could swim. After the tide went down a boat was brought, and I went in again, and I just touched him with my foot, and we put him in the boat. When I touched him he was in about seven or eight feet of water. These lot were trying to swim across the place. I think there was only three out of us out of our depth. I saw deceased got out; he was quite dead. – By one of the jury: O don’t think he had ever hold of my hand; I would have taken him out had I found him. He was working his arms when I passed him. When I found him it was not above four feet deep. – Wilson said: I heard this man was drowned about half-past three. It was four o’clock when we got into Cottam’s public house. I saw him under the water, and reached my hand down. – McSally (re called): I helped to get him out. – Wilson: No one saw him but me. – McSally: Did not I get hold of his legs? – Wilson: I could not tell. It is deep there. When we got there the water would be about three feet deep. There is no tide there. They are not likely places to go there. Both there and the canal foot are dangerous places. Plumpton Hall is the best place to bathe. – Mr. Poole in summing up said: - Gentlemen, - The facts are so plain that it is not requisite for me to go into them. All I have got to say about the matter is this, of course we all know it is very desirable that all young men should learn to swim if they have a proper place to do so, but in my opinion it is most absurd and ridiculous that a lot of people should go and risk their lives, as they do every day, by going down to places they know nothing about. There is no doubt whatever the witnesses may say that they had been trying to swim across this place. No doubt the danger does give it a little more zest, and if they had got across they would have had something to say about it. In this case the poor fellow did not manage it. The stream, no doubt, was pretty strong there at the time. In going to his companion it appears deceased was carried down. It seems to me that were the man went over head there was not any very great exertion, with the exception of McSally’s, to save either Tyson or the other man who was drowned. There is considerable praise due to McSally for having saved the other man, who would otherwise have been drowned. He did what he could, looking at the fact that he had been in the water for some considerable time. I do not know whether it is true or not, but I am told that there has been two drowned at Coniston today, and a boy at Barrow last night. I believe the Local Board are going to take into consideration these places which are dangerous and mark them. At Barrow it has been a considerable protection to life since it was adopted, and I hope it may have the same effect here. Whatever you or I would say will not prevent these accidents from occurring. Though they may be bigger than children, still when they get there they are very foolish and run risks. They are very silly in trying to do what they have no business to do. If they will learn to swim they ought to do so in a proper place where there is no risk, and there are plenty of places, as I dare say Mr. Wilson can tell you, where they would be perfectly safe. Under the circumstances, gentlemen, you will find that deceased was accidentally drowned while bathing. – Mr. Blacklock here remarked that he had witnessed the accident, and there were considerably more exertions than the witnesses led them to believe. – A verdict in accordance with the coroner’s remarks was returned.

Barrow News, 12 August 1884

SAD RAILWAY FATALITY AT ULVERSTON

INQUEST

Still another sad calamity in our district. On Saturday, whilst a man named Thomas Thompson was crossing the railway at Plumpton, or near thereto, he was knocked down by a train and killed. It will be seen from the evidence that he was drunk at the time. It appeared that this man had helped to tie the legs of James Thompson, who was drowned a short time before, and had then made the remark, that he wondered whose turn it would be next. The inquest was held on Monday morning. The following are the names of the jury: T.F. Tyson (foreman), T. Kendall, P. Kay, R. Robinson, J.N. Kitchen, J.S. Millon, S.S. Crewdson, R. Harding, J. Ferguson, R. Clark, R. Brunton, and Wm. Johnson.

Sarah Agnes Thompson deposed: I live at 14, Ratten Row, Ulverston. The deceased Thomas Thompson was my husband, and was a waller by trade. He was 39 years of age. He left home about 3 o’clock on Saturday. He had 6d. in his pocket. He said he was going to Canal Foot to see a man.

WILLIAM COTTAM said: I live at Canal Foot, Ulverston, and keep the Horse Inn. I can’t tell what time deceased came to my house. It would be about tea time. I can’t tell you when he left. I never saw him with any drink.

John Miller said: I am in the signal box at Plumpton Junction. I saw the deceased about 6.35 on Saturday night. He was then in my house where he stopped about a minute. He did not say where he had been nor what way he had come. He was drunk. I did not see which way he went. He would not have to go very far from my house before he got on the line. Perhaps 150 yards. He had a dog with him. I find by the book in the box that a train left the box at 6.40 for Ulverston. I know the place where he was killed. It would be about 200 yards from my house, or about 56 yards from the bridge. When he was standing talking to me he staggered from side to side. My attention was drawn first to him by his knocking at the next door. I then went out, and he said “Mrs. Barker won’t let me in, so I will go home.” I said it is the best thing you can do.

P.S. Bull said: I was down at Canal foot on Saturday last, on account of a young man being drowned. I saw the deceased in Cottam’s about half-past three o’clock. He had had drink at that time.

William Park said: I am guard in the employ of the Furness Railway. I left Plumpton at 6.40, coming to Ulverston. I don’t know how many waggons there were on the train. I was in the break (sic) van of this train. I was alarmed at the train stopping, and on looking out of the van I saw a man lying on the ground. I ran to him, and saw that he had been run over. Both legs appeared to have been run over between the ankle and the knee. He had a wound on the right side of his forehead. His hat was lying about 15 or 20 yards from him in the direction of Ulverston. He was on the down side of the down line. He was bleeding. He was lying in a pool of blood that appeared to be partly dried up. It did not seem to have been recently done. Two trains passed previously to ours. One was due at Ulverston at 6.38 and the other at 6.52. Both had passed down the line before us. There isn’t the slightest doubt that he had been run over.

John Postlethwaite (driver) said: I live at Barrow. I was driving the 6.7 down goods train. I left Plumpton about 25 minutes to seven. When I got a little past the bridge, I saw something on the line.

In summing up, Mr. Poole said – There are three things quite clear, 1st, that deceased was trespassing; 2nd, that he was drunk; and 3rd, that he was killed on the railway by some train. It does not matter which train it was, he was killed by some train coming up to Ulverston. It is very likely that he was knocked down by the train which came before the one on which witness came. They don’t appear to be very clear as to when the other left. Inquiry has been made, and the drivers of the other trains did not see anybody. Being a passenger train, that is very likely the case. At all events they say they did not. It appears that deceased left the house of the witness John Miller only a short time before. Miller says he was drunk when he left his house. No doubt that is so. He says he could walk, but could not stand steadily. There is no doubt that deceased was knocked down and killed on the railway when he was trespassing in a state of intoxication. I have told the police to bring Cottam here, for the reason that this is the third death of parties who have left that house after getting drunk there. It is all very well for the landlord to come here and say he did not see deceased in his house. I think it must be pretty well known – at least in my mind – that deceased got his drink at Cottam’s house. It might be that the deceased was in the habit of carrying drink about with him, but it is very improbable. I do think it a serious matter that there should be three deaths arising from the purchase of drink from any house. I have asked the police to direct their attention towards this house in the future. So far as the accident happened, it is perfectly clear, and the verdict that you will have to find will be that the deceased was knocked down and killed on the line whilst trespassing in a state of intoxication.

A verdict was returned accordingly.

Barrow News, 12 August 1884

The (Barrow) Evening Mail’s sports pages on Monday 24 July 1978 read:

The only Baggett we have in the record books (Football League players by Michael Joyce) is Walter John ("Bill") Baggett who I assume is the same man as he played for Bolton and Reading and died in 1978. I attach his full playing record, from 1923 to 1932, including all League games played and goals scored, taken with kind permission from the online English National Football Archive, enfa.co.uk.

He played at inside right or inside left and was born in Potterspury (Northants) on 29th May 1902. He first played for Victoria Ironworks (I cannot say where that is) then Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he played no first team games for them. He transferred to Bolton Wanderers and played for 4 seasons in Division 1 and then on to Reading for 5 seasons, playing in divisions 2 & 3 (south). In between he may have played an odd game for non-league Colwyn Bay. After Reading he played for non-league Tunbridge Wells Rangers.

Peter Holme, National Football Museum