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.