Died
26 November 1941
Aged 31
Born
1910
Sources
Barrow News
Ancestry
Place
Themes
George Proctor Lucas
Ordinary Seaman - R. N. (LT/JX 256799)
In Loving Memory of
MY DEAR HUSBAND
ANTHONY LUCAS
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
SEPT. 25TH 1929
ALSO DINAH MARGARET LUCAS
BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED AUG. 31ST 1949, AGED 81 YEARS.
ALSO GEORGE PROCTOR LUCAS, R.N.
BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOV 26TH 1941, AGED 31 YEARS.
ALSO MAGGIE JANE
DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED FEB 15TH 1941.
The family headstone hides a mysterious accident.
Barrow News 29 November 1941 had a preliminary report:
BARROW SAILOR FOUND DEAD
ON RAILWAY LINE NEAR CREWE
A sailor whose dead body was found on the railway track two miles north of Crewe on Wednesday morning has been definitely identified as Able Seaman George Proctor Lucas, who resided with his married sister at 86, Derby-street, Barrow. Lucas is presumed to have fallen out of the Crewe to Barrow train. His body was found by a railway linesman, and he had in his possession a railway ticket to Barrow from Portsmouth.
Lucas was 3 years of age and a single man. When seen by a “Mail” reporter on Thursday, Mrs. E. Kelso, his sister, said he was probably coming home on leave, though she had had no notification from him.
The following Saturday the Barrow News 6 December 1941 had a report of the inquest:
BARROW SAILOR’S DEATH
FOUND ON RAILWAY AT CREWE
INQUEST PROCEEDINGS
An open verdict was returned by the West Cheshire Coroner (Mr. A. H. W. Wragg) at the inquest at Crewe on Saturday afternoon on George Proctor Lucas, a 30 years-old sailor, of 86, Derby-street, Barrow, whose body was found on the L.M.S. main line at Coppenhall, Crewe, on Wednesday.
The dead man’s brother-in-law, Pte. E. Kelso, gave evidence of identification. He said that his brother (sic) had always been healthy and happy. He was not expected home that week.
Sergt.-Major Richard W. Thorpe, R.A. said he was a passenger in a Euston – Blackpool train on Tuesday night. A sailor (the dead man) got into his compartment at Euston. He appeared to be very tired and went to sleep before the train left Euston. After leaving Crewe, the sailor left the compartment, leaving his false teeth and his respirator behind him. At Preston the witness noticed that the sailor had not returned to the compartment. He searched the coach, but could not find the sailor.
In reply to the Coroner, the witness said it was very dark in the corridor. The sailor had had two or three bad fits of coughing during the journey.
Police-Constable Jacobs, who went to the spot where the body was found on Wednesday morning, said there were severe head and other injuries.
Dr. W. H. Grace, the Cheshire pathologist, said he made a post-mortem examination. Death was due to a compound fracture of the skull. There was no evidence of disease.
The Coroner found that death was due to violence and that there was no evidence of suicide. Death was due to the compound fracture of the skull, there being insufficient evidence to show how Lucas came to be on the line.
The CWGC website gives the information that Ordinary Seaman (contrary to the news report, which says Able Seaman) George Proctor Lucas was serving on Royal Naval Patrol Service H. M. Trawler Juliet.
It is unknown how George Lucas came to be on the tracks, but it is worth remembering that during the blackout there would be very little lighting if any, in the carriages, to reduce the risk from night bombers, or guiding them by railway lines to their chosen destination. Blinds had to be pulled down firmly.
From Ancestry we learn that George Lucas was baptised at St. John, Barrow Island, on 9 March 1910, parents Anthony and Dinah Margaret Lucas née Greggens or Greggans. His parents had married in Whitehaven in 1894.
The list of Lucas births in Cumbria Births, Marriages & Deaths Cumbria BMD) website raises a couple of questions, for which I have only found some answers:
Children of George and Elizabeth Lucas
- 1894 Mary Alice Lucas (mother’s maiden name Stackini)
- 1896 George Proctor Lucas (m. maiden name Stackini)
- 1898 Elizabeth Ann Lucas (m. maiden name Stackine)
- 1901 Joseph Sewel Lucas (m. maiden name Stackini)
- 1903 Catherine G. Lucas (m. maiden name Stackina)
- 1905 Albert Daniel Lucas (m. maiden name Stackina)
- 1907 James Proctor Lucas (m. maiden name Stackina)
Children of Anthony and Dinah Lucas
- 1895 Maggie Lucas (mother’s maiden name Greggins)
- 1897 Harriet Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1899 John Greggans Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1902 William Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1903 Dinah Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1904 Anthony Lucas (m. maiden name Greggins)
- 1906 Freda May Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1908 Winifred Lucas (m. maiden name Greggens)
- 1912 Moyra Isobel Lucas (m. maiden name Greggans)
- 1913 Joseph Leonard Lucas (m. maiden name Greggens)
Children of Anthony and Margaret Lucas
- 1912 George Proctor Lucas (m. maiden name Carlisle)
- 1913 Samuel Lucas (m. maiden name Carlisle)
1901 Census
From the same source, an Anthony Lucas married Margaret Carlisle at St. George, Barrow, in 1911. This Anthony Lucas was an elder son of the Lucas/Stackini marriage, born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, 15 at the time of the 1901 Census, when he was a Rivetter in the Shipyard and living with his family at 16B Egerton Buildings.
1939 Register
Undoubtedly, official records contain mistakes, as indicated by the surname spellings above, but where is the George Proctor Lucas born in 1910. The George Proctor Lucas, DoB 18 January 1912, died in Barrow in Q2 1987. In the 1939 Register he was a Dock Labourer, living at 5D Egerton Buildings, Barrow Island.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census Anthony Lucas (37) Rivetter, Shipyard, born Whitehaven, Cumberland, is living with his wife Dina (sic) Lucas (30) born Whitehaven, and two children, both born in Barrow – Maggie J. Lucas (5) and John S?. Lucas (1). They are all Lodgers at 7D Egerton Buildings, Barrow Island, with the Carley family.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census living at 8B Schooner Street, Barrow Island, were the Lucas family, consisting of Head Anthony Lucas (47) Riverter (sic), born Whitehaven, Cumberland; Dinah Lucas (39) his wife of 17 years (ten children, six surviving), born Whitehaven, and the six surviving children, all born in Barrow: Maggie Lucas (15); John Lucas (12); Dinah Lucas (8); Freda Lucas (4); Winifred Lucas (3); and George Lucas (1).
1939 Register
In the 1939 Register the family was living at 86, Derby Street, Barrow. The household consisted of Dinah M. Lucas (DoB 7 April 1868) Widow, Unpaid Domestic Duties; Winifred Lucas (DoB 14 September 1908), Single, Hotel Barmaid; and George P. Lucas (DoB 15 January 1910) Fitters’ Labourer, Shipyard. Another household at the same address were Eliezer Kelso (DoB 13 January 1911) Head Porter, Multiple Store; and (George’s sister?) Moyra I. Kelso (DoB 12 May 1912) Unpaid Domestic Duties.
1911 Census
Following the other Lucas family with the mother’s maiden name Stackini, in the 1911 Census they were living at 31 St Andrew Street, Barrow in Furness. The family was George Lucas (50) Shipyard Rivetter, born Workington, Cumberland; Lizzie Lucas (48) to whom he had been married 28 years, twelve children, eleven surviving, born Newcastle, Northumberland; Mary Alice Lucas (16) born Barrow; Lizzie Ann Lucas (12) born Barrow; Joseph Lucas (10) born Barrow; Georgina Lucas (8) born Barrow, Albert Lucas (6) born Barrow; and James Lucas (5) born Barrow. None of the children have an occupation recorded.
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census the Stackini family was at 18 Carliol Street, Newcastle, Northumberland. The household was Daniel Stackini (57) Gas Lighter, born Italy; wife Alice Stackini (46) Born Northumberland, North Shields; Ellen Stackini (21) no occupation recorded, born Manchester; Elizabeth Stackini (17) no occupation recorded, born Newcastle; Teresa Stackini (8) born Newcastle; Antione Stackini (5) born Newcastle. There are also six Lodgers with a variety of occupations: Robert Gray (22) Unmarried, Striker, born Newcastle; Harry French (30) Unmarried, Labourer, born Newcastle; Frank Golden (38) Widower, Labourer, born London; Edmund Morton (42) Widower, Merchant, born Huddersfield and his daughter Ann Morton (8) born Newcastle; Pomfrey? Galonly (26) Married, Merchant, born Italy; and Thomas Kenman (51) Unmarried, Gas Lighter, born Newcastle.
George and Elizabeth Lucas already had three children, and were living in Byker, Newcastle, in the 1891 Census, but were at 16B Egerton Buildings, Barrow-in-Furness by the time of the 1901 Census.
1939 Register
Sadly, in the 1939 Register this Elizabeth Lucas (DoB 21 October 1862) Unpaid Domestic Duties, was living in the Public Assistance Institution and Infirmary, 1 Rampside Road, Barrow-in-Furness, formerly the Workhouse, and later Roose Hospital.
At last, or eventually, I found that George Lucas, who may in fact have been George Proctor Lucas, who married Elizabeth Stackini, and Anthony Lucas, who married Dinah Greggens/ans were brothers, meaning that the two George Proctor Lucases, born 1910 and 1912, were cousins.
1871 Census
The 1871 Census for Whitehaven has living at 1 Briggs Court, William Lucas (37) Boot and Shoemaker, born Whitehaven, Cumberland- as was the whole household; Margaret Lucas (32); Mary Lucas (16) Unmarried, Servant, Joseph Lucas (14) Coal Miner; William Lucas (12); George Lucas (10); Anthony Lucas (7); Elizabeth Lucas (5), and Jane Lucas (1).
I have been unable to find the origin of the Proctor name. Margaret Lucas (above) was born Margaret Hayton.
