Died
20 October 1932
Born
1906? Pilcher
1907 McKeever
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Place
Walks
Barrow various
Albert Henry Pilcher & Joseph McKeever
This grave was pointed out to me on one of my cemetery tours in 2016. He did not know the circumstances of the accident, but commented that "It was a sad day in that household".
Where is the grave?
The grave is in the very lowest part of the cemetery, behind the Goude family (Barrow Blitz victims) and about directly below the Crematorium.
It is lying flat.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MY DEAR HUSBAND
ALBERT HENRY PILCHER
ALSO MY DEAR BROTHER
JOSEPH MCKEEVER
WHO WERE ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED
IN WALNEY CHANNEL
OCTOBER 20TH 1932
The Barrow News 29 October 1932 reported:
FATE OF TWO MEN
IS THE BOAT IN THE CHANNEL?
New light has been cast on the mysterious disappearance of Joseph McKeever and Albert Pilcher, the two Barrow men who went fishing on Thursday morning last and have not been seen or heard of since.
A local fisherman, while engaged in trawling in the vicinity of Roa Island discovered an obstruction on the channel bed, and when he drew in the net a piece of wood, believed to belong to the boat used by the missing men was brought to the surface.
The obstruction, whatever it is lies in a deep hole, and we understand a diver is to investigate the nature of it.
On enquiry at the Harbour Office to-day a “Mail” reporter was informed that no obstruction had yet been reported, and there was nothing to interfere with navigation.
A diver, we understand, was to be sent down on Tuesday, but the current was too strong.
The reported obstruction may be the 15ft. open Welsh coble which the men used on their ill-fated fishing trip, while on the other hand it may be some old wreckage uncovered by many currents.
Meanwhile, the fate of the two men remains a mystery. (Punctuation as original)
A fortnight later, Saturday 12th November 1932, the News reported:
TWO BARROW MEN DROWNED
WENT OUT FISHINGINQUEST ON ONE OF THE VICTIMS
“Accidentally drowned” was the verdict returned at an inquest held by Mr. F. W. Poole, Coroner for Furness, at Barrow Police Court to-day on the body of Albert Henry Pilcher (26), of 15, Exmouth-street, which was recovered from the sea near Piel Island by three men in a motor boat on Saturday.
William Rodney Pilcher, labourer, of 26, Lord-street, and brother of the deceased gave evidence of identification.
He said that as far as he knew his brother had no knowledge of sailing boats and was not in the habit of going out fishing.
Evelyn May Pilcher said that deceased was her husband and resided at 15, Exmouth-street.
About 4 a.m. on Thursday, October 20th, he left home telling her he was going for a sail with McKeever and he would return about mid-day. About 10.30 p.m. he had not come back, so her father went to the police station and reported him as missing. He had not been in the habit of going fishing.
George Chelton, an unemployed labourer, said that about 9.15 a.m. on Saturday he was sailing his motor boat along with two other men, and when near Piel Island they saw the body of the deceased floating in about three feet of water.
They recovered the body and conveyed it in a boat to Ramsden Dock, from where it was taken to the mortuary.
The body was fully clothed, with the exception of the jacket and cap.
P.C. Casson said that about 11 a.m. on Saturday he went to Ramsden Dock and saw the body of the deceased in Chelton’s boat. Chelton said that they had found the body near Piel Island.
The Coroner said that there was no evidence to show how deceased came to get into the water. He had left home to go for a sail with a man called McKeever and by some means or other the boat had capsized and the men were thrown into the water and drowned.
‘I think it is a case in which I can only find that deceased was accidentally drowned on the day he left Barrow to go for a sail,’ he concluded.
A week after that, on the 19th November, the News further reported:
BADLY DECOMPOSED
INQUEST ON DROWNED MAN
The Coroner for Furness, Mr. F. W. Poole, held an inquest in the Barrow Police Court on Monday afternoon on the body of Joseph McKeever, which was recovered from Walney Channel on Sunday morning after having been missing since 3.45 a.m. on Thursday October 20th.
Joseph Wall, a farm labourer, said that at 9.00 a.m. on Sunday, November 13th, he was walking along the shore on the west side of Walney, near the Bankfield Hotel, when he saw the body of deceased floating in the water about 9ft from the edge.
The tide was coming in at the time, and he went for assistance and brought the body ashore.
Mrs. Mary Lily McKeever, 7, McClintock-street, said deceased was her husband. He was a general labourer, aged 26 years. At 3.45 a.m. on Thursday, October 20th, deceased left home. He did not say he was going fishing but he had done on several occasions. He was a good swimmer.
Coroner: Was this his own boat?
Witness: No.
P.C. Hoyle said that at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 13th, he proceeded to West Shore about 100 yards from the Bankfield Hotel. He saw the body lying on the shore. It was in a badly decomposed condition. He searched the pockets but found nothing but pieces of string.
David McKeever, brother of deceased, a mill-hand, 64, Arthur-street, Barrow, gave evidence of identification.
The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death sustained whilst fishing outside Walney.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place at Barrow Cemetery, on Tuesday afternoon. The funeral service in St. James’s Church, was conducted by the Rev. R. W. Stannard, M.A. The mourners were: Mrs. J. McKeever (widow); Joe McKeever (step-son); Mr. and Mrs. D. McKeever (father and mother); Mr. and Mrs. D. McKeever (brother and sister-in-law); Mr. and Mrs. Wilson (brother-in-law and sister); Mrs. Evelyn Pilcher (sister); Mr. and Mrs. H. Tucker (brother-in-law and sister); Mr. and Mrs. W. Tucker (brother-in-law and sister); Misses Lily and Rhoda McKeever (sisters); Mr. Tucker (father-in-law); Mrs. Robinson (sister-in-law); Mrs. Irving (cousin); Mrs Jackson, Mrs Fallon, Mrs. Rose Fallon (aunts); Mr. and Mrs. Turner (uncle and aunt); Mrs. A. Pilcher (widow of the other victim) (sic – according to the report on the 12th, the widow was Mrs. E. Pilcher, so this may have been his mother-in-law); Mrs. Baggot, Mrs. Caton, Mrs. Booth, Miss Mary Sharpe, Miss Eva Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. Ackroyd (friends). The bearers were Messrs. Booth, McKeever, Kearon, T. Johnson, Ackroyd, Martin, Karron, and Bateman.
PILCHER
National Probate Calendar
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1932 has: PILCHER Albert Henry of 15 Exmouth-street Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 20 October 1932 at Walney Channel Barrow-in-Furness Administration Lancaster 25 November to Evelyn May Pilcher widow. Effects £260. Resworn £1010.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census, Albert Henry Pilcher (9) lived at 28 Barton Street, Barrow. Albert Pilcher (45) was a Stoker, born Faversham, Kent and married to Florrie (38), born Nottley (? Could be Knottingley), Yorkshire. Their children were Ada May Pilcher (12), born Faversham; Wilson Richard Pilcher (11), born Faversham; Albert, born Bromley, Kent; Liley (sic) Florrie Ann Pilcher (6), born Bromley; John William Pilcher (3), born Radcliffe, Lancs and William Rodney Pilcher (1), born Dalton in Furness.
Albert H Pilcher married Evelyn M McKeever at St George, Barrow in Q4 1927.
McKEEVER
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census Joseph McKeever was living at 13 Exmouth Street. The household consisted of: David McKeever (38), Driller – Shipbuilding, born Barrow; Mary Grace McKeever (34), Wife, born Workington, Cumberland; Catherine E. McKeever (11), School, born Barrow; David McKeever (9), School, born Barrow; Evelyn M. McKeever (6), School, born Barrow; Joseph McKeever (4), born Barrow; Annie B. McKeever (2), born Barrow; Rhoda M. McKeever (1), born Barrow; Thomas Clark (28), brother-in-law, Single, Labourer – Rail Mill, born Workington, Cumbs.
Joseph McKeever married Mary L. Tucker at St James’ in 1930. They had a son, Joseph McKeever, in Q2 1930. Unusually, Annie B. McKeever married Herbert Tucker at St. James’ in 1929, and Margaret McKeever married William Tucker at St James’ in 1932. I have confirmed (using the 1911 Census) that the Tuckers were siblings.
