Arthur Smith RAF Killed when falling under a train, Millom Station, 6.6.1941 - Any help appreciated!

[Brimacombe]

Hi Guys

Am trying to put together a Biography for a guy by the name of Arthur Smith, LAC, Royal Airforce, who died on 6 June 1941.

Apparently he died after falling under a train at Millom Railway Station.

A search of available online newspapers has drawn a blank regarding a published inquest (it's very possible it remained unpublished of course). Can anyone add anything to the story? Death Certificate has been ordered, but I'm not expecting it to embellish the facts I already have.

Would really appreciate your help guys! Thanks so much

 

[barbarajoh]

I have only found a couple of sympathy to his wife articles. How long after a death is an inquest though as with a name like Smith it is a lot of wading

 

[Ellie7]

Not sure you will see the inquest as he will still have living relatives.Must be so many years before government publications

 

[Ellie7]

Arthur Smith Death
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Registration Year: 1941
Registration District: Millom
County: Northumberland
Event Place: Millom, Northumberland, England
Age: 26
Birth Year (Estimated): 1915
Volume: 10B
Affiliate Line Number: 69

 

[Ellie7]

https://www.northumberlandarchives.com/

Not on Archives ,only an Arthur Smith age 54

Inquest report into the death of Arthur Smith, aged 54, of Scotswood, Northumberland.
1944

 

[Brimacombe]

Thanks guys. To be honest I'm expecting the death cert to state suicide. It's just off that the newspaper reports of his death just state 'died suddenly' and no reference to an accident. I'll keep you posted when the death certificate arrives. Just can't understand why I can find no reference to an inquest.

Thanks again for your input everyone!

 

[gibbo]

One of mine who was in the air force WW2 died whilst training to fly in the UK. His death certificate stated there had been a inquest. Maybe the death certificate of your fella will state if there was a inquest or not.

 

[Brimacombe]

Thanks Gibbo - I'll update you all when the certificate arrives

 

[Ellie7]

Usually an inquest at a sudden death no matter what the cause.

 

[Brimacombe]

I agree Ellie, the issue is locating evidence of it.

 

[Ellie7]

I don't believe it will be online yet ,too early.Don't compare him to the 44 inquest as that man was 53 so a grownup family .

 

[Brimacombe]

There are plenty of published reports of inquests into the deaths of service personnel from 1939 right the way through the war Ellie, many readily available in newspapers, many regarding suicide. Therefore, I would have expected at least a passing mention of a death of a man after falling under a train (regardless of suicide or accident). The railway station at Millom serviced the whole town and not just the RAF Station, so the accident would have been witnessed by locals I expect (if it had been a station servicing just the RAF base (and therefore entirely within a military setting) I might have expected to find nothing, but that's just not the case.

I'm hoping the death certificate might throw a little more light on the events - I'll keep you posted!!

 

[gibbo]

There are plenty of published reports of inquests into the deaths of service personnel from 1939 right the way through the war Ellie, many readily available in newspapers, many regarding suicide. Therefore, I would have expected at least a passing mention of a death of a man after falling under a train (regardless of suicide or accident).

There could be quiet possibly be a article on your fella but not all newspapers are online as yet. The Millom Gazette for example is online up to 1933. A lot of newspapers are still in the process of been digitised and put online. Just a thought but i wonder if contacting the local archives if they would have a newspaper article on the incident and if there was a inquest. Its surprising sometimes what the local archives have that is not readily available online.

Ellie has posted on #5 the link to the Northumberland Achives, i would be inclined to drop them a email.
.

 

[Ellie7]

Western Times 13 June 1941

Bridgerule
Deepest Sympathy is extended to Mrs Smith on the sudden death of her Husband Mr Arthur Smith LAC RAF who passed away suddenly on Friday at
Cumberland .

Is that Devon
-------------------------------

 

[Ellie7]

The History of RAF Millom And the Genesis of RAF Mountain ...
www.bookscumbria.com › cgi-bin › trolleyed_public