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PaulC
Joined: 31 May 2014
Posts: 36
Location: Lancashire
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 Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:38 pm Post subject: Greenock Explosion 1911 |
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Hi folks,
This is something I came across while doing a bit of family history research: an explosion occurred in the drill hall of the 3rd Highland Howitzer Brigade R.F.A., Greenock, on 24 February 1911. Two men were fatally injured, Sergeant-Majors Francis Thomas Smith and Frederick John Higgins, who both died shortly afterwards. The two men seem to have been from Birmingham.
If possible I'd like to locate Smith's grave. If his body had been returned home I would expect him to have been buried at St Peter's Churchyard in Harborne (based on what I know of the family), but he's not there so I'm wondering if he was buried at Greenock instead? I've found a number of newspaper articles about the incident but none of them mention a funeral.
Any help or advice appreciated!
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PaulC
Joined: 31 May 2014
Posts: 36
Location: Lancashire
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| Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Some of the newspaper articles I've found:
Aberdeen Journal, 25 Feb 1911
Aberdeen Journal, 27 Feb 1911
Shields Daily Gazette, 24 Mar 1911
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Adam Brown
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
Posts: 714
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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The last article notes they were PSI inspectors so were presumably only visiting.
Do you know what happened to Higgins' body?
Thanks
Adam |
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PaulC
Joined: 31 May 2014
Posts: 36
Location: Lancashire
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 7:58 am Post subject: |
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I've been in touch with the Watt Library at Greenock and also been up there myself. The two men were buried at Greenock Cemetery, section 3K grave number 222. This is a detailed account of the funeral from the Greenock Telegraph, kindly sent to me by the library. Although it mentions a marble tablet being placed on the grave, it unfortunately seems to be lost now.
Greenock Telegraph, 2 Mar 1911
(I hope the article is readable, Photobucket don't seem to let you upload full size images anymore.)
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PaulC
Joined: 31 May 2014
Posts: 36
Location: Lancashire
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 8:19 am Post subject: |
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Some more articles on the explosion and the two men...
Greenock Telegraph, 25 Feb 1911
Greenock Telegraph, 25 Feb 1911
Greenock Telegraph, 27 Feb 1911
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