Western Mail Saturday November 20. 1926. No.225.
V.A.D. IN WALES-Detatchments Recognised By War Office.
The following Voluntuary Aid Detatchments (women's) organised by the British Red
Cross Society have received official recognition by the War Office under the new
scheme.
No. 4.- Carmarthen, under Commandant the Hon. Mrs. Louise HUNTER.
No. 20.- Carmarthen, under Commandant Mrs. A. P. SMART.
No. 8.- Carmarthen, under Commandant Miss M. EVANS.
No. 8.- Flint, under Commandant Miss M. Lloyd PRICE.
No. 2.- Pembroke, under Commandant Mrs. M. B. MIREHOUSE.
No. 10.- Pembroke, under Commandant Mrs. M. THOMAS.
No. 4.- Radnor, under Commandant Mrs. M. LEAKE.
SIDE-CAR TRAGEDY-No Criminal Negligence In Bishpool Mishap.
Mr. E. Charles JONES, the Newport deputy-coroner, resumed his inquiry on Friday
into the death of William Frederick PORTLOCK 39, an engine driver of
31,Bedford-road, Newport, who died in the Royal Gwent Hospital on July 13 as the
result of an accident at Bishpool in which a car owned and driven by Mr. L.
Franklin BEYNON was involved.
PORTLOCK was the passenger in a side-car combination driven by Joseph
SHEWRING, who suffered injuries, the long adjournment being necessary to secure
his attendance.
Mr. John MOXON, O.B.E., represented Mr. L. Franklin BEYNON, of Belmont,
Christchurch; Mr. Pitt LEWIS represented the widow; Mr. F. H. DAUNCEY
represented SHEWRING; and Mr. A. Gordon EDWARDS watched the proceedings on
behalf of the interested parties.
Joseph Arthur SHEWRING, who lives at the home of PORTLOCK, said when
PORTLOCK'S hat blew off he pulled over to his left-hand side, and slowed up.
When the collision with car occurred witness was as close into the kerb, as he
could get. He did not remember anything about the collision at all. The last
thing he remembered was that as he pulled up, expecting his passenger to get out
for his hat, he looked over his shoulder and saw a boy running for the hat.
Charles Frederick CARNELL, guide in the employ of the R.A.C., said the two
vehicles were proceeding very, very slowly at the moment of impact, and the
damage was caused by the weight of the car forcing the combination against the
kerb.
Mr. L. Franklin BEYNON, of Christchurch, said he was driving a Vauxhall car
in the direction of Christchurch, at about twenty miles an hour on his proper
side, about 4 ft. from the hedge. He noticed the cyclist approach from the
opposite direction on his wrong side about 4 ft. from the hedge. When the
vehicles were about fifteen yards apart the motor-cyclist had made to move to
cross the road, and witness feared there would be a head-on collision, even if
he (witness) stopped altogether.
Witness had previously reduced his speed to ten to twelve miles per hour, and
he came to the conclusion that the only hope was to cross over on the
motor-cyclist's left hand-hand side of the road.
Immediately after witness swerved the motor-cyclist also swerved and the
collision resulted.
The jury found that death was accidental and that there was no criminal
negligence on either side. The Coroner recorded a verdict to this effect.
MOTOR-VANS DASH TO DESTRUCTION.
The vale leading from Abertillery to Cwmtillery was the scene of a remarkable
motor accident on Friday evening, a motor-van, fortunately without occupants,
running away, mounting a steep embankment, and, after turning many somersaults,
finally crashing on to the railway line about sixty yards below.
The van, belonging to Mr. W. ADAMS, general dealer, Abertillery, was being
used in delivery work in the town.
The van driver Tom KITCHEN, had just returned to the van and endeavoured to
apply the brakes to steady the vehicles down the steep street. To his
consternation the brakes failed to act and the van began to gain considerable
speed.
As 'Tillery-street was approached KITCHEN realised that it was hopeless to try
to check the van , and, being in imminent danger of his life, he leaped from the
vehicle and fortunately escaped practically unhurt.
The van, continuing its career, dashed across 'Tillery-street, crashed through
the railings near to the Gray Pit, and went headlong into the darkness beneath,
being almost smashed to pieces.
WEST WALES DEATH COINCIDENCE-Brother And Sister Die Together.
William WILLIAMS (65), a bachelor, and his sister, Ann WILLIAMS (67), a
spinster, living together at Glascoedissa, Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire, have
died with tragic suddeness within a few hours of each other.
The sister had been assisting in the household duties at a neighbouring farm,
where a death had taken place, and returned home in the evening about seven p.m.
When her brother came home about 9.30 p.m. she complained to him of pains in the
region of the heart. She stooped forward, and her brother took hold of her, and
she expired in his arms.
The brother, who is a blacksmith by trade, rushed out for assistance. On his
return to the house, he too became unwell, and went to bed. He got up about five
o'clock in the morning, and, complaining of pains in the region of the heart, he
sat down in the chair and expired.
John Patrick