Benjamin Thomas ORMEROD

11 June 1915

BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIER’S FATAL MISHAP – RUN OVER BY A MOTOR ‘BUS IN LONDON

Sympathy is extended to the relatives of Lance Corporal Benjamin Ormerod, of the 77th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., who died on Saturday after having been knocked down by a motor ‘bus in the London streets. The deceased as attached to the Flowerdown Camp, Winchester, and when the accident took place was on his way to St. Pancras Station en route for Barnoldswick, where he was to have spent the weekend on leave. It appears that whilst avoiding a motor lorry Lance Corporal Ormerod stepped into the path of a motorbus, which was coming in the opposite direction, and was knocked down and killed. Death was declared to have been instantaneous.

The first intimation of the accident was conveyed in a telegram received by his wife on Saturday morning, to the effect that her husband had been seriously injured, and this was followed later by intimation from the Commanding Officer of his regiment that he had been killed. Mrs. B.T. Omerod, who lives in Leonard Street, left immediately for London, accompanied by her brother. Mrs. Ormerod is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Waterworth of North View Terrace, Barnoldswick, in whose care she left her only child, a girl of six years.

Lance Corporal Ormerod was 30 years of age, and a member of the Barnoldswick St. John Ambulance Division. He joined the Army shortly after the outbreak of the war. He was very well known in the town, and his untimely death is regretted by a large circle of friends.

THE INQUEST

A coroner’s inquiry was held on Tuesday at St. Pancras into the circumstances attending the fatality

Mrs. Ormerod, the widow, residing at No. 1 Leonard Street, Barnoldswick, identified the body as that of her husband who was formerly a weaver. She had had a postcard on Friday from him stating that he would arrive home at 2 pm on Saturday from Winchester.

William Pawsey, a motor-lorry driver, stated that on Friday, about 9pm, while he was driving by Tonbridge Street, Euston Road, opposite St. Pancras Station, in the direction of Pentonville, Ormerod stepped from the footpath in front of the lorry. He cleared the vehicle, but immediately afterwards stumbled. Before he could recover himself a motor omnibus travelling in the opposite direction caught him and knocked him down, the front wheel passing over him.

Other witnesses stated that if Ormerod had hurried he might have crossed the road in safety. At the time of the accident it was stated that the omnibus was travelling at the rate of between six and seven miles an hour.

Sidney Carter, the driver of the omnibus, stated that, noticing the man stumbling in front of him, he applied the brakes, and pulled up in about 5ft. When the car was brought to a standstill Ormerod was lying unconscious between the wheels.

The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental death’, and exonerated the driver of the omnibus from blame.

Lieutenant Lescher, R.A.M.C., expressed the regret of the officers and men of the battalion and their sympathy with the family, adding, “He was an excellent soldier, and his death is a great loss to the battalion.”

THE FUNERAL

The interment took place at Gill Churchyard on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. F.W. Patten, M.A., officiating. In addition to the family mourners, there were present members of the Barnoldswick Ambulance Division, together with a number of nursing sisters, and a detachment of men from the camp at Skipton. General respect was shown by the neighbours, and en route the blinds were drawn. There were a number of beautiful wreaths, including a circular floral token containing a beautifully made ‘Red Cross’ of immortelles, from the R.A.M.C. Corps to which deceased was attached. The local ambulance men present were:– Supt. J.W. Thompson, ex-Supt. W.J.J. Macdonald, First-Officer Pearson, Corporal J. Thornton and Privates T. Wilson, J. Harrison, T. Wall, J. Barlow, J.J. King, H. Green and W.L. Reynolds.

18 June 1915

THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL ORMEROD – Memorial Service

Between forty and fifty members of the Barnoldswick Ambulance and Nursing Division attended a memorial service to the late Lance-Corporal Benjamin Ormerod at the Bethel Primitive Methodist Chapel on Sunday morning. The service was conducted by Cr. H. Speed, of Birkenhead, and an appreciative reference was made by Rev. J.E. Woodfield, who expressed the sympathy of the church and congregation with the widow and family of deceased. Mr. Woodfield also expressed the thanks of the family to the ambulance division for coming to the service to signify their feelings of sorrow at the death of one who they all knew and liked very much whilst he was amongst them. At the conclusion of the service the organist (Mr. L. Harrison) played the Dead March in ‘Saul’.

24 December 1915

CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – BARNOLDSWICK

Lance Corporal Benjamin Thomas Ormerod, 77th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., died on June 4th from injuries received through being knocked down by a motorbus in London. When at home he resided with his parents at 1, Leonard Street, Barnoldswick. He was 36 years of age, and a member of the Barnoldswick St. John Ambulance Division.