Ronald Falshaw MORKILL

16 October 1914

A Military Wedding

Owing to the war, the marriage took place quietly on September 23rd, by licence, at Holy Trinity Church, Heywood, Wilts., between Ronald Falshaw Morkill, Lieutenant 4th West Yorkshire Regiment, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morkill, of Newfield Hall, Bell Busk, and Ellen Mary, youngest daughter of the late T. L. Wilkinson and Mrs. Wilkinson of Neasham Abbey, Darlington. The Rev. J. G. B. Hollins performed the ceremony. The bridegroom left immediately after the ceremony to rejoin his regiment, and the bride is at present staying with her sister, Mrs. H. Brodick, The Parsonage, Heywood Park, Westbury, Wilts.

25 June 1915

MORKILL – June 22nd, the result of injuries in a flying accident at Gosport, Lieut. Ronald Falshaw Morkill, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Morkill, of Newfield Hall, Bell Busk. Funeral on Saturday, the 26th, at Kirkby Malham, at 2-45 p.m.

25 June 1915

THE LATE LIEUTENANT MORKILL

We are asked to announce that the funeral of the late Lieut. Morkill (whose sad death is reported on page 2) will take place on Saturday at Kirkby Malham at 2-45 p.m.

We understand that Lieutenant Morkill’s machine turned turtle in the air and fell with a crash to the ground. When picked up Lieut. Morkill was alive, and he was conveyed with all possible speed to a military hospital at Brighton, where he died within a few hours of admission.

25 June 1915

CRAVEN AVIATOR'S DEATH – LIEUT. R. F. MORKILL SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES

News was received on Wednesday of the death of Lieutenant Ronald Falshaw Morkill, the second son of Mr. J. W. Morkill, J.P., of Newfield Hall, Bell Busk, who received a telegram from his daughter-in-law stating that her husband died on Tuesday from injuries received in a flying accident at Gosport.

Lieutenant Morkill, who was gazetted to the West Yorkshire Regiment, was, according to the Army List, attached to the East Yorkshire Regiment. Last September he went to the front, and was on active service in Flanders continually up to February last. Then he returned to England, and was transferred to the Flying Corps as a probationer, and qualified only last week. This, however, was not Lieutenant Morkill's first connection with aviation, for two years ago he obtained a certificate as pilot.

Details of the accident, which resulted in the gallant officer's death, are unknown, but his father, who is Chairman of the Leeds West Riding Bench and acting Chairman of the East Staincliffe Magistrates, proceeded south on Wednesday.

To add to the sadness of the tragedy, we may state that Lieut. Morkill was only recently married to the youngest daughter of the late Mr. T. L. Wilkinson, of Neasham Abbey, Darlington.

Mr. and Mrs. Morkill have the deepest sympathy of the whole district in their sad bereavement.

25 June 1915

Craven's Roll of Honour

Week by week the war is being brought forcibly home to the homes of Craven. Several more casualties are reported in our columns this week, and to the bereaved families we offer our deep sympathy. No matter what the social scale may be, the pang is equally keen - whether the fallen one be an officer or a private in the ranks. The second officer connected with the immediate district who has paid the price of patriotism with his life is Lieut. R. F. Morkill, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morkill, of Newfield Hall, than whom no one have been more active in showing practical sympathy with those affected by the conflict ever since the commencement of hostilities in August last. Lieut. Morkill appears to have succumbed on Tuesday night to injuries received in a flying accident at Gosport. The precise details are not yet to hand, but whatever they be, Lieut. Morkill has just as truly given his promising young life to his country in her hour of need as if he had died leading his men against the foe, or in the thick of the fight. Heartfelt sympathy will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Morkill in their sad loss.

02 July 1915

OBITUARY – THE LATE LIEUT. MORKILL

News of the death of Lieut. Ronald Falshaw Morkill, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morkill, of Newfield Hall, Bell Busk, under the sad circumstances recorded in our last issue, was received with general regret throughout Craven, and the bereaved family have been the recipients of many sincere expressions of deep sympathy.

Lieut. Morkill was educated at Radley University College, London. He entered the army through the special Reserve Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, commanded by Col. Tottie, and early in October last was gazetted to the 1st Battalion. He was sent immediately to France, and was attached to the 1st East Yorkshire Regiment, which faltered severely in recent engagements. He served with his regiment at the front until February this year, when he came home on leave. Two years ago Lieut. Morkill obtained a pilots certificate at the Eastbourne Flying School, and on leaving the trenches in February he was sent as a probationer to the Royal Flying Corps, based at Shoreham and later at Gosport. Only a week before the accident he passed the examination at the Central Flying School and was about to be gazetted to the Corps.

In September last year Lieut. Morkill married Ellen Mary, youngest daughter of the late Mr. T. L. Wilkinson, of Neasham Abbey, Darlington.

THE INQUEST – Aeroplane's Fatal Dive

The inquest was held on Thursday at the 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton.

Mr. Morkill gave evidence of identification, stating that Lieut. Morkill was 22 years of age. He was at the front all the winter and returned last February suffering from a bad attack of influenza. Subsequently he became attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

Major Waldron, R.F.C., Lieut. Morkill's Commanding Officer, said that the deceased, having practically just finished his probation, was about to be gazetted. He had had a good deal of experience, having made countless flights before, and on Tuesday afternoon the major ordered him to make the flight from Gosport to Shoreham and back.

The same machine as which the deceased flew was flown on Tuesday by Second Lieutenant Cooper, R.F.C., who said it was in perfect order when he handed it over to the deceased.

The accident was described by Major MacLean, R.F.C. He said the deceased was preparing to start from Shoreham on the return and the engine was running satisfactorily, but the Major observed a leak in the oil system, so he stopped him, and after a new pipe had been found he proceeded. The machine got off slightly across the wind, and when up about 200 feet the engine missed once or twice and appeared to stop; this was subsequently ascertained to be due to a mechanical fracture. The pilot turned down the wind to land in the aerodrome, but did so too flatly, which developed into a ‘nose dive,’ in which the aeroplane hit the ground.

The witness added that he had since examined the engine, and ascertained that one of the balance weights of the valves was fractured. That was one of the most probable causes of the engine missing. If the machine had been up three thousand feet, Lieut. Morkill would have had time to right it, but as he was flying low, only two hundred feet up, he had no time.

Lieutenant Hurry, R.A.M.C., said he was present when the deceased was extricated from the wreckage. He did not actually strike the ground himself, but had been crushed by the wreckage of the machine. There was a compound fracture of the left leg, and several ribs were broken. He was instantly placed on a stretcher and conveyed to the hospital.

In returning a verdict of ‘Accidental death’ the jury expressed their keen sympathy with the bereaved relatives. The Coroner (Mr. Benson) joined in the expression. The jury gave their fee towards the Stamp Fund for the Expeditionary Force.

THE INTERMENT

The body was removed from Brighton to Newfield Hall on Friday, and the interment took place the following day at Kirkby Malham Church. Gentle rain fell during the afternoon and a grey mist shut out the beauty of the Dale, thus accentuating the gloom which seemed to overhang the district. Signs of mourning were general. At Airton every blind was drawn and the same token of respect was noticeable at Kirkby Malham, where the arrival of the cortege was awaited by an attendance thoroughly representative of the varied interests with which the deceased officer's family are identified. The coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, was met at the lych gate by the Ven. Archdeacon Cook, rector of Skipton; the Rev. D. R. Hall, vicar of Kirkby Malham; and the Rev. H. H. Malleson, vicar of Manston.

As the procession entered the church the organist (Mrs. D. B. Hall) played the National Anthem, and the service, impressive in its simplicity, commenced with the singing of the hymn ‘Fight the good fight.’ The choir chanted the 90th psalm with befitting solemnity, and this was followed by the first portion of the burial service read by Archdeacon Cook. ‘Brief life is here our portion’ was the concluding hymn, and to the strains of Handel’s Largo the coffin was wheeled from the foot of the chancel steps to its last resting place beneath the shadow of an ancient edifice. The last sad rites were performed by the Vicar of the Parish and the Rev. H. H. Malleson.

The mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. J. W Morkill, Mr. Hugh Morkill (brother), and Lieut. Geoffrey Wilkinson, East Riding Yeomanry (brother-in-law). The widow of the deceased officer was suffering too severely from shock to travel from Brighton, and his sister, Miss Morkill, remained with her. Lieut. Morkill's elder brother, Mr. Alan Morkill, is abroad in the Malay Civil Service.

Among those present were Mrs. Dudley Illingworth (Hanlith Hall), Miss Garnett Orme (Scosthrop), Mrs. C. H. Rickards (Kirk Syke), Mrs. White (Calton), Mr. W. Morrison, Mr. Wm. Clough, M.P., Col. R. F. Roundell, Mr. J, A. Slingsby (chairman of the Skipton Board of Guardians and the Rural District Council), Mr. R. B. Barrett (Skipton Castle), Mr. J. Mason (Thorleby House), Dr. G. E. Fisher (Skipton), Dr Robertson (Airton), Mr. J. Winskill (chairman of the Settle Board of Guardians), the Rev. C. J. Robinson (vicar of Coniston Cold), Mr. F. Skirrow (Malham Tarn), Mr. R. Brown, Mr. J. Walker, Mr. C. Metcalfe, Mr. W H. Ingleby, Mr. T. Foster, Mr. R. Foster, Mr. J. Bolland, Mr. P. Wigglesworth, Mr. L. Gifford, Mr. Thos. Dinsdale, Mr. R. Richardson, Mr. E. Richardson, Mr. W A. Proctor (Kirkby Malham), Mr. W. Carlisle, Mr. A. Broadbent (Skipton), Mr. Hoggarth (Bell Busk), Mr. T. W. Parker, and Mr. T. Emmott.

The East and West Staincliffe Constabulary were represented by a sergeant and two constables from each division.

Col. J. B. O. Tottie, of Conistone Hall (who is with his regiment on service), sent his private carriage.
Floral tributes were sent by the widow, father and mother, sister and brothers, sisters and brothers-in-law, Mr. John Falshaw Robson, and Mr. Geo. Andrew Hobson (uncles), Lieut. Col. Ashmore, M.V.O. and the officers of the 6th wing of the Royal Flying Corps; Major Waldron and the officers of No. 17 Squadron Royal Flying Corps; Lady Wilson, Col. R. F. and Mrs. Roundell, Mrs, John Yorke, Col and Misses Tottie, Mr., Mrs, and Miss Barrett, Miss E. Garnett Orme, Mr. Beresford-Pierse, the Rev, D. R. and Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Foster (Newfield Grange), Mr. and Mrs. Dinsdale (two of the indoor and outdoor servants at the Hall), Mr. and Mrs. Perrett (Bell Busk), and the Malhamdale Agricultural and Horticultural Association.

MAGISTERIAL SYMPATHY

Before the commencement of the ordinary business at the Skipton Petty Sessions on Saturday, sympathy was expressed with the relatives of the late Lieut. R. F. Morkill.

Sir J. C. Horsfall, who presided, said a sad duty fell to his lot in moving that the Bench forward a vote of condolence to the parents and widow of Lieut. Morkill. Their colleague and chairman has lost a son – a brave young man, amongst a great number who were doing all they possibly could and making every sacrifice on behalf of their King and Country. The accident was perhaps all more melancholy being as an aviator, Lieut. Morkill lost his life from an accident, and the speaker felt sure they would express their deepest sympathy with the relatives in their great sorrow which had come to them.

Mr. J. A. Slingsby seconded the proposition and said Mr. Morkill was a friend to all of them and made a splendid chairman. He possessed a very tender heart, and the members of the Bench felt what a shock had come to him. Mr. Slingsby felt sure that the family would have their deep sympathy.

REFERENCE BY THE BISHOP OF RIPON

The Bishop of Ripon, speaking on Monday at the opening of the first of a series of soldiers institutes which are being erected at the Ripon camp under the auspices of the Diocesan Board for the spiritual welfare of the troops - of which Mr. J. W. Morkill is treasurer - made a pathetic reference to the death of Lieut. Morkill. He expressed regret at the absence of Mr. Morkill, the treasurer of the fund, who had bestowed a large amount of time on the work. His absence was caused by the very sad event of the death of his son, who belonged to the Flying Corps. He was quite sure they would join with him in expressing his sympathy with Mr. Morkill and his family in their loss.

By a curious coincidence the Institute held on Monday was presented by Mr. and Mrs. North, the Close, Knaresborough, in memory of their son, Lieut. Kenneth Croft North, of the 4th Hussars, who was killed whilst in command of a machine gun section of his regiment on the 31st.

23 July 1915

THE LATE LIEUTENANT MORKILL

The following is an extract from the London Gazette of July 14th:– “Royal Flying Corps., Mil. Wing. Flying Officer-Lieut. R. F. Morkill, W. Yorks. (Since killed on duty) July 21.”

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

LIEUTENANT R. F. MORKILL

1st Battalion East Yorks. Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morkill, Newfield Hall, Bell Busk, accidentally killed whilst flying at Gosport, 22nd June, 1915.