A drowning fatality, causing much grief to many friends in Rushden and Irthlingborough occurred on Tuesday in the River Nene, at Ditchford.  Albert Edwin Coleman, aged just over ten years, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Coleman, of 10, Spencer-road, Rushden, had gone with two others to the river in the afternoon to paddle and bathe, but the boy Coleman was the only one to go right in, learning to swim, the others paddling only.  Coleman told his playmates he would swim to the opposite bank, and he started the attempt.  But getting into difficulties in mid-stream, he sank.  The boys on the side, greatly alarmed, shouted for help, and a Mr. A. J. Ainge, porter at the Ditchford Station, ran to the river, walked in and carried out the then unconscious boy.  Unfortunately this was too late, Dr. Greenfield, of Rushden, and an Irthlingborough locum tenens, Captain T. Johnston, R.A.M.C., who were telephoned for being able to do nothing but report that life was extinct.   P.S. Edgar, of Rushden, and P.S. Ellingham (Irthlingborough) had the body removed to the home of the parents.  The little fellow was a member of the Rushden High-street Independent Wesleyan Sunday school.   Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner, conducted an inquest at the Police Station, Rushden, on Wednesday evening.   Evidence was given by Captain T. Johnston, R.A.M.C., of Hove, temporarily of Irthlingborough, who stated that when he arrived on the scene he found the porter using artificial respiration, but the boy appeared to be dead.  For 40 minutes the use of hot water, massage to the heart and artificial respiration were tried, but without hopeful effect.  Dr. Greenfield, of Rushden, arrived and the two doctors were agreed that the boy was dead.  There were no marks of violence, nor signs of a fit, but heart failure could result from the immersion.   Albert Coleman, father of the deceased, a leather worker, said that his boy left home about 1.15 p.m. on Tuesday, not telling his parents where he was going.  Although not a strong boy, he had not suffered from fits or heart failure.  Witness had frequently told his son not to go near the water, as he could not swim.   Dennis Brown, aged 7, of 6, Spencer-road, when called to give evidence, broke into tears, but the kindly Coroner reassured him and he was able to speak of the drowning of his playmate.  He said that he and the deceased with another named Jack Cooper went to Ditchford, and after paddling Coleman suggested that they all strip and go in undressed.  They did so.  Boys on the opposite bank shouted “Can you swim?”  Coleman said he could as his sister’s young man had taught him.  To show them, Coleman started swimming across the river, but some rushes got round his legs and arms and he went down.  After he had gone down and come up again three times he went down a fourth time and they did not see him again.  The boys all shouted for help, and a man came running from the Station and got Coleman out.  Brown added that he “stopped to see if he (Coleman) got better” and then went home with other boys.  That was the first time he had been to the river.   Giving evidence of his splendid attempt to save the life of the boy, Arthur John Ainge, temporary porter at Ditchford Station, said that when he heard cries for help he ran to the water and entered where the boys pointed, which was only about three feet deep.  The deceased would be more than that height himself.  Witness said he did not notice any weeds near the boy, the bed being of gravel.  He carried the lad out and applied artificial respiration until, summoned by others, the doctors arrived.  He also received assistance from people who chanced to be near.   The Coroner, recording a verdict of accidental death, commended Ainge for the promptness and coolness with which he acted.   The funeral of the deceased will take place tomorrow (Saturday), the first part of the service being at the High-street Independent Wesleyan Church, and the interment at Irthlingborough, the former home of Mrs. Coleman. …………………. 8th September, 1922 Drowning Tragedy - A Boy’s Untimely End Funeral of the Young Victim   The funeral of the late Albert Edward Coleman, aged 10, whose tragic death we reported last week, took place on Saturday afternoon at Rushden and Irthlingborough in the presence of large numbers of mourners and sympathisers.  The first part of the service was held in the High-street Independent Wesleyan Church, Rushden, the Rev. E. Cushing, of Wellingborough, officiating.  The hymn “Lord of all Being, Throned afar” was sung, and prayers were offered.   The interment took place at the Cemetery, Irthlingborough, the Rev. E. Cushing again officiating.  There were a large number of wreaths.  The mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. Coleman (father and mother), Miss Elsie and Margie Pinnock (half-sisters), Mr. H. Coleman, of Higham Ferrers (uncle), Mrs. A. Lewis, of Isham (aunt); Mrs. H. Coleman, of Higham Ferrers, Mrs. J. Robinson, of Stanwick, Mrs. J. Cox, Mrs. W. Lilley, of Irthlingborough, Mrs. C. Coleman, of Finedon (aunts); Mr. W. Coleman and Mrs. W. Pateman, Mrs. F. Walker and Mrs. G. Thompson, Mrs. T. Coleman and Miss Chamberlain, of Kettering, Mrs. Stevens, Mill House, Finedon, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Lewis, of Rushden (cousins).   Mr. and Mrs. A. Coleman desire to offer their sincere thanks to all kind friends, especially the neighbours of Spencer-road and Ealing-terrace for the many expressions of sympathy with them in their sudden bereavement, also for the beautiful wreaths.

The Rushden Argus September 1st 1922, transcribed by Susan Manton Inquest Story of Rushden Boy’s Death in the River Edwin Coleman In a week remarkable for the number of tragic happenings in the district nothing was more painful than a drowning accident which occurred near Rushden on Tuesday afternoon for the victim was a child, and the family to which he belonged suffered n equally distressing loss no more than three years ago. Little Edwin Coleman, aged ten, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Coleman, of 10, Spencer Road, Rushden, went, with two other lads, to Ditchford after dinner on Tuesday for the purpose of bathing.  The children found a convenient place on the far bank of the river and on the Irthlingborough side of the L. and N.W. Railway Station. The water near the bank was about three feet deep. When the boys had been in the water a little while Coleman said he was going to swim to the opposite bank. He began his swim and, it is stated, was more than halfway across when he got into difficulties. Quickly he disappeared beneath the surface and his terrified companions ran towards the station, calling for help. Mr. Arthur J. Ainge, a temporary porter, heard the cries, and, running to the spot indicated, saw the child lying in shallow water near the bank. He waded into the river and carried the boy to the bank, but death, it appeared, had already taken place. Assistance was phoned for from the station, and an Irthlingborough doctor quickly motored over, followed shortly afterwards by Dr. Greenfield of Rushden. The attention of the medical men, however, was of no avail and later in the afternoon Sergt. Edgar (Rushden) and Sergt. Ellingham (Irthlingborough) arranged for the lad’s body to be taken home. The Inquest An inquest was held by Mr. J.C. Parker (deputy coroner) at the Rushden Police Station on Wednesday evening, the Coroner entering a verdict that death was from suffocation caused by accidental drowning. Capt. Thomas Johnston R.A.M.C. of 81, Carlisle Road, Hove and temporarily of Irthlingborough was called to give medical evidence. He said that he was called to Ditchford Station on Tuesday afternoon, the undressed body of a boy was lying on the river bank, and artificial respiration was being exercised by Mr. A. Haynes. who had fetched the boy out of the river. There were no marks of violence on the body and the boy was dead. Artificial respiration was, however, continued for 40 minutes and the heart was massaged and hot water applied. Dr. Greenfield arrived and found that it was hopeless. The appearances pointed to death being caused by suffocation through drowning. There were no signs of the child having a fit. It was, of course, possible for the water to have produced heart failure. Albert Coleman, leather dresser, of 10, Spencer Road Rushden, identified the body as that of his ten year old son, Edwin, a schoolboy. The child, said Mr. Coleman, left home at 1.15pm on Tuesday and did not say where he was going. He was then in his usual health. He was not a very strong lad, but had never had any fits or suffered from a heart attack. He could not swim and witness had warned him not to go near the water. Entangled in Rushes Evidence was then given by Dennis Brown, aged 7, a schoolboy living at 6, Spencer Road. The little chap was in tears until comforted by kindly words from the coroner. He told how, after dinner on Tuesday, he went for a walk with his playmates, Edwin Coleman and another boy named Jack Cooper. They went to the river at Ditchford, and all of them paddled. Coleman said “Let us strip” and they all undressed. Some boys on the opposite bank called across saying “Can you swim?” and Coleman Said “Yes”. His sister’s young man had taught him. Coleman started to swim across and was drowned. Some rushes became entangled round his legs and arms and he went down three times, but the fourth time he did not come up again. The boys shouted that someone was drowning and a man from the station heard them and came running up. He went into the water and brought out the boy. “I stopped to see if he got better” added the child, “and then I had to go home with some more boys. I had never been to the river before.” Arthur John Ainge, a temporary porter at Ditchford Station said he heard the boys calling. He ran to the spot and the boys told him that their friend was lying at the bottom of the river. He slipped off his shoes and, entering the water, saw the boy lying at the bottom, about three yards from the bank. There was only about three feet of water and the boy would be more than three feet high. Witness never noticed any weeds “particularly” and so far as he knew there were none around the boy. The river had a gravel bed. After carrying the boy to the bank he at one applied artificial respiration and kept on until a doctor arrived. Some people on the road gave assistance. The Coroner: I think you acted with great promptitude and very coolly.