Evening Telegraph, Thursday, January 2, 1941

Father's Protest at Inquest on Son

Rushden Gunner’s Fatal Fall From  Roof - Inquiry Likely

Mr. Cyril Freeman, of Rushden, well-known as hon. secretary of the Town Football Club, raised a protest at the inquest on his son, Gunner Harry Clifford Freeman (Royal Artillery), who died of injuries received on Christmas Eve.

Gunner Freeman, who was 18, fell 45 feet from the roof of the Savoy Theatre, Newark, and died later on the operating table at the County Emergency Hospital. Evidence showed that three soldiers were removing a structure of railway sleepers from the roof.

Standing on the parapet, Gunner Freeman had unfastened one of the iron bands when some of the sleepers slipped, one striking him and causing him to fall into the yard below. The sleepers I had become very slippery owing to rain.

After asking questions as to who gave the orders for the job, Mr. Cyril Freeman said : "From Information I have received from the others, my lad was not detailed. They drew cards and he was unfortunate : one drew number nine and he drew ten. I think it is very lax on someone's part that this should happen. If I were at work, the foreman would give me orders what to do, and I should do it to the best of my ability, but I say no one ever gave these lads orders to do what they were going to do."

The Coroner : It often happens in the Army that men decide among themselves who shall do things.

Mr. Freeman : I served in the last war and I always had to take my orders from an officer or an N.C.O.

Sleepers Slipped

Gunner A. C. Henderson said they intended to take the sleepers down one by one, but when the top steel band was removed, the sleepers seemed to slip down. Gunner Free man was standing with one foot on the parapet and one on the roof. There was just over two feet between the structure and the parapet, but part of it was bevelled and reduced the standing room, making it more; convenient for deceased to stand with one foot on the parapet.

Troop Sergt. J. W. Curwood said he had no knowledge of how individual men were selected for the job. Three men would be ample for the work. If there were more they would get in each others way.

Mr. Freeman asked P.C. Francis, another witness, if he thought it was dangerous work for a lad of deceased's age, and the constable replied: "I don't think so. It would depend on his temperament and whether he was used to height or not."

Other evidence showed that Gunner Freeman was fully conscious after the fall, but had concussion, shock, and a variety of fractures. He was given a blood transfusion but died about ten minutes after the onset of an operation.

Councillor J. T. Howitt, who spoke on behalf of Mr. Freeman and as chairman of the local British Legion branch, declared: "I was there during the construction of this place, and they had many more men then. It is my firm conviction that five or six men should have been there in the charge of an N.C.O. This roof does not belong to the Army, nor has it been requisitioned by the Army. By what authority were they there?"

Not Satisfied

Mr. Howitt added that the father of the boy was inclined to ask for an inquiry to be instituted, as he was not at all satisfied.

The Coroner: That is a Question for the Army authorities. What I am concerned in is whether there was negligence on the part of anyone engaged on the work. So far as I can see there was no negligence on the part of the boys. They may not have appreciated that owing to the rain these sleepers had reached a dangerous state. As regards the actual removal, had there been more working on it there might have been a greater disaster if they had slipped. The Coroner entered a verdict of "Death by misadventure" and expressed his sincere sympathy with the father.

Rushden Echo & Argus, January 1941, transcribed by Clive Wood

Funeral of Mr. Clifford Freeman

The funeral service of Mr. Harry Clifford Freeman (18), who died after an accident on Christmas Eve, took place at the Rushden Mission Church on Saturday afternoon. The pastor (the Rev. E. E. Bromage) conducted the service, and six of Mr. Freeman s comrades acted as a guard of honour. The staff and employees of Mr. Robert Marriott were represented by Mr. H. V. Ingram.

The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Freeman (father and mother), Mr. Cyril Freeman, junr., and Mrs. Kate Parkinson (brother and sister), Miss Winnie Freeman and Mrs. H. Harrison (sisters), Miss Hazel Freeman and Mr. W. Freeman (sister and grandfather), Mr. W. Parkinson and Miss Joan Wood (brother-in-law and fiancee), Mr. E. Harrison and Mrs. C. Freeman (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mr. B. Jervis and Mrs. A. Foster (uncle and aunt), Mr. H. Freeman and Mrs. K Matson (uncle and aunt), Mrs. B. Penn and Mr. G. Matson (uncle and aunt), Mrs. H. Freeman and Mrs. K. Wood (aunt and friend).

Many wreaths were sent, bearing the following inscriptions:

In everlasting memory of our dear son and brother, Cliff, from his broken-hearted mother, father, brothers and sisters; Everlasting memory of dear Cliff, Hilda, Eric and David; In ever loving memory of my dearest brother Cliff, from broken hearted Ronnie; Sweet memories, in ever loving memory of my darling Cliff, from his sweetheart Joanie—Till we meet again, R.I.P.; You left behind some aching hearts that loved you most sincere, That never have nor never will forget you brother dear—Cyril and Doris; In ever loving memory from Grandma and Grandpa Walker, Wellingborough; Deepest sympathy, Bert, Jessie and Jean; Ere the light of day departs, Lodge, O  Saviour, in our hearts, Where the spirit, welcomes Thee there the night can never be—To dear Cliff from Grandpa Freeman; 'Tis not for us to choose, we listen and obey, 'tis His to call and use, 'tis ours to serve and pray—From Aunt Mill and Uncle Harry, Iris and Lorna; Gone from us, but not for ever, never will his memory fade, fondest thoughts will ever linger at the spot where he is laid—Wilf and Kate; With fondest love to Uncle Cliff, from Janet; With deepest sympathy, the British Legion; With deepest sympathy, all ranks R.A., Deepest sympathy, all at 100, Park-road; Happy memories of dear Cliff, .... Allen and M. Ayre, Glassbrook-road; ........ all at Highbury; Deepest  sympathy, Mr and Mrs. Dickens and Rose; Deepest sympathy, Sergeant and Mrs. Roper; Deepest sympathy, Aunt Sis, Uncle Bern and Verna; Loving memory, Aunt Edie and Uncle Harry, Albert, Jim, Mary and Jean; Kind remembrance, R. Marriott's employees; Kind thoughts, your old mates, the plumbers, R. Marriott's; Deepest sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. King and family; Deepest sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Bedford; In ever loving memory of Cliff, Mr. and Mrs. Wood and family, Burrowash; In ever loving memory of Cliff, from Mabel and Phil, Joyce and Arthur and little Freddie; From Frankie Martin, with deepest sympathy; Deepest sympathy, Mrs. King and Dorrie; Deepest sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Arthur, Ron and Francis—Life's long battle is over; Deepest sympathy, your old pal, Ken Dunmore; Loving memory of Cliff, all at 137; One of God's best—Heart-felt sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Howes and family; Deepest sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths and family; Deepest sympathy from your old neighbour, Mr. Johnson; To dear Cliff, with love from Aunt Kate and Uncle Garner, Finedon; Deepest sympathy, the neighbours, Irchester-road, Rushden.