Rushden Research Group: Harry F W Patenall 1942

L.A.C. Harry Frederick William Patenall

940767 R.A.F. Volunteer Reserves

Son of Mr William Charles and Mrs Edith Ellen Patenall
Husband of Margaret Patenall

Aged 26 years

Died 23rd September 1942

Commemorated at Irthlingborough Cemetery
Grave 352.

Evening Telegraph & Rushden Echo & Argus, 25/26th September 1942, transcribed by John Collins.

Rushden Airman Killed - Motor Cycling Accident Near Camp

Formerly an enthusiastic member of the Rushden Query Motor Club, L.A.C. Harry Frederick William Patenall, R.A.F., was fatally injured while motor cycling near Wendover on Tuesday night. He had been out for the evening and was returning to Halton Camp at about 10 o’clock when, it is believed, he came into collision with some pedestrians.

Thrown from his machine, he received a fractured skull and was taken to a hospital at the camp. An hour later it was decided to transfer him to another hospital at Oxford, but he died in the ambulance before reaching hospital. An inquest will be held at Wendover on Saturday.

Aged 26, L.A.C. Patenall was the eldest of eleven children of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Patenall, or 2, Oval-road, Rushden, having two brothers and eight sisters. Just over twelve months ago he married Miss Jessie Ager, of Irthlingborough, who is now residing at 43a High-street, Irthlingborough.

Born at Rushden he attended Newton-road School and afterwards worked in the lasting department of Messrs. Sanders and Sanders, boot manufacturers. Motoring was his great hobby, and he showed equal keenness in his work with the R.A.F. which he joined more than three years ago. He had recently been taking an N.C.O.’s course and was expecting to come home on leave on Wednesday – the day after his death. The burial will be at Irthlingborough.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 2nd October, 1942, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Airman’s Road Death

A verdict of “Death by misadventure” was recorded by the Mid-Bucks Coroner at an inquest at the Princess Mary’s R.A.F. Hospital, Haiton, on Saturday, on L.A.C. Harry Frederick William Patenall, aged 27, of 43, High-street, Irthlingborough, who was killed in a motor cycling accident at Wendover on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd.

Evidence of identification was given by his father, Mr. W. C. Patenall, of 2, Oval-road, Rushden, who stated that his son had ridden a motor cycle for many years.

Corpl. D. M. Thomson, R.A.F., said that at 10.15 p.m. on Sept. 22nd he was returning to camp from Wendover, and met Patenall at the bottom of Tring-road. Patenall offered him a lift, and he got on the pillion seat.

They travelled at a reasonable speed in the centre of the road, and when near the Rising Sun Patenall swerved to his right and they brushed past an airman walking on the left side of the white line.

After travelling a further 10 or 15 yards, Patenall braked suddenly, and witness saw an object loom up in front in the centre of the road. He felt the back wheel slew round and they struck something. He was thrown into the air, and when he was assisted up he saw two airmen lying in the road.

Corpl.WalentyWysocki, a Polish airman, giving evidence through an interpreter, stated that he was walking alongTring-road with six other airmen when something brushed past the trouser of his right leg, and he saw a motor cycle, which appeared to be skidding about in the centre of the road near the white line.

Twelve yards away he saw it fall and on running to it he saw a man lying under the back wheel and another man two yards in front of the machine.

A.C.2 SbingniewWesely, a Polish airman, also giving evidence through an interpreter, said that he was walking towards the camp when a motor cycle came from behind, struck him and threw him to the ground. He was afterwards taken to hospital.

Dr. G. G. Lennon stated that the cause of death was a fracture of the skull and intra-cranial haemorrhage.

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