EIGHT R.A.F. MEN DIE

AFTER SERIOUS ROAD CRASH AT KNOTTINGLEY

Pontefract and Castleford Express, February 12th 1943

One of the worst road accidents in the district for many years occurred at Knottingley late on Saturday night and caused the deaths of eight members of the Royal Air force, and serious injury to a number of others.

Two R.A.F. motor-buses, which were returning to their station after a recreational outing at Pontefract for the staffs, were passing through Knottingley when the rear vehicle failed to take the corner near the Town Hall. It crashed into the vicarage wall, a great part of which was knocked down, and overturned. Most of the occupants were injured and five were dead when extricated. Three others died in the Pontefract General Infirmary.

Members of the local Civil Defence Casualty Services, which include the First- Aid Post, and Ambulance and First Aid Parties (under Dr. E. Murphy) along with Police, soldiers, and members of the public, were quickly on the scene and rescue work was carried out by means of torches and storm lanterns. The emergency door at the rear of the bus was forced open and the injured and the dead were gradually removed. Other help was also given by the members of the Civil Defence Services of Pontefract. and the injured men were all treated at the Knottingley First Aid Post before being taken to the Pontefract and General Infirmary where 26 were admitted. Only four of the occupants of the bus escaped injury, including the driver, but three who were slightly injured were allowed to return to their station.

The eight who lost their lives were:-

Corporal Herbert Hanson (33) Birkby, Huddersfield
A.C.I. Dennis Smollen (22) Newcastle/Tyne
A.C.I. Albert J. James (21) Aberdeen
Air Gunner George Bernard Noble (24) Fylingdale, Robin Hood's Bay
Sergeant James T. Tremain (22) Batley
Sergeant Leonard G. Moseley (23) Derby
A.C.2 Norman Ward (21) York
A.C.2 Herbert Larman (19) Radcliffe, Lancashire

Still in the Infirmary and very ill are:-

A.C.1 James McCann (36) of Auchinleck, Scotland
A.C.2. Archibald Pyle (33) Helmsley
Sergeant John Greaves (21) Staffordshire
Sergeant Kenneth W. Trott (21) Shrewsbury
Sergeant Herbert Carver (20) Norwich
L.A.C. George Shaw (28) Oldham

Other injured Airman transferred to another Yorkshire hospital on Monday are :

A.C.2 R. Waring, Southport
L.A.C. T. Henderson, Gallowan
L.A.C. E. Philips, York

The following were discharged from the Infirmary on Sunday.

L.A.C. C Swales, Leeds
Flight-Sergeant W. Smith, Nottingham
L.A.C. J. Mackenzie, Leeds
A.C. E. Shorie, London
L.A.C. W. Ashworth, Manchester
A.C.1 W. Weekes, Sussex

An inquest on the eight men who lost their lives was opened by the Pontefract District Coroner, Mr W. Bentley, at the Courthouse, Pontefract, on Monday. Evidence identification only was given, in some cases by relatives, and in others by members of the R.A.F. Mr. C.W. Robinson of York, represented the relatives of Ward and the inquest was attended by Flight-Lieut G.H. Rowntree and Flying Officer A.G. Tullock of the R.A.F.

In tendering deep sympathy to the relatives bereaved by what he described as a very tragic occurrence, the Coroner also sympathised with the R.A.F. which had lost eight young men who had been rendering the best service possible to the country.

Police Superindendant A. Elliot associated himself with the expression, and thanked those who had helped the Police immediately after the accident, including members of the Civil Defence Services, doctors, and the staff of the Pontefract General Infirmary. "Everyone did his best", said the Supt, "to save life and prevent suffering." Flight Lieut Rowntree offered sympathy to the relatives on behalf of the officers and men of the R.A.F. and he too thanked the Civil Defence and volunteer workers for their valuable help.

Mr. Robinson thanked the Coroner for his expression. Cr. T.P. Brindley, the Chairman of the House Committee of the Infirmary has written to Inspector T. Downhill, A.R.P. Organiser for the Pontefract Joint Area, expressing thanks for the Civil Defence workers great help at the infirmary and stating that some of the R.A.F. casualties had expressed great appreciation of what had been done for them by by the first aid members and others.

Yesterday only six of the patients remained in the Infirmary, the rest having been transferred to other hospitals. Those remaining were Scott, Irwin, MCann, Bloggs, Shaw,and Trott, who are still very ill.

Others not so ill, A.C.1 J. Gee, London, L.A.C. J. Miller, Grantham, A.C.1 R. Davies, Preston, L.C.A. J. Marks, Bradford.

Reproduced from the Pontefract and Castleford Express February 12th 1943