Sapper 2090230 Francis Middlehurst
Regiment: Royal Engineers - 511 Field Park Coy.
Theatre of War: Home
Age at death: 26
Date of death: 19th of February 1940
Born: Liverpool, Lancs
Resided: St Helens, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: St Helens Cemetery
BMD details:
Marriage: 1st Qtr 1937 - Francis Middlehurst to Annie Jones at St Helens. 1111 - 8b.
Family details:
Wife - 26 years old Annie is buried in the same grave at St Helens Cemetery.
Census details:
1939 Register. 25 years old Francis Middlehurst born 09/12/1913 a married General Labourer is living at 14 Volunteer Street, St Helens. Also at the address is widowed mother in law? Elizabeth Jones born 09/07/1888 an Unpaid Domestic and sister in law Agnes (Margaret) Frodsham (Jones) born 18/04/1914 a Glass Cutter. One member of the household is redacted.
Notes:
Age taken from St Helens Deceased Database. Manchester Evening News 20/02/1940: "There is no evidence whatever that this man committed suicide," said the Coroner, Mr. R. W. Brighouse, at St. Helens to-day at the inquest on Francis Middlehurst, a soldier, and his wife Annie, who were found dead in a gas-filled bedroom at their home in New Cross-street, St. Helens, on Sunday. Expert evidence was called to show that the bent main gas pipe, which was free at the meter, might easily have been caused by a man resting his hand on it while he placed coins in the meter. The Coroner returned a verdict of death from coal-gas poisoning, under circumstances of which there was no evidence.
Age taken from St Helens Deceased Database. Manchester Evening News 20/02/1940: "There is no evidence whatever that this man committed suicide," said the Coroner, Mr. R. W. Brighouse, at St. Helens to-day at the inquest on Francis Middlehurst, a soldier, and his wife Annie, who were found dead in a gas-filled bedroom at their home in New Cross-street, St. Helens, on Sunday. Expert evidence was called to show that the bent main gas pipe, which was free at the meter, might easily have been caused by a man resting his hand on it while he placed coins in the meter. The Coroner returned a verdict of death from coal-gas poisoning, under circumstances of which there was no evidence.
[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Francis_Middlehurst.png[/pic][caption]The Daily Mail - Mon Feb 19 - 1940
(Clipping courtesy of John Yates)[/caption]
[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/F_Middlehurst.jpg[/pic]
[caption]Sapper Francis Midlehurst's headstone at St Helens Cemetery.
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]
