Thomas Henry BOWERY + Jack FIELDS' Inquest (General)

by m p griffiths , Saturday, January 19, 2013, 15:55 (4331 days ago) @ geraldineS

FOD records

Burial at Parkend 1 February 1941

Jack FIELDS
residence: 2 Hughes Terrace Parkend
Age: 27 years

(according to Gloucestershirebdm: Irene Mabel Lorraine FIELD married for the second time 1946, St Paul, Parkend to John Henry THOMAS)
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FOD records

Marriage at Parkend - 20 July 1940

Jack FIELD at
Age 26, Bachelor, Timber Sawyer
Moseley Green, Parkend
father: Albert Edward FIELD, Corporation Worker

married

Irene Mabel Lorraine BOWERY, age 22, Spinster, residence: The Square, Parkend
father: Thomas Henry BOWERY, Crown Worker, by Banns

witnesses: Reginald FIELD and Thomas Henry BOWERY

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This article is on The British Newspaper Archive - Gloucester Journal 8 February 1941

FOREST SAWYER's DEATH

HAD DISOBEYED ORDERS

The tragic story of the death of a young sawyer, who had been married only six months, was told at the inquest at Parkend Memorial Hall, on Jack Fields (27) of Hughes's Terrace, Parkend.

Fields was caught in some machinery at Parkend Sawmills, where he was employed and both of his legs were amputated.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury.

It was established that deceased had no reason whatever for being in that part of the mills where the fatality occurred.

Mr D K Christy (Newport) H M Inspector of Factories and Mr Wesley Perrins (Birmingham) District Organiser of the National Union of General Municipal Workers, sat with the Divisional Coroner (Mr M F Carter)

Charles Lambert Birt, a sawyer at the mills, said when he last saw Fields alive he was climbing up a pile of sawn logs towards some shafting. It was not Fields's duty to be there, and he had not been ordered to go.

Shouted Usual Order

Witness said they were ready to start work and it was his duty to set the engine going. He knew Fields was up near the shaft, and before starting the motor shouted his usual "High up" warning.

The engine was working at about 50 revolutions per minuted and was picking up speed when he heard a shout cutting the current off immediately he detected a thudding sound which resembled the splitting of a belt. He climbed up the logs to a stage and upon reaching the shafting found what he first thought was a hanging belt, the deceased's body.

It was stated that the only purpose for which anyone ever went up to the shafting was to oil the machinery. This this was done the motor was always at a standstill. Furthermore, it was a job with which Fields had no concern.

Dr W H Tandy (Parkend) described the injuries and said death was due to primary shock and hemorrhage.

Thomas Henry BOWERY of the Square, Parkend, Fields' father-in-law gave evidence of identification.

Machinery Unfenced

Thomas George JAMES of Bream, a general foreman at the mills, said he also assisted in the removal of the body. Fields had no occasion to leave his work bench unless he was given special orders. On this morning they were carrying out standing orders. No part of the machinery he said, nor any of the apparatus was securely fenced. He had warned the men not to go near the shafting while the motor was working. Visits had been received by factory inspectors, but he had never been told to see that the shafting was fenced.

William Collingwood Rivers, Managing Director of the mills, said in evidence as to the unfenced shafting, i would like to make this quite clear to the jury. I have been connected with these works 22 yers and have had various inspectors visit them. it has never been pointed out to me to fe.. necessary to fence the shafting.

Questioned, he said he had never read the provision of the Factory Act and in particular Section 14 to which the Coronor drew his attention. Witness added, however, that whatever had been asked for at the mills had been done.

After a retirement the foreman of the jury (Mr F Rossiter) announced they were satisfied that Fields' death was due to an accident.