Richard Patrick Thompson, Pte 13040, 12th Welsh

[Andrew Hesketh]

If anyone has an interest in this man I have come across a newspaper account of the inquest into his death which I am happy to share. It's hard to credit, but he fell off the back of a lorry.

Name: THOMPSON, RICHARD PATRICK

Initials: R P

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Welsh Regiment

Unit Text: 12th Bn.

Date of Death: 03/02/1916

Service No: 13040

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: EB. 24.

Cemetery: CARDIFF (CATHAYS) CEMETERY

[NeilEvans]

Sign me up for that.

Neil

[John_Hartley]

It's hard to credit, but he fell off the back of a lorry.

I've got one chap fell off a stationery train - on his way home to be demobbed.

And another who, larking about with a mate in billets, fell through a door. No floor the other side and on the first floor.

Which is how both of them come to be on local war memorials.

[Andrew Hesketh]

I'll just post it here for posterity then!

Abergele & Pernsarn Visitor, 12 February 1916.

The Flintshire Coroner, Mr. F. Llewellyn Jones, investigated a peculiar fatal accident at Bodelwyddan on Saturday afternoon, the victim being Private Richard Patrick Thompson, aged 30, of the Welsh Regiment, whose home was stated to be at 4, Chancery Lane, Canton, Cardff. Thompson had been to te front and was wounded in the great charge at Loos. Since his convalescence he had been attached to the 12th battalion of the Welsh Regiment, at present stationed at Kinmel Camp, and he was expecting to return to the front shortly.

The evidence of a number of soldiers was to the effect that after paying a visit to Rhyl for dental treatment he and his comrades availed themselves of a lift on a motor-lorry which was proceeding in the direction of the camp. After passing through Rhuddlan Thompson's cap was blown off, and in snatching for it he fell off the lorry and dropped on his head, fracturing the base of his skull. He died shortly after his admittance to hospital at Kinmel Camp.

Another version of the accident was given by Mr. Richard Sykes, Chairman of the Rhyl Urban District Council, who stated that as he approached the motor-lorry in his motpr-car from the direction in which the lorry was travelling he first saw a dog course a rabbit, and next saw Thompson jump off the lorry as though he was going after the rabbit. When he got up to the lorry he found Thompson lying across the road. At the request of his comrades, who must have known that he jumped off the lorry, the witness conveyed him to hospital.

The soldier witnesses admitted having a dog on the lorry with them, but denied that it coursed any rabbit.

A verdict of death from accidental injuries to his head was returned.

[NeilEvans]

Thanks Andrew

Neil