INKSON, DOUGLAS

Born 1925 in Grimsby

Died 12/06/1943, age 18, at Kettering

Buried 17/06/1943

S/14588704, Private, Royal Army Service Corp

Son of Walter James Inkson and Roberta Jane Inkson (nee Taylor) of Cleethorpes

Brother of Kenneth (twin) and Stuart (born 1926)

Address at time of death: 244 Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes

Grave ref: Section BB, Grave O37

 A report in the Northampton Mercury on 18th June 1943 gives the details of Douglas’s unfortunate death:

SENTRY CRUSHED BETWEEN LORRY AND GATE-POST

It was stated at a Kettering inquest on Tuesday on a soldier, who was crushed between an Army lorry and a gatepost, that the lorry had entered by the gate marked “out” instead of the “in” entrance owing to an obstruction.

The inquest was on Pte Douglas Inkson (18), RASC, whose home address was 244 Brereton Avenue. He was formerly a bus conductor.

 Recording a verdict of “Accidental death” the East Northamptonshire Coroner (Mr J.Cairns Parker) said it was unfortunate that the driver of the lorry took the wrong entrance, but he had a fairly reasonable excuse for doing so. In the circumstances no blame attached to him.

Mr T. Faulkner Gammage (Messrs Becke, Green and Stops) represented the Army authorities. Superintendent A.J. Chapman was present on behalf of the police.

TRYING TO FREE HIMSELF

Driver Gordon Daines RASC said that on June 12 he was driving an empty three-ton truck from a salvage dump in London-road Kettering. On arrival at his depot he would, in the ordinary way have entered by the “in” entrance according to regulations. This however was blocked by two Army vehicles. He got down to see if he could enter by the “out” gate and was satisfied he could.

 He followed another lorry in and the sentry waved him on.

 “As I slowly entered the gateway I turned to the right to avoid another lorry”, continued witness.

“When I was about hallway in I heard a groan so stopped at once. Getting out, I saw that the sentry had been caught between my lorry and the post and was trying to free himself which he was able to do without the lorry being moved.”

 Walter William Gay N.A.A.F.I. manager, said the lorry went in at a crawling pace. “I thought that the driver was cutting it a bit fine and would hit the gate post”, he said, adding that he afterwards heard a thud and saw the hand of some person on one side of the lorry. He went to the lorry and saw that Inkson had been crushed.

 Dr G. Morgan, house surgeon at Kettering General Hospital, said death, which occurred shortly after admission, was due to shock caused by internal hemorrhage.