| Notes: | CMP. He was born and resided in London E and resided in London and enlisted in to CMP. Died 4/10/39. He was the first Military Policeman to die in WWII. 4/10/1939 Died, Home.
John Douglas Notman.
Newcastle Journal 31/1/40, War Office Casualty List of Officers and Men who have Died up to 31/12/1939. Notman L/Cpl J D.
Extract from the Chelsea News and Advertiser 20/10/1939.
MILITARY POLICEMAN'S DEATH.
Fatally Injured During Black Out.
At the Hammersmith Coroner's Court on Wednesday Mr Neville Stafford resumed an inquest on John Douglas Notman (21) soldier attache to the Military Police. On the night of October 3 deceased and another soldier were lowering the tailboard of an army lorry at Brampton Road. A taxi cab ran into them. They were taken to St. Luke's Hospital, Chelsea where Notman died a few hours later.
The inquest was opened Monday week. Deceased's mother Mrs Elizabeth Susan Bartell then said that her home was at 16 Hursbourne Gardens, Barking, but that she was at present staying in Somerset. Deceased joined the army in March. She had lunched with him on September 30. He was in his usual good health.
On Wednesday Captain Sir Malcolm Campbell, Corps of Military Police sat beside the mother.
Mr G Clements appeared for the driver of the cab concerned in the accident in the accident.
PC Poole, 270B handed a plan of the scene of the accident, it showed a section of Brompton Road.
Failed to Respond to Blood Transfusion.
Mr W Leslie, deputy medial superintedant of St Luke's Hospital said that the deceased was admitted at 11.15 pm October 3. He was suffering from multiple fractures of both legs and internal hemorrhage. Despite a blood transfusion he failed to rally and died at 2am the next day.
In reply to the coroner witness said the injuries were of a crushing nature.
Lance Corporal Frederick Bazendale, Military Police said that at 10.45 pm on October 3 he was picked by an army lorry at Hyde Park Corner. He and other military policemen were driven to Brompton Road to be on duty outside a public house at closing time - 11pm. There were five men in the lorry with the driver.
Outside Gooch's the lorry stopped and the driver and deceased who was sitting beside him got down to lover the tailboard.
Pitch Dark.
"It was pitch dark." witness explained "I saw the cab coming. It is hard to estimate the distance but it seemed to be about 25 yards away. I was sitting in the lorry looking over the heads of the men at the tailboard. I was expecting the cab to turn out o pass us but when it was about 15 yards away I realised that the driver had not seen us. I shouted "Look out" but before deceased and the other man had time to look round the cab hit the lorry.
The coroner "Did the cab speed up as it approached ? Witness "No Sir."
In reply to Mr Clements, witness said that the tailboard when down did not. obstruct the red light. It was possible that the light was obscured by on of the was men standing at the tailboard.
Lance Corporal James Rickard, Military Police said he was in the lorry. he did not see the cab approaching. There was a crash and he was Flung into the Road. The only warning h had was a shout of "Look out'" just before the crash.
PC Elliot, 461B said he was called to the accident and found deceased in the road. After he had been taken to hospital witness examined the lorry. the red tail light was glowing through a hole about four inches in diameter in the tailboard.
Mr Clements Did anyone complain to you that the tail light was not visible. Witness, No sir.
Pc Steward, 305B said the cab driver stated" I was going along Brompton Road at a modest speed when suddenly a few figures loomed up in front of me. Before I had time to put on my brakes I ran into the men and the lorry. The men must have been standing in front of the rear lamp because I did not see one. Only Light Cabman Saw. The cab driver Robert Edward Haines, 243 Clapham Road, Stockwell said his side lights were dimmed in accordance to regulations. In Brompton Road he estimated his speed at 15 miles per hour. "It may have been a little over, " he said, "It was very dark. The only light I saw was the "Keep Left sign on the obelisk at the top of Hane Crescent I saw nothing of the soldiers until I was a yard or two from them. I applied by brakes but it was too late. I crashed into the vehicle.
Coroner "Was the red light not visible, witness " Not at all."
How did this terrible collision occur ? His was completely dark there was no indication there was anything in the road.
In reply to Mr Clements witness said he had been driving for 14 years and had a clean licence. He had never been prosecuted in respect of any offence.
Coroner and His Duty. The coroner said that a war time restrictions added a considerable responsibility to to Coroners duties in as much as such cases were now investigated in the absence of a jury. One of the men standing in front of the lorry may have obscured the tail light said Mr Stafford. " I have to decide whether the cab driver was exercising reasonable care under the circumstances of the black out. it is not by duty to blame, censure or exonerate. The verdict will be one of accidental death.
An expression of sympathy by the coroner with the relatives of deceased was endorsed by Mr C Clements on behalf of the driver of the cab. |
UNITED KINGDOM
