South Yorkshire Times — Saturday, 26 June 1943
Drowned in River
Bargeman’s False Step at Denaby
The Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile) recorded a verdict of “Accidental death” at an inquest at Conisbrough on Monday on Norman Carmichael (17), of Ryhill Grove, Hull, who was drowned in the River Don on Saturday.
Harry Carmichael said his son was a mate on a barge. He had worked on barges for about two years, employed by Messrs. Bleesdale’s, of Hull. He last saw his son a month ago. In reply to the Coroner witness said his son did not drink intoxicants when he worked for him in Hull.
Joseph Burdin (18), of Liverpool, a sapper in the Royal Engineers, said he met Carmichael about three weeks ago, when he was posted to Carmichael’s barge for training. He was with him for about a week, and was then moved to another barge. On Saturday he came up to Denaby on his barge and tied up alongside that on which Carmichael was. They went ashore about 7 p.m., and first went to the Denaby Main Hotel, where they had two pints of beer each. They then went into the Reresby Arms, and had four pints and two whiskys each. They left at closing time and walked back to the barges. Witness said he was accustomed to drinking as much as that, but he did not know how much Carmichael could take.
Coroner: “Do you not think you could be occupied in a far better way than to sit and consume all that drink?”—”I have had much more than that before.”
Witness said they walked back and he climbed over a plank about one foot wide to his, the second barge. He went straight down below, thinking the other boy was following him. Almost immediately he heard a shout and found Carmichael in the water. He lowered a bucket, but Carmichael made no effort to get hold of it. Witness jumped in and made an effort to save him, but in the end Carmichael sank, and although he swam round he could not find him.
Coroner: “How much did you spend in drink that night?”—”Just over 10s., sir.”
Coroner: “And what is your Army pay?”—”17s. a week.”
John Wm. Fowler, railway signalman, employed at the Lowfield Junction signal box, Denaby, of 36, Tennyson Avenue, Mexborough, said on Saturday about 10.30 p.m. he was on duty. He was standing at a window facing the level crossing when he noticed a soldier accompanied by another man come up to the crossing gates. He allowed them to cross. Both were unsteady and were arm in arm.
P.C. Boothroyd, Denaby, said at 10.50 p.m. on Saturday Burdin reported there was a man in the river and he had been unable to rescue him. At the time the man was under the influence of drink, but was not drunk. He thought the sudden plunge into the river would have sobered him. Witness recovered the body at 12.15 a.m. on Sunday, about 20 yards from the rear of the barges. There were no marks of violence on the body.
The Coroner, addressing Burdin, said the incident ought to have been a lesson to him. Because he could take the drink and felt all right he did not worry about the safety of his friend. The only redeeming feature of the case was that Burdin had made an attempt to rescue Carmichael. It was a pity that youths of this age had nothing better to do than to indulge in drinking like that.