Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 17 April 1931
Obituary.
Mr. G. Severn.
A Distinguished Ambulance Officer.
One of the most notable figures in the ambulance life of the district, Mr. George, Severn, 17, Makin Street, Mexborough, died last Friday after a short illness.
Mr. Severn, who was 64 years old, was a native, of Wednesbury, Staffs., where as a boy he was employed in the iron works. At the age of 21, he joined the 3rd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment at Pontefract and quickly rose in rank to sergeant-major. His remained in tha Army for nearly years and saw active service in South Africa.
Twenty-two years ago, he came into the Mexborough district and officiated as drill sergeant to the 5th K.0.Y.L.I. Territorials at Conisborough for a short period. He then became ambulance officer at Denaby Colliery, the position he held up to the time of his death.
From youth, Mr. Severn was keenly interested in ambulance work and shortly after coming to Denaby Colliery became secretary of the Denaby Corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, resigning on his promotion to the rank of District Officer. Mr. Severn has done much to further ambulance wart in the area and his services were recognised in December, 1920, when he was made an Hon. Serving Brother of the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England. Mr. Severn also held the long service medal of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the long service and good-conduct medal of the Army and a medal with three bars for service in the South African War. For many years he was an instructor in ambulance work at Denaby Evening School, retiring three years ago owing to ill-health.
The local corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade showed their esteem on Tuesday by largely attending the funeral which took, place at Mexborough Cemetery. Over 200 members of district corps and nursing divisions beaded the cortege, while the Denaby Corps Band played suitable funeral music on the route from the house to cemetery. A large number of officials and workmen followed the cortege. The service was conducted by the Vicar of Mexborough (the Rev. E B. A. Somerset).