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Birmingham fatal drownings 20th Century

Bardess said:
My uncle, John Robert Larvin aged 4, was pushed into the canal at Sheepcote St on 12th May 1930 by 2 8yo boys. I have all reports and funeral invoice that I can send to you if you wish

Di
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That would be fantastic, thank you so so much. John Larvin is on my to research list. I had found a report in the newspaper archives!! If you wouldn't mind sharing the reports and invoice you have and happy for me to use it, I'd be so very grateful.
Thank you.
 
Morturn said:
The education department did, I recall go out of its way to encourage young school children to learn to swim. Free passes were one of the measures as was school swimming lessons.
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I also remember our weekly school swimming lessons at Victoria Rd baths. Me & my two mates loved it so much we went to Woodcock St baths after school (they had a springboard).
 
Astoness said:
hope no one minds but reading these sad stories about the young children that died from drowning and even the sad cases we hear of today prompted me over 3 years ago to start paying for my grandson who is 8 to have swimming lessons every saturday morning which he loves...he still has about 3 levels to go before they finish but already he is an accomplished swimmer and is thinking about taking life saving lessons at some point... i do understand that sometimes being able to swim can not always save you it must help and give us a chance..sadly his school like many others in birmingham do not seem to have swimming lessons anymore which seems a real shame as it is so important to learn..his sister who is 3 will be starting them soon..

lyn
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As a Paramedic and open water lifeguard I can't agree with you more ❤️
 
As i mentioned on canal thread
while in a classroom at Great Barr Comp
a girl was pulled out of class to be told her brother
had sadly drowned at the locks by Walsall Rd locks
 
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Astoness said:
yes i remember those days mort...not happening now though

lyn
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It's a bit of a soap box for me I'm afraid. ALL SHOULD LEARN TO SWIM! My mother is terrified of water as she cant swim and my father wasn't a strong swimmer in any shape of the imagination. They were adamant that we would learn, and I've found a love for it. When doing my proposal for this PhD swimming only became part of the curriculum in 1994. The requirements are silly low and they don't even have to pass that. As an open water swimmer and open water lifeguard it amazes me how blaze people can be in open water. I think all should be taught to swim properly, the dangers of wild swimming and how to read water. Hopefully this PhD may help with my mini crusade?!?!?
I'll now dismount my soap box.
 
We have seen drowning in canals, lakes and culverts, but there seems to also have been drowning in tanks.
1909 Smethwick.
1945 Foreman's Road Sparkhill.
1977 Sewage Tank Kilts Green

Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary said in House of Commons that 36 children had lost their lives through drowning in National Fire Service water-tanks and basements. In Birmingham a large number of static tanks are already covered with strong wire netting. (Birmingham Post, July 1942)
 
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Pedrocut said:
We have seen drowning in canals, lakes and culverts, but there seems to also have been drowning in tanks.
1909 Smethwick.
1945 Foreman's Road Sparkhill.
1977 Sewage Tank Kilts Green

Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary said in House of Commons that 36 children had lost their lives through drowning in National Fire Service water-tanks and basements. In Birmingham a large number of static tanks are already covered with strong wire netting. (Birmingham Post, July 1942)
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This is Fantastic, thank you so much.
 
An interesting observation on Boat People and drowning…

“The Medical Officer of Health for Birmingham in 1905 was comparing the health of the children to those of "the same class in the poorer parts of a large town" and a comment from Dr Wilson of the Ministry of Health in 1930 is particularly revealing when she remarked that deaths from drowning were probably no more frequent than street accidents "in a corresponding slum on land".

(Canal Boat People, 1840-1970. Wendy Freer.)
 
Pedrocut said:
An interesting observation on Boat People and drowning…

“The Medical Officer of Health for Birmingham in 1905 was comparing the health of the children to those of "the same class in the poorer parts of a large town" and a comment from Dr Wilson of the Ministry of Health in 1930 is particularly revealing when she remarked that deaths from drowning were probably no more frequent than street accidents "in a corresponding slum on land".

(Canal Boat People, 1840-1970. Wendy Freer.)
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Yes, there's several articles where road accidents and drowning are compared. I've also found quite afew articles where one person says one thing and another contradicts them throughout the century. It's made very exciting reading.
 
Liz Gurney said:
Yes, there's several articles where road accidents and drowning are compared. I've also found quite afew articles where one person says one thing and another contradicts them throughout the century. It's made very exciting reading.
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The joys of historical research. These contradictions when, if you set aside the past as written as historical fact and desire to build just a body of knowledge will allow you to leverage the advantages to create a rich and meaningful analysis of past events.

You will then soon see how history teaches you how to think, how to assess evidence and how to solve puzzles, to leave you with a rich useable past.
 
On a related subject, miners in local coal and ironstone mines in South Staffordshire & East Worcestershire faced many underground issues which included the inundation. Water held back in old workings could be released into the mine where the miners were at work with serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Of course in our modern society there are no such things as coal mines now as concerns for the environment have contributed to their closure. In other countries there is less concern and miners today still regularly face the dangers of the underground mine and flooding can still be an issue.
 
Heartland said:
On a related subject, miners in local coal and ironstone mines in South Staffordshire & East Worcestershire faced many underground issues which included the inundation. Water held back in old workings could be released into the mine where the miners were at work with serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Of course in our modern society there are no such things as coal mines now as concerns for the environment have contributed to their closure. In other countries there is less concern and miners today still regularly face the dangers of the underground mine and flooding can still be an issue.
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Coal mines in China are particularly dangerous, not just with water but with gases.
 
Liz Gurney said:
Good Morning all.
How are you? Hope you are well?
I am researching The Histories of Fatal Drownings in 20th Century Britain for a PhD at Birmingham University. I have seen many stories in this forum site that would be fantastic for my thesis. However I am reluctant to just "steal" these stories. If any of you lovely people would be willing to share any stories I'd be super greatful.

Thank you
Liz
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Hi Liz, my great grandfather, William Jones 1876-1920, my mother recounted fell into the canal and drowned. He was a fitter at Railway Carriages and Wagon Company Works, Smethwick, Staffs, married (1903) to Edith Woodhouse 1883-1944, residing at 25 Mornington Terrace, Smethwick. I would love to know if you can confirm the story of William’s demise. Robert
 

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Roboz_8 said:
Hi Liz, my great grandfather, William Jones 1876-1920, my mother recounted fell into the canal and drowned. He was a fitter at Railway Carriages and Wagon Company Works, Smethwick, Staffs, married (1903) to Edith Woodhouse 1883-1944, residing at 25 Mornington Terrace, Smethwick. I would love to know if you can confirm the story of William’s demise. Robert
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Here's a press cutting I found about him - William Jones drowned .jpg
 
Lloyd said:
Here's a press cutting I found about him - View attachment 201485
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Quite afew people walked into the canal in the dark or the fog. Not Birmingham but I found a record of a piermaster in runcorn drowning when trying to light the lamps at the docks. The Weaver Navigation Trustees had decided not to light the lamps after May 14th but said if he wanted them lit he should do it himself!20250501_111448.jpg20250501_111500.jpg20250501_111542.jpg
 
Hi Liz, this is earlier than your study period but my Great Uncle, John Charles Westwood, drowned in the Birmingham & Fazely canal near Holborn Hill on the 19th May 1886 aged 5 years 9 months. As the Coroners report isn't available online the details will have to wait until my next visit to Birmingham. I cannot imagine the feelings of my Great Grandparents after losing their firstborn at such a young age and in such a way, although the Memorium card perhaps gives some indication:

John_Charles_Westwood_Memoriam.jpg
 
Biscayne said:
Hi Liz, this is earlier than your study period but my Great Uncle, John Charles Westwood, drowned in the Birmingham & Fazely canal near Holborn Hill on the 19th May 1886 aged 5 years 9 months. As the Coroners report isn't available online the details will have to wait until my next visit to Birmingham. I cannot imagine the feelings of my Great Grandparents after losing their firstborn at such a young age and in such a way, although the Memorium card perhaps gives some indication:

View attachment 201539
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That's so sad and beautiful x
 
Liz Gurney said:
Good Morning all.
How are you? Hope you are well?
I am researching The Histories of Fatal Drownings in 20th Century Britain for a PhD at Birmingham University. I have seen many stories in this forum site that would be fantastic for my thesis. However I am reluctant to just "steal" these stories. If any of you lovely people would be willing to share any stories I'd be super greatful.

Thank you
Liz
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Hi Liz

Just come across this thread and may be too late for your research?

I have a Maud Winfred Alexander in my family tree. She was my grandfather's sister, whose death by drowning in the Tame Valley canal in 1907, when just 18 years old, attracted some newspaper coverage.

Maud was the illegitimate daughter of James Frederick Alexander, a cutler in Birmingham (my grandfather being an older illegitimate son) and her birth was registered as Maud Winifred Rowbotham (her mother being Lydia Thackeray Rowbotham).

In the newspaper articles it was revealed that Maud was known as Cissie Gumbley and had been adopted by Arthur Gumbley and his wife Betsy c1899. They were living next door to the Alexander family in Bridge Street West. She had had a lovers quarrel withe her sweetheart on the day of her disappearance according to some headlines.

I can expand on story if interested.

Steve
 
SteveAlex said:
Hi Liz

Just come across this thread and may be too late for your research?

I have a Maud Winfred Alexander in my family tree. She was my grandfather's sister, whose death by drowning in the Tame Valley canal in 1907, when just 18 years old, attracted some newspaper coverage.

Maud was the illegitimate daughter of James Frederick Alexander, a cutler in Birmingham (my grandfather being an older illegitimate son) and her birth was registered as Maud Winifred Rowbotham (her mother being Lydia Thackeray Rowbotham).

In the newspaper articles it was revealed that Maud was known as Cissie Gumbley and had been adopted by Arthur Gumbley and his wife Betsy c1899. They were living next door to the Alexander family in Bridge Street West. She had had a lovers quarrel withe her sweetheart on the day of her disappearance according to some headlines.

I can expand on story if interested.

Steve
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Oh wow, thank you so much Steve, this is great. Definitely not to late for my thesis. I would be delighted to have more information on this if you are happy to share? I will DM you with my details. Thank you.
 
This may be too late and not relevant as in fact he saved lives but this was my great grandfather Charles Starling -

Birmingham Daily Gazette, 1906, reported:

BIRMINGHAM MAN WHO HAS SAVED TEN LIVES

A splendid act of heroism was done yesterday in a dim, out-of-the-way spot of the city of Birmingham.

Landor-street canal is a turgid strip of water typical of the murky realms of labour in which it lies. A number of boys were playing on the bank, and one, a tiny fellow of eight, fell in, and got underneath a boat. The cries of his terrified companions drew the attending of passers-by, who stood by the water’s edge wringing their hands and shouting directions, but the child’s struggles grew feebler and feebler. It seemed that he must drown.

Then suddenly a man dashed up, and fully dressed and encumbered with heavy boots, dived in. He proved a fine swimmer, this brickmaker, from an adjacent field, and the business of saving life is not a new one to him.

The boy was soon out on the bank, little the worse for his adventure.

“Well done, old man” remarked a police officer, as he took note of the particulars.

“It is the tenth Charles Starling has saved,” says a voice

“I’m a bit wet,” was all the hero had to say.

Inquiries confirmed the fact that the man had saved ten lives.
 
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