Person Page - 800

     While three boys of the 1st West Essex Co. Boys' Brigade, in camp at South Weald, were playing golf on Saturday, one of them, Thomas William Inson, 15, of Seven Kings, was accidently struck on the head with a golf club. He did not appear much hurt at the time, but later compained of pain and giddiness, and died shortly after the arrival of a doctor. He was the son of Mr. Wm. H. Inson, marine engineer, Cambridge Road, Seven Kings.

     At the inquest at Brentwood on Tuesday, Victor George Gurney, aged 15, of Seven Kings Hotel, one of the party of the Boys' Brigade camping at South Weald, said the deceased, Victor Potter, and himself agreed to play golf. They were playing to the second hole, and witness was trying to hit the ball as far as he could. The other boys were standing to the rear. "At the end of the stroke, " continued the witness, "I felt the club strike something a little bit, and saw I had hit deceased by the bruise on the left of his face. I asked if he was hurt. He said 'Yes,' but would not let me do anything. I got some water and bathed his face. He told me to go away a bit as we were worrying him. He lay down. We did not think he was much hurt, and went on playing, football, not golf. There was no quarrel of any kind. I was friendly terms with Inson."

     Dr. Lachlan said he was called about 4 o'clock, and the boy died a few minutes later. There was a very small abrasion on the left side above above the cheek bone. As there was no unconsciousness when the accident happened the boys would be likely to regard it as serious. A post-mortem examination showed that a small crack in the skull cut right through an artery. Death was due to blood from the artery pressing on the vital centres of the brain. No operation would have been likely to save the deceased.

     Victor R. Potter, aged 14, of Beddigton Road, Seven Kings, said there was no quarrelling. Witness did not actually see the club strike the deceased, who did not make much complaint. There was only a little graze on his face - no blood.

     Other witnesses stated that the deceased told them he had been accidentally hit by a golf club.

     Mr. Wm. Kennelly, captain of the B.B. Co., said he made arrangements for the camp, which officially started at tea-time. Until then the lads were not under discipline.

     The Coroner said the boys had been perfectly candid. It was not considered serious at the time, and the officers were not led to think anything serious had happened. It was very sad incident.

     The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death, and exonerated Gurney from blame. The jury expressed sympathy with the deceased boy's father.

     Mr Inson: My wife and myself extend our sympathy to Mr. And Mrs. Gurney. We are sure it was nothing but an accident. Gurney and Tommy were pals.