WILLIAM THOMAS BEDFORD
Laid to rest at the Field of Honour.
Born: 1897, Ipswich.
Died: 15th September 1918; age: 21; died of Otitis Media Suppuration and Mastoid and Lateral Sinus Infection, at the Military Hospital, Ranelagh Road, Ipswich. Joined the Colours in 1914 and served 3 1/2 years overseas.
Residence: No. 4, The Orchard, Albion Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Fisherman.
Enlistment Location: Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 48139.
Regiment: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 13th Garrison Battalion.
Formerly 10984, Lincolnshire Regiment.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Funeral service and military funeral held in the afternoon of Thursday, 19th September.
Grave Reference:
BA.IA.16.
Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 21, White Elm Street, Ipswich.
William was 3 years old and living with his mother and siblings.
Emma Bedford (nee Denny), 24, born Hemingstone, Suffolk.
Ellen Thornlow Denny, 8, born Ipswich.
Charles Denny Bedford, 6, born Ipswich.
Arthur Edward Bedford, 1, born Ipswich.
William’s father was Charles Edward Bedford, born 1873, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
William’s mother, Emma Bedford, died during childbirth on the 13th February 1909 in Ipswich and was buried in Section X, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Diss Express – Friday, 19th February 1909 – SAD STORY – A pitiful story of a fruitless search for a doctor was told to the Borough Coroner on Saturday afternoon at an inquest held into the circumstances surrounding the death of Emma Bedford, thirty-two years of age, wife of Charles Edward Bedford, a labourer. According to the evidence of the widower, Mrs. Bedford was expecting her confinement, and on Friday night Mrs. Brooks, a midwife, who was called in, recommended that a doctor should at once be sent in for. He accordingly went to Dr. Gibb, who was engaged with another patient, and later, armed with successive notes from Mrs. Brooks, an official form supplied by the Central Midwives Board, he again and again went out in search of help. The form was a request for medical assistance on account of haemorrhage, and notified that the case was urgent. The unfortunate man visited Mr. Eades, who told him through a speaking tube that he had a bad cold, and could not come. Mr. Frank Adfams, declined for a similar reason, and Mr. Frank Cave, on hearing that the man had no money, advised him to go to Mr. Fryer, the parish doctor. He reached Mr. Fryer’s at about half-past five, and Mr. Fryer said he would come. Charles Bedford then went back to his wife, and as she became worse, he went again to Mr. Fryer, who up to that time had not arrived. A servant told him that Mr. Fryer was coming in a moment, and when the doctor eventually reached the house, soon after seven a.m., death had already taken place. Corroborative evidence was given by Emily Denny, mother of the deceased. Mr. W.F. Fryer deposed to being called up between half-past five and six. He had been out to two other cases during the night, and had only gone to bed for the first time at half-past five. He told Charles Bedford that he would go, but he fell asleep again, and was not reawakened until a quarter to seven. He then went to the house, and found the woman dead. The cause of death was concealed haemorrhage and shock. He was very sorry that he had not gone at once. The Coroner pointed out that the medical gentlemen to whom Bedford went were under no Legal obligation to attend. It was for the Jury to consider all the circumstances, and to say whether anyone was legally to blame. After deliberating, the Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and added the following rider: “The Jury very much regret that the first four medical gentlemen called upon declined to attend the case, it having been represented to them by the midwife as being urgent. They also regret that Mr. Fryer did not attend for some considerable time after promising to do so.” Mrs. Emma Bedford leaves a family of six young children. Her husband’s earnings are 13s. 6d. a week.
Soldiers’ Effects to Charles Frederick Brown – brother-in-law (husband of Ellen Brown – sister).
THREE IPSWICH BROTHERS SERVING
Above, we publish the photographs of three Ipswich brothers, who are now serving in the Army, in the hope that they may be brought to the notice of their father, of whom nothing has been heard for over two years. The photographs were sent to us by their sister, Mrs. Brown, No. 4, The Orchard, Albion Street, Ipswich. Their names and regiments are:- Prvt. A. Bedford, 3rd Suffolks, stationed at Tring; 2. Prvt. William Bedford, 2nd Lincs.., now in France; 3. Prvt. C. Bedford, 2nd Suffolks, prisoner of war at Freiyegeben Lager, Doeberitz, Germany.
Image from the 1917 Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper.
E.A.D.T. – Saturday, 21st September 1918 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – On Thursday, 19th September, in the afternoon, the remains of Private William Thomas Bedford, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died in a local military hospital, whilst on leave from France, were interred in the Field of Honour, at Ipswich Cemetery. William Bedford joined the colours about four years ago, having seen 3 ½ years’ service overseas. The cortege started from the house of the deceased soldier’s sister, Mrs. Ellen Brown, of Albion Street, Ipswich, the coffin being borne on a gun carriage supplied by the R.F.A. The firing party and bearers were supplied by the Rifle Brigade. The service was conducted by the Reverend C. B. Pownall, the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich. The interment took place in the Field of Honour; three volleys were fired, and the buglers sounded “The Last Post.” The coffin, of polished elm with brass fittings, bore the following: – “Pte. W. T. Bedford, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; died 15th September, 1918; aged 21 years.” Messrs. Hastings and Son, of Berners Street, carried out the funeral arrangements. Amongst the floral tributes was the badge from the Ipswich Women’s Guild.
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