Real memorial obituaries – Combe Down, Monkton Combe, Midford

In memoriam et celebrationem

In memorial and celebration

SAD AFFAIR AT COMBE DOWN.

TRAGIC DEATH OF MR. F. L. JACKSON.

FOUND HANGING IN HIS DARK ROOM.

MENTALLY UPSET BY SHOCKS OF WAR.

NIGHTMARE MEMORIES.

By a sudden and seemingly unaccountable suicidal impulse the promising life of a young Bathonian has terminated in tragic manner.

Mr. Frederick Lionel Jackson the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Jackson, the respected Master and Matron of Frome Road House, was found hanging in the basement of Byfield House, Combe Down, on Saturday afternoon, having ended his existence in the most painful circumstances.

After talking to his wife in the sanest and most normal manner, he seems to have gone direct to the darkroom where he developed films, locked the door, taken off his own clothes, put on certain articles of lady's underwear and then hanged himself with a cord attached to a crook in the ceiling.

When his wife went to call him to tea, which he had arranged to take with her, she could get no response, the door was bolted on the inside. Mr. Oliver Hopkins, her next door neighbour, came at Mrs Jackson's request, and having made the shocking discovery, fetched another neighbour, Mr. Rideout, who led the distraught young wife to his home, while Mr Hopkins cut down the body.

Some one meanwhile had telephoned for medical aid, and Dr. Fenton, of nDevonshire Buildings, arrived as quickly as he could. But life was extinct.

AN OLD EDWARDIAN.

The deceased was born when his parents held at Wells similar positions to those they have noccupied in Bath for many years. After leaving King Edward's School, Bath, where he did well as a scholar, the deceased, at the age of 16, entered the mercantile marine, being a cadet of the British India Steamship Co., now amalgamated with the P. and 0.

He showed much ability in his maritime profession, passed the qualifying examinations with marked
success, and when 22 was a certificated first-class officer, and held the rank of second mate.

But in 1921, he expressed a desire to retire from the sea, wishing to marry and settle down to a less dangerous vocation on land. A little over a year ago he was married at Greenhithe to Miss Enid Rivers of that town, and a few months later entered into the conduct of the Combe Down business in which Mr. Jackson, senr., had established his son.

They were a most devoted and affectionate couple. The commercial enterprise, to which Mrs.
Jackson gave much attention, was going on prosperously, and her husband in October
would have taken over the duties of collector and assessor of Income Tax for the Weston division to which he was appointed some months ago.

NARROW ESCAPES IN THE WAR.

There is only one cause apparently to which to ascribe his tragic death-that he had been affected in mind by the horrors of the war. His seafaring career opened in 1915, and Mr. Jackson had many narrow escapes from being torpedoed by enemy submarines.

It was given in evidence at the inquest that he would start up from his sleep in nightmares which recalled the awful tension of navigating a ship without lights when the policy of German frightfulness was at its height. No vessel he was in was put down while he was aboard, but three were submarines after he had changed from them into other ships of the same line.

With the bereaved young widow and the grief-stricken parents the sincerest sympathy is felt.

THE INQUEST.

YOUNG WIDOW TELLS OF HUSBAND'S NIGHTMARES.

"Lived U-boat Attacks Over Again."

The inquest was held on Monday at the Hadley Arms, Combe Down, by Mr. Samuel Craddock, himself suffering from the shock of another domestic affliction. The Rev, F. G. Masters, Vicar of St. Luke's, was one of the few people present.

Mrs. Enid Jackson, the widow, who comforted herself most gravely under the distressing conditions, told the Coroner the following facts:

On Saturday afternoon shortly before five o'clock my husband came into the dining room, and said he was going to the darkroom to develop some films. I said, "I will get the tea," and he replied, "All right." He went downstairs to develop the films, and I prepared tea in the meanwhile. As he did not return I called, but got no response. So I called Mr. Hopkins, who lives next door, to open the door for me. He
opened a tiny little window with a coin at first. This window looks into the dark room in the basement. Mr. Hopkins did not say anything to me, but went to the proper door of the dark room. He burst this open, and then just pushed me away. I just caught a glimpse, and saw my husband suspended, but I did not notice what from. A neighbour then came and took me away to next door.

The Coroner: How has his health been lately?

-Quite all right.

Quite all right?

-A little rundown.

Was there any reason that would cause him to be run down in this way, any financial troubles, or anything of that sort?

-No.

NO FINANCIAL TROUBLES

He had no financial troubles or anything that could account for it?

-Nothing at all.

Did he sleep well?

-He used to dream. He had night-mare.

But he slept

-Yes.

He did not complain of not sleeping

-The last night or two he did.

Did he complain of anything unusual in his head, or anything of that kin

-No.

How long had he been in business?

-Nine months.

What as?-

As proprietor of drug stores.

He did not make up prescriptions?

-No,

Previous to that I believe he had been in the merchant service?

-Yes, at sea.

Can you give me any idea if he was upset by submarines or anything of that sort ?

-He had a lot of attacks and narrow escapes.

Did that affect him?

-He used to live it over again, and dream about it. He had several attacks from submarines.

Did he give you the idea that it made him nervous -

Oh, yes, it did.

You are quite unable to account for it at all; there was no disturbance at all?

-Oh, no, we were perfectly happy.

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY.

Oliver Hopkins, plumber and decorator, of Combe Down, spoke to being called by Mrs. Jackson about 5.45 p.m. on Saturday. Mrs. Jackson asked him if her husband was in the witness's house and he replied that he had not seen him. She then told him that he had gone to the dark room to develop some films, but had not returned. She said she had tried to open the door and was unable to do so. She was afraid that he had fainted.

Witness went and tried the door, but he could not open it. He hammered the door and called to the
deceased, receiving no reply. He then opened the small window which looked into the dark room, and saw something hanging from the ceiling.

At first he thought the object was a dummy, but upon taking a further look he saw that it was not. He obtained a knife from the next house and asked the neighbour's wife to come and see Mrs. Jackson. Upon bursting open the darkroom door he saw that the body was that of the deceased. There was no sign
of life, but the body was quite warm, The face was livid, and there was a piece of cord around the neck.

Replying to the Coroner, the witness said he generally saw the deceased daily. He had never noticed him to be depressed, and the deceased had never hinted that he was.

He saw the deceased at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, when he was quite alright. He was then
repairing his bicycle.

The Coroner:

How was the deceased dressed when you found him hanging-In rather a strange manner. He was wearing a pair of lady's silk stockings, garters, lady's knickers, a
camisole, and a silk boudoir cap. His ordinary clothes were hanging behind the door of the dark room.

DEATH CAUSED BY SUFFOCATION.

Dr. William Radcliffe Fenton, registered medical practitioner, of 1. Devonshire Buildings, said
he was called to see the deceased at 5.45 p.m. on Saturday, and he reached the house at.
6. p.m. He found the body lying on the floor in the developing room.

Witness applied artificial respiration and heart mass- age for about 10 minutes, but there was no response to his efforts. The face was livid and there was a circular mark around the neck, such as would be
produced by suspension from a cord. In his opinion death was due to suffocation caused by hanging. He tried artificial respiration as a matter of duty, but he could see from the first that it was a forlorn hope.

MR, F. T. JACKSON'S EVIDENCE.

Frederick Titchmarsh Jackson, father of the deceased, said he was instrumental in setting his son up in business on Combe Down about nine months ago.

Previous to that the deceased had been in the Merchant service with the British-India Co., for over six years.

He was a second officer, but was in possession of a first mate's certificate. The reason for his resigning from the service was that he was very keen on leaving the sea. He had had a very anxious and nerve-wracking time during the war. Another reason for his resigning was that he was desirous of getting married.

The Coroner:

Was he rather mentally upset. by the shocks from submarines during the war, as recorded by his widow?

-Undoubtedly. During the war he was a navigating officer, and they had to travel for several years without lights. He had one or two narrow squeaks. Even
at my house he used to dream about, and talk about, his experiences.

AN INCOME TAX APPOINTMENT.

I believe since then he has been successful in getting another appointment, has he not?

-Yes. He obtained the post of collector and assessor of income tax for the Weston division of Bath. He was not commencing his duties officially until October and was only training a few hours per week.

Did he seem to like the idea of the new work?

Yes

Financially he was all right?

-Yes. Since Saturday I have gone into his business affairs thoroughly, and they are most satisfactory. There is a good balance at the bank, and he also
had a substantial balance in the house. There was nothing owing.

I take it the business was practically a success?

-Quite.

In reply to further questions by the Coroner, Mr. Jackson said deceased had been very steady all his life. He had always been of a very emotional temperament. Witness was quite at a loss to account for his action, and he could only put it down to the result of his war service. He was most happily married.

The Coroner: I suppose he had not been practising any jokes of that kind?

-No, nothing of the sort. It would be most repulsive to him.

The Coroner's finding was that deceased hung himself during a state of temporary insanity, through sudden impulse.

THE FUNERAL.

A Tribute of Public Sympathy.

Quite, three hundred friends and sympathisers were present at St. James's cemetery, Bath, on Wednesday afternoon, on the occasion of the funeral.

Many members of the Bath Board of Guardians, officials connected with the Board and the
staff at Frome Road House attended, in company with representatives of numerous families on Combe Down, where the deceased's family are greatly respected. Only male members of the bereaved families attended the funeral.

When the cortege arrived at the cemetery gate, members of the Board of Guardians and the
staff of Frome Road House lined up behind the carriages and followed the mourners to the
cemetery chapel where the Rev. F. G. Masters (Vicar of St. Luke's), who is a brother-in-law of Mr. F. T. Jackson conducted a short service. The path to the graveside was lined with friends unable to gain admittance to the service in the small chapel.

Attending as mourners were: Mr.F.T Jackson (father), Mr. Reginald Jackson (brother), Mr. O. Hopkins, Mr. F. J. Yerbury, the Rev. F. G. Masters, Mr. A. Smith and Mr. J. T. Masters.

The Board of Guardians was represented by Mr. C. Sealy, Councillor W. Dawe, Coun Adams, Mr. J. W. Bray, Mr. E. Brake, Mr. Cillor J. W. C. Southwood, Mrs, L. J. A. A. Hunt, and Councillor C. Cowley, Members of Frome Road House staff present were Mr. Dorey, Mr. Holbrook, Mr. A. Mr. James Short, Mr. A. White, Mr. J. Lid- Howell, Mr. Batt, Mr. and Mrs.
Meaker, Nurses Lake, Elms and Roberts.

Others present included Mr. A. R. Cass (relieving -
officer), and Mrs. Cass, Mr. G. Godden (rep- resenting Messrs. G. E. Hawkins), Mr. A. E.
Stocks, Mr. and Mrs. Reg. Yerbury, Mr. B. C. Barnes, Mr. H. Chivers, Mr. Frank Winckworth, Mr. W. H. Shellard, Mr. A. G. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. T. Wills, Mr. A. E. Mills of Wells (an old colleague of Mr. F. T. Jackson), Mrs. C. H. Long, Mrs, Perkins, Mr T. Tuggey, Mr. W. T. Hillier, Mr. and Mrs G. Whatley, Mr. L. Adams, Mr. H. Erwood, Mrs. W. J. Hallett, Mr. F. J.
Hobbs, Mr. and Mrs. G. Jole, Sister Rancombe, Messrs. W. H. Hallett, A. Gifford, F. H. Ledbury, and A. H. S. Studley (Old Edwardians), Mr Bainton, Mrs. Alee White, Mr. Bartlett, and Mr. A. W. Hayter.

There were many beautiful floral tributes, among the senders being the following: Douglas; Grandma; Mr. and Mrs. Rivers (Greenhithe); Uncle and Aunt and Cousin Fred; Uncle Will and Family: Bath Board Desiree and Jack; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. of Guardians: Staff, Frome Road House; Glover; Mr. and Mrs. Perkins; Arthur and Hobbs, Reginald Ings and Gordon A Hons); Ethel; three school friends (Norman F. C. I Wills and family; Mr. and Mrs. Tanfield; Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Barnes; Mr. and Mrs. T. Charles J. Baldwin; Lily and Charlie: Mr. Winckworth and family; Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins; Dorothy and Frank; Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. Chas. Kitley; Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Walters and family; Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Pinch and Roy: Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Fisher and Norman: Dr. and Mrs. A. Harold Duekett; Mr. and Mrs. Howard
Collins: Mr. and lard; Councillor and Mrs. E. White and Mrs. V. Alan Young; Mr. W. H. Shel- family; Mr. and Mrs. Claude M. Toplis; Les- lie Adams (an old school friend); the Rev. Geo. H. and Mrs. Butler: Mr. and Mrs. Fishlock: Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Bird: D. and A. Gifford; Mr. and Mrs. Walters; Mr. and Mrs. C. Hope (Liverpool); Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Brown and family; Mr. and Mrs. F. and Mrs. Mass; Mr. and Mrs. Tanfield: Miss Yerbury; Councillor and Mrs.
Cowley; Mr. N. Walters; Mr. and Mrs. Chas, Lovell: Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Mills (Wells); Mr. and Mrs. and Ernest: Nurses Bishop and Roberts Douglas Bird; Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Stocks (Frome Road House); Mr. and Mrs. James;and Mr. and Mrs. A. White.

The funeral arrangements were made by Mr. F. G. Fisher, of Combe Down.