TRAGEDY AFTER DANCE – NAVY MAN DROWNED IN SHIP CANAL
Navy Gunner Walter Edmund Warmington, aged 19, whose home is at Badsey, Evesham, fell into the Ship Canal early on Tuesday morning and was drowned. He was returning from a dance in Ellesmere Port with another seaman, who heard him fall into the water, but was unable to locate him owing to the darkness. Warmington’s body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon.
At the inquest yesterday (Friday) the West Cheshire Coroner (Mr G W Wain) returned a verdict of “Accidental Death by Drowning” and complimented Warmington’s two companions on their efforts to save him.
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The following report appeared in The Evesham Observer of 11th December 1943:
VOYAGED WORLD SAFELY – Badsey Man Accidentally Drowned
His many friends in the village will learn with regret that Able Seaman Walter Edmund Warmington, son of Mr & Mrs Warmington of The Bell Inn, Badsey, has been accidentally drowned at Ellesmere, near Liverpool. News to this effect was received by his parents this week.
A B Warmington, who was 19, joined the Royal Navy in July last year, and was a gunner attached to the Merchant Navy. His duties took him all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In his last letter he stated he had been to Hollywood.
Educated at Badsey Council School, AB Warmington was employed until he enlisted, by Messrs Byrch Cox & Sons, Queen’s Road, Evesham. He was formerly a member of the Home Guard.
The funeral takes place at Badsey.
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A report of the funeral appeared in The Evesham Observer of 18th December 1943:
DISTRICT NEWS, BADSEY – FUNERAL
The funeral of Walter Edmund Warmington of The Bell Inn, Badsey, whose death we reported last week, took place on Monday afternoon at St James’ Church, Badsey, the Vicar, Canon W C Allsebrook, officiating. There was a full choir, Mr T H Knight playing the organ. The psalm was chanted, and the hymns sung were “On the Resurrection morning”, “Peace, perfect peace” and “Abide with me”. The family mourners were Mr & Mrs T Warmington (mother and father), Mr & Mrs R Warmington, Sedgeberrow (uncle and aunt), Mrs M Andrews, Mrs N Andrews and Mars Garrett, Kidderminster (aunts), Mrs C Andrews and Mrs Smith, Kidderminster (cousins), Miss G Warmington and Master Mickey Warmington, Sedgeberrow (cousins), Mr W Dorn (Gloucester). The many friends and representatives of public bodies present included Mr F E Amos (headmaster, Badsey Council Schools), Miss McDonald, Mrs Harwood, Mrs E Mustoe, Mrs Morris, Mr W Hardiman, Mr A J Brazier (Badsey branch, British Legion), No 6 (Badsey) Platoon, Home Guard, under Lieutenant J Cole, Mr G Phillips, Mr E W Hartwell, Mr C Martin (Byrch, Cox & Son). There were many floral tributes, including those from the Captain, officers and men, DEMS (Liverpool), staff of Byrch, Cox & Son , Badsey WI Whist Drive Committee, customers of The Bell Inn, customers of The Wheatsheaf Inn, and No 6 (Badsey) Platoon Home Guard. Mr C H Martin represented Mr Leonard C Cox, the principal of Byrch, Cox & Sons (Warmington’s late employers), and Mr W C Boulton represented the staff.