DEATH
Winifred Ida RUSHBROOKE was born in 1909 at Besthorpe, first daughter of Cecil Rushbrooke and Margaret Brown. She married Herbert Skipper in 1931. She was fatally burnt whilst lighting the fire on the morning after her wedding. Below is the newspaper report of the Inquest and part of the report of her funeral.
SHIPDHAM BRIDE'S TRAGIC END
FATALLY BURNED DAY AFTER WEDDING
DOCTOR'S TRIBUTE AT INQUEST TO "EXTRAORDINARY PLUCK."
On the morning after her wedding day a young Shipdham woman Winifred Ida Skipper received such terrible burns while she was lighting the fire that she died from shock and from her injuries the following day. The accident happened early on Sunday morning, and Mrs Skipper, who was only 21, was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where, in spite of all that could be done for her, she died in the early hours of Monday morning. Her fortitude as she lay dying was praised by the doctor who attended her in hospital when he gave evidence at the inquest held by the Norwich Coroner yesterday afternoon.
"I have never seen a case of burns", he said, "where the patient showed such remarkable pluck."
HUSBANDS EVIDENCE
The husband, Herbert Skipper, a young man of 23, had his hands heavily bandaged. His wife, he said, got up to light the fire at about half past six on Sunday morning. "About five minutes later", he continued, "I heard her shout out 'Herbert. I am on fire.' I ran downstairs and saw her all in flames. I carried her outside and rolled her in the snow to put the flames out, and then I carried her across to Mrs Hunt's who lives opposite. I asked my wife how it all happened. She said 'I don't know what did happen'. I saw a can which had had paraffin in standing by the fire place and I can only suppose that she put some paraffin on the fire and the blaze set light to her clothes". The doctor, when he came, Skipper said, ordered that she should be removed to hospital.
The Coroner - I suppose you hadn't got a rug or anything handy? - The house was full of smoke and I was frantic. I had lost all presence of mind.
SHOCK AND BURNS
Dr. D. Barlow, house-surgeon at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, said that Mrs Skipper's burns were very extensive, covering almost the whole body, head, arms and legs. She was conscious when admitted, but was severely shocked. She was treated for the shock to begin with, and then an anaesthetic was given her so that the charred tissues could be removed. She recovered temporarily from this, but died at half-past four on Monday morning, as a result of the shock and burns. "I would like to say" added the doctor, "that the patient showed extraordinary pluck throughout. It was extremely bad luck that she died." Turning to the husband the doctor said, "I am very sorry for you, and I must say your wife showed the most amazing pluck I have seen for a long time."
The Coroner, in returning a verdict in accordance with the doctor's evidence, said it was very sad that a woman so young should be taken off in this way. He would like to express his sympathy with her relatives.
TRAGIC BRIDE'S FUNERAL
LARGE ASSEMBLY AT WEST BRADENHAM
On Saturday - which would have been her 22nd birthday and but a week after her marriage in the same church - the funeral service took place in West Bradenham Church of Mrs Winifred Skipper, who in her new home at Holme Hale on the morning following her wedding received fatal burns. Following the service, which was conducted by Rev. Bernard Malon, who had married her, her remains enclosed in a coffin inscribed "Winifred Ida Skipper, died March 2nd 1931, aged 22 years" were interred in the snow covered churchyard.
A pathetic figure in the funeral procession was her grief-stricken young husband, Herbert Skipper, his hands still swathed in bandages testifying to the injuries he received in extinguishing the flames in which he found his wife enveloped. ???? of the parishioners and many others from the immediate district attended the funeral. Mrs Skipper, who was a daughter of Mr and Mrs C Rushbrook, of Willow Farm, West Bradenham, being well known amongst them.
Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project
1909 - 1931 (21 years)
Has 20 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
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