Hoylake officer’s bravery
“Died trying to save life”
“He and some others of his crew met their death by going unhesitant into what was known to be a very great danger to life” States an official intimation to Mr and Mrs E. E. PEGG, of Sandringham Ave, Hoylake, of the death of their son Lieutenant Ernest Francis [Frank] PEGG. R.N.V.R, He was in command of one of H. M. Ships operating in a Harbour Patrol Flotilla.
Lieutenant PEGG who was a chartered accountant in practise in Liverpool was well known in Merseyside yachting circles, being a member of the Mersey Yacht Club, and of Hoylake Sailing Club, of which he was Hon assistant treasurer. His yacht “Caprice” was a regular participator in all the Merseyside regattas.
He was a former playing member of Hoylake Rugby Football Club, a member of the committee and a referee.
An officer serving in the same flotilla as Lieutenant PEGG, has written to Mr and Mrs PEGG that, “Frank died a brave death as a result of enemy action, whilst endeavouring to rescue the survivors of other ships.”
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Doctor’s death in air raid
Ex- Liverpool student
Dr John Gerard ROGERS, who took his medical degree at Liverpool University in 1935, has died as a result of a recent air raid in London.
Dr ROGERS, who lived at 224 Southport Rd, Bootle was killed while discharging his duties in a London County Council Hospital, during a heavy raid. He was an old boy of St Edward’s College, Liverpool and had been for two years attached to Liverpool hospitals. He was house surgeon at the Northern and senior house surgeon at Mill Rd Infirmary, going thence to work under the L. C. C. in metropolitan hospitals to take his M.R.C.P. Dr ROGERS who was 38yrs old was unmarried, his brother Raymond was well known in Liverpool University sporting circles, as an Association Football player and track athlete.
The funeral took place last Sunday at Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland, where the family have close associations.
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Playing at air raids
Child burned in an ashpit
How children were trapped in a disused ashpit whilst playing at “air raids” when one of them set fire to straw and shavings about the floor was described at a St Helens inquest yesterday.
On John Gerard SWEENEY, aged 5, of Vincent St Helens, who died of burned in hospital on Friday.
In returning a verdict of “Misadventure” Mr A. V. CUNLIFFE, Assistant Deputy Coroner, said no blame could be attached to anyone. He complimented Mrs Margaret QUINN, a young married woman of Charles St, St Helens, who dashed into the blazing ashpit and pulled all the children out.
Mrs QUINN said, the children had strewn the contents of an old buffet on the disused ashpit at her home. She heard the children shouting and dashing out saw flames coming out from the ashpit. The children were crowded into a corner she got them out through the flames and told them to run home.
Daniel QUINN, Mrs QUINN’S 8yr old son said, Vincent CARLTON, James SCOTT, Muriel PHILLIPS and John and Brian SWEENEY were playing air raids in the ashpit shelter. He found two matches and Muriel PHILLIPS said “Light a fire” The match went out and Muriel PHILLIPS struck the other and set fire to the straw.
The Coroner, “It is said you set fire to the straw?” - “No”
Mr CUNLIFFE said he must express his appreciation of the brave thing Mrs QUINN did in promptly getting the children out of the flames.
Mrs QUINN, “It’s only what anyone would have done I am sorry it has turned out, as it has on this little boy’s case,”