Mexborough and Swinton Times May 3, 1929

Frightful Crash.
Motor-Cyclists Killed in Terrible Head-on Collision.
Cudworth and Thurnscoe Men.
Bodies Flung In Air.

“This was a terrible catastrophe,” said Mr. H. S. Essenhigh, the Doncaster Borough Deputy Coroner, at the inquest at Doncaster Guildhall on Wednesday, relative to the death of Richard Smith Watson ,of 8, John Street, Thurnscoe, and Samuel Herbert Ellis, of 216, Pontefract Road, Cudworth, which occurred after a collision near Scawby, on the Great North Road, on Monday. Mr. Essenhigh was assisted by a jury.

Mr. Essenhigh said Watson, who was 28 years old, was an assistant head schoolmaster at Thurnscoe. Ellis was employed by the Yorkshire Traction Company as a driver and was 33 years old. It appeared that about 7-50 p.m. on Monday Watson was riding a motor-cycle along Barnsley Road, in the direction of Doncaster, and near a bend collided with another motor-cycle ridden by Ellis. This occurred near Scawby.

Both men received terrible injuries to the head, and were taken in a police ambulance to the Doncaster Royal Infirmary. Death in both cases was due to fracture of the skull.

Frank Watson (father), a carrier, of Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, said he last saw his son alive on April 2nd, when he was in good health. About 6-30 p.m. on Tuesday he was informed of the accident. His son had ridden a motor-cycle for a number of years and was competent.

Wm Newton Ellis (father), a fish dealer, said his son lived with him at 216, Pontefract Road, Cudworth. He left home on Monday for Grimsby, riding a motor-cycle belonging to the brother of his fiancee. At about 10-30 p.m. the same day witness was informed of the accident. His son had been thoroughly accustomed to motor-cycles and was a careful driver.

Archibald Loy, solicitor, of 53, High Street, Doncaster, said that about 7-50 p.m. on Monday he was driving his car along Barnsley Road, coming from Marr to Doncaster. Near Scawby Hall a motor-cyclist passed him, going in the direction of Doncaster. “The cyclist was going rather too fast for that portion of road. About 30 yards in front there was a bend in the road where two others join it. As he passed me I noticed that he was without a hat and that his hair was being blown about by the wind. He kept tossing the hair out of his eyes. I then noticed another motor-cyclist coming round the bend and keeping well on his own side of the road. They collided in my full view. Ellis had almost rounded the corner and after the impact was thrown into the air. I saw his full length, and when he hit the round he was in front of his machine and his body had turned completely round, that he was facing Doncaster. He was so laid on his right side with his face close to the grass verge on the side of the road.

I stopped my car and ran to him. He was bleeding profusely from terrible injunries to his head and face there was no sign of life. I raised his head and put it on the grass and went to Watson. On the impact he had been thrown, and it appeared to me that he was several seconds in the air. He was thrown several yards and fell on the grass verge. I think he must have been flung 15 yards He was also lying on his right side and had similar injuries to Ellis. My wife stopped a ‘bus which came along and the driver and conductress got out. I told them what had happened, and seeing a nurse in the ‘bus asked her to do what she could for the men. I put my wife and children on the ‘bus, and then went to the nearest garage in my car to telephone for an ambulance. Later I went to inform the police at the Guildhall, and while I was going I saw the ambulance going to the scene at the utmost possible speed..

The Coroner: Do you blame anyone for the  accident?

Mr. Loy: In my opinion the accident was caused by the speed of Watson on that particular road and passing the bend like did. It was possible that with the wind blowing his air into his eyes, he was tossing the airbag, and so lost sight of the road for a short time.

Sgt. Plevey said he received information of the accident and made enquiries. He found that the bodies of the men had been taken to the Royal Infirmary Hospital. An examination of the road showed that the collision had occurred about 4 feet from the grass verge facing Doncaster. Ellis was picked up eleven feet from the spot, but Watson had been flung eighteen yards in a diagonal direction. His (Watson’s) machine had stopped 22 yards from the place of the impact. The road was 22 feet wide from I grass verge to grass verge, and the hedges on either side were cut low and well trimmed. Both machines were very damaged.

Douglas Arthur Dewhirst, house surgeon at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, said he examined both bodies when they were admitted on. Monday evening. Both men were dead, and death had been caused by fractures of the skull. ln the case of Ellis, he had a fracture at the front of the skull, fractured right forearm, pustules were broken, and there was a compound fracture of the right kneecap.

Watson had a fracture In the front of the school, the upper jaw was broken on both sides, extending to the eye-bones. A lacerated wound on the right knee, and compound fracture of the right little toe.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned