Benjamin Thomas Ormerod

Lance Corporal 36274
Royal Army Medical Corps

Benjamin was the son of Thomas and Kate Ormerod of Great Harwood, Lancashire; and the husband of Mary Maria Ormerod (née Waterworth), of 59 Rainhill Road, Barnoldswick.

At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at 41 Holgate St, Great Harwood, with his parents and siblings. Details of the census entry are as follows.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Benjamin was living with his with wife, Mary Maria, and daughter, Phyllis, at 8 Railway Street, Barnoldswick.

Benjamin was killed whilst on leave in London when he was struck and run over by an omnibus whilst trying to cross the road near St Pancras Station.

The following article appeared in the Burnley Express and Advertiser on 9 June 1915 relating to Benjamin's death:

"BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIER KILLED IN LONDON STREET.

Lance-Corpl. Benjamin Ormerod, of the 77th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., in training at Winchester, was making his way home on Friday night for week-end leave, was run over in London by a motor-bus, and died on Saturday. The first intimation of the occurrence was conveyed by a telephonic message early on Saturday morning to Mrs. Ormerod, who resides at 1 Leonard-street, Barnoldswick, stating that her husband had been very seriously injured. This was followed a few hours afterwards by a telegram from the commanding officer of the regiment announcing the death. Mrs Ormerod had left for London accompanied by her brother. Lance-Corpl. Ormerod was 30 years of age, and joined the Army last [illegible]."

A report on the inquest into Benjamin's death was published in the Burnley Express and Advertiser on 12 June 1915:

"THE FATALITY TO A BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIER

KNOCK DOWN BY A LONDON OMNIBUS

At St. Pancras, London, on Tuesday, a coroner's inquiry was held in reference to the death of Benjamin Thomas Ormerod (30), a lance-corporal in the 77th Battalion Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Mrs. Ormerod, the widow, residing at No. 1, Leonard-street, Barnoldswick, identified the body as that of her husband, who was formerly a weaver. She had had a postcard on Friday from him, stating that he would arrive home at 2 a.m. on Saturday from Winchester.

William Pawsey, a motor-lorry driver, stated that on Friday, about 9 p.m., while he was driving by Tonbridrge-street, Euston-road opposite St. Pancras Station, in the direction of Pentonville. Ormerod stepped from the footpath in front of the lorry. He cleared the vehicle. but immediately afterwards stumbled. Before he could recover himself a motor-omnibus travelling in the opposite direction caught him and knocked him down, the front wheel passing over him.

Other witnesses stated that if Ormerod had hurried he might have crossed the road in safety. At. the time of the accident it was stated that the omnibus was travelling at the rate of between six and seven miles an hour.

Sidney Carter, the driver of the omnibus, stated that, noticing the man stumbling in front of him, he applied the brakes and pulled up in about 5ft. When the car was brought to a standstill, Ormerod was lying unconscious between the wheels.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death" and exonerated the driver of the omnibus from blame.

Lieutenant. Leacher, R.A.M.C., expressed the regret of the officers and men of the battalion, and their sympathy with the family, adding, " He was an excellent soldier, and his death is a great loss to the battalion."

Impressive scenes were witnessed at the funeral of Lance-Corpl. Benjamin Ormerod on Thursday afternoon. The coffin, which had brought to Barnoldswick the previous day, was draped with the Union Jack and covered with wreaths. It was borne to the hearse by a squad of men of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment from Skipton, and following these came a number of rnembers of the Barnoldswick Ambulance and Nursing Division. with which deceased was connected up to joining the Army. Amongst the wreaths was one bearing a representation of the Red Cross in immortelles from the officers and men of the R.A.M.C., with whom deceased had been associated at Winchester Camp. The burial service at Gill Churchyard was conducted by the Rev. F.W. Patten, vicar of Barnoldswick."

Benjamin is buried in the churchyard of St Mary le Ghyll Church, Barnoldswick (Grave Ref. 535).

His two brothers, Bernard and William, were also killed during the First World War, and as recognition of her loss, Benjamin's mother, Kate, was invited to assist in the unveiling of Great Harwood War Memorial, on which the three sons she lost in the war are commemorated.

Benjamin is commemorated on the Barnoldswick War Memorial as well as the Great Harwood memorial.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records Benjamin's date of death as 4 June 1916, rather than 1915.

The Database notes that Benjamin was born in Blackburn, lived in Barnoldswick, and enlisted in the Army in Colne. He is recorded as having died on the Home Front.