001 of 876 915 Cpl Arthur Cecil Rawson 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment Died 09th August 1914 age 26   The following is a transcript from a newspaper report A sad shocking tragedy occurred on Saturday at Romford where the Cambs Territorial’s were stationed, the victim being Arthur Cecil Rawson, Cpl in ‘A` Company (Whittlesey) Territorial’s.  The deceased was in charge of the guards and upon turning in for the night unloaded, as he thought a rifle of a comrade.  It was not unloaded, however, and shortly afterwards the rifle was accidently discharged.  The shot penetrated the deceased leg and passed out at the front of the thigh.  Lt Ellis R.A.M.C was summoned and the unfortunate man who was 26 years of age was removed to Romford Cottage Hospital.  Here it was found necessary to amputate his leg and deceased passed away about an hour after the operation.  The enquiry was held by Mr C. Edgar Lewis, District Coroner at Romford workhouse on Monday. Capt Henry Hamilton Staten officer commanding the A Company identified the body.  Deceased was 26 years of age and resided at 5 Market Place Whittlesey.  He was a single man and a very respectable and steady fellow.  Capt Staten statement said that afternoon he had called his Company together and cautioned them upon the awareness of the situation and warned them to be very careful what they were doing. Pte Alfred Davis of ‘F’ Company said on Saturday night he was on guard duty in company with Cpl Rawson, Pte Harlstone, Fitzjohn, Dolby and Foster. At eleven o’clock they were inspected by Lt Saunders.  After the inspection Cpl Rawson who was in charge told them to lie down and get a little sleep.  When he was going off duty the deceased said now Davis unload your rifle but added I will unload it I will make sure of it.  He took the rifle with that idea witness thought of putting all five cartridges in the magazine.  Witness handed the rifle with one in the breach and four in the magazine.  The deceased removed the cartridges in his presence out of the magazine and in his opinion forgot the one in the breach.  Deceased gave him the rifle which he expected was quite safe and told him to lie down with his rifle by his side.  The muzzle was pointing towards Rawson who was lying in the corner of the corridor.  Witness was lying with his feet toward deceased feet.  Witness was dozing and did not know what he was doing, between five and ten minutes past eleven the rifle went off.  He was lying against the wall with the rifle on his left.  Witness had his cap on and immediately the rifle discharged he got up and rushed out.  He thought it was someone else who had fired.  But instead of that he heard Rawson call out ‘turn out the guard I’ve been shot’.  Witness turned round and saw what had happened, Rawson had been shot in the thigh. Assistance was soon at hand.  Witness had known the deceased for two years ever since he joined the Territorial’s. They were quite good friends.  Deceased did not examine any of the rifles belonging to those on guard.  He could not say whether his hand was near or not.  He thought he must have turned over and caught it with his coat.  He was sure he did not touch the trigger with his hand.  When the cartridge discharged the rifle was found to spring a little.  Pte Freddie Harlestone said he was on guard duty on Saturday night.  He had charged his magazine and Cpl Rawson put one in the breach for him.  When he rested at 11pm he took the one out of the breach and closed the cut off leaving four in the magazine.  He was sitting on the step inside the corridor when he heard the discharge of the rifle.  He heard Cpl Rawson say he had been shot. By unloading with the bolt no cartridges could be left in the chamber. Answering a question by Colonel Tebbutt witness said he had never been told to put one cartridge in the breach and four in the magazine.  He had served for four years. Pte Ernest Conde said he was on guard duty on Saturday night and his rifle was loaded by Cpl Rawson. He saw him do it.  He put four in the magazine and one in the breach and raised the safety catch.  When he came off duty he unloaded it himself.  He did not see who unloaded Davis rifle nether did he hear Cpl Rawson say anything.  He heard the report of the rifle and ascertained that Cpl Rawson had been shot. 2nd Lt E. W. Saunders of 1st Company said he was in charge of the billet at Salisbury Road School and when the accident occurred he was in the passage adjoining.  He at once called in the Medical Officer who was close by.  The deceased was recovered to Romford Cottage Hospital. Lt Ellis Battalion Surgeon R.A.M.C of the 1st Cambs Regiment said on Saturday evening he was called to Salisbury Road School and found Rawson had received a shot wound.  The point of entrance was on the right calf and the exit the front part of the right thigh.  It was a very severe wound and he was losing blood very rapidly.  Witness arrested the haemorrhage and had him removed to the hospital.  In consultation with Dr Green it was decided to remove the limb which was dying.  Deceased died about an hour after the amputation from haemorrhage and shock. Lt Colonel Lewis Tebbutt commanding officer of the 1st Battalion said the rule with regard to unloading rifles never to have anything in the breach, but it was ordered that they must have loaded rifles. A loaded rifle did not mean a loaded breach, but a loaded magazine when on sentry duty.  There was no special order that a cartridge should not be just in the breach.  They had been in camp for a fortnight and had been home for two days.  They had not had blankets to sleep on and he thought is he had forgotten to unload the magazine there would be very great case for it.  He would like them to understand that fact. A juror said was the omission of closing the cut off and easing the spring which probably caused the accident. Lt Saunders stated that he went around the sentries after he turned out the guard. Col Tebbutt speaking on behalf of himself, the officers and non-commissioned officers and privates of their battalion, said it was a very sad occurrence they appreciated the work of Cpl Rawson, he was an excellent fellow and the evidence showed that he had taken great pains to guard against accident by unloading the rifle which was not his duty to do so.  His father was an old volunteer and very nicely tried to overlook the great sadness and trouble in the fact that he was doing something for the duty of his King and country.  They had all come there quite willing to risk danger. The coroner briefly summing up said he took it they would be satisfied that the killing of the unfortunate man Rawson was accidental. The coroner said he thought they would all join with him in an expression of sympathy as such a sad occurrence which they agreed was wholly accidental.  The jury exonerated all from blame. Funeral at Whittlesey The funeral of the young soldier on Wednesday called home to the inhabitants of Whittlesey the sad side of war with striking force. At the same time it was a fitting tribute to one who has laid down his life for his country.  The whole population turned out to pay a last tribute of respect and to sympathise with the sorrow stricken parents and relatives. Cpl Rawson left effects of £2 8s 5d to his father Charles Rawson Cpl Arthur Cecil Rawson is remembered with honour at Whittlesey Cemetery.

Keith Wainwright