The communities of Newland, Little Airmyn and Rusholme are surrounded by the River Aire and Ouse, which in the past were motorways of the day connecting to the surrounding communities. Several ferries served such communities enabling passage into the town to trade and purchase goods; Little Airmyn connected the communities of Newland, Drax, Long Drax and Rusholme to Airmyn and was just one of many in the area.
One Saturday afternoon around 3.30 pm against strong advice, some residents from Newland decided for whatever reason to travel to Goole shopping? The weather conditions were icy, bitterly cold, with fresh water and a high tide at 8 feet travelling downstream with a strong current; so, against all the odds Mrs Ethel Strickland (from Newland Hall) her daughter Gladys (aged 11), their Nurse Maid Edith Butler (aged 15), Mrs Sarah Hinds (Husband was a shepherd at Pease Farm) and her daughter Annie (aged 13) and George Edward Platt (aged 23 from Newland Grange) set off on their journey. George, a soldier from WW1, was travelling to meet his sweetheart who had organised a birthday party in his honor. They were joined by Lead Ferryman Albert Edward Whitton (aged 19), a Farm Laborer for Mrs Strickland, and George was a Horseman/Farm Laborer for Arthur Ellis from Ferry Farm and owner of the Ferry. The boat was about 10 feet long and could carry up to 10 passengers; a method of sculling was the standard practice to travel across the River Aire to Airmyn.
The occupants were assisted on board by Albert, and balancing in an upright standing position, George proceeded to push the boat from the bank with a boat hook; about 25 yards into the river, its keel caught the submerged wire rope used for mooring. The vessel travelled under the mooring wire, then tilted causing the occupants to plunge into the icy water with the boat turning turtle, floating away never to be seen again.
Edward after surfacing, managed to cling onto the mooring rope, grasping both Mrs Strickland and Mrs Hinds. Their desperate cries for help were heard immediately by Farm Laborers Joseph Hutchinson and Fred Cockin. Both managed to haul Edward Whitton and both women from the river, by that time Mrs Strickland had become unconscious. 200 yards downstream, Edith Butler was found by Fred Cockin clinging onto reeds and rapidly losing her grip. Sadly, Gladys Strickland, Annie Hinds and Edward Platt all failed to grasp anything and were carried midstream by the current.
Meanwhile on the bank opposite, Ralph Longhorn a retired Grocer and his son William James Longhorn witnessed the event and hastily launched their boat. They managed to retrieve Gladys at the mouth of the river Aire but were drawn into a whirlpool, losing an oar and just narrowly missing an opportunity to retrieve another body probably that of Annie, who after surfacing momentarily disappeared within the icy depths. They managed to paddle with their bare hands to the Landing at Boothferry applying artificial respiration to Gladys without success. Edward Platt was last seen turning head over tail in the current with his hands held high before he disappeared within the murky waters.
An inquest was held at Airmyn Hall on the 10th February 1922 where much evidence was presented. Albert Whitton said the boat was in good condition and that he had been a Ferryman since November 1921, and even though he had no previous experience with the management of strong boats, he had been in charge of the boat in similar weather conditions; Ralph Longhorn also gave evidence. The coroner concluded that the girls and the young man’s death was with doubt due to the boat capsizing, with no evidence of negligence in the management of it and was probable that the occupants could not swim? The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. There was no record of any praise for the bravery of these courageous heroes who managed to save some of the souls on that fateful day.
Sadly, after the Inquest, Gladys Strickland’s body was carried by her father and 5 Farm Laborers from Airmyn Hall to the Ferry, crossing the river back to St Peter and St Paul’s Church at Drax. The Funeral was well attended and conducted by the Reverend CD Fothergil who referred to the incident as a “Sad Calamity”! Annie Hinds body was recovered from the river on the 15th March and George Platts on the 18th March both too were interned at Drax. Edith Butler having survived her ordeal died 3 years later of pneumonia, and is buried not far from Gladys and George.
This sad event took place from an era when such tragedies remained unspoken about, but should be remembered of the risks undertaken to go on a simple shopping trip which we all take for granted in this modern-day age.
HELEN BROWNBRIDGE – Newland Resident
