Little girl died after her frock caught on fire (From Evesham Journal)

Little girl died after her frock caught on fire

11:47am Thursday 18th June 2009

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THE Journal reported the shocking death of a little girl from Charlton, near Evesham, 100 years ago.

The report of 1909 said: “On Friday, a child named Gertrude May Sheward, aged seven years, was fatally burned while playing by a fire on the Ridon Farm.

“The facts were elicited at the inquest, which was held by Mr G H T Foster at the working mens club on Saturday.

“Winifred Beatrice Hale, a girl aged seven, told the jury in her own language how she was with the deceased and one or two others went to play in Mr F Haines’ field known as the Headway.

“By the huts they found a fire and played around it and sat on some pipes by it.

“May Sheward was sitting on the pipe when her frock caught fire.

“She squealed and they went to find somebody – the coroner advised her never to play near a fire again.

“The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from shock caused by being accidentally burned.

“The jury then returned their fees to the parents.”

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