Frederick Richard HARRIS

  General Notes:

Plot E5-4 at St John in the Wilderness. States Richard son of Richard and Emily Harris - aged 26. The grave gives his date of death as 25 July

from family - Died in a motorcycle accident. I think the bike was a birthday present from his mother and he died soon after his birthday.

Births Sep 1912
HARRIS Frederick R mother Best St.Thomas 5b 47
- new GRO index gives middle name as Richard

Birth Certificate
Registered in Exmouth sub district of St Thomas district in county of Devon
Born on Ninth July 1912 at 13 Albion Street, Withycombe Raleigh, Exmouth
Frederick Richard, Boy, Richard Henry Harris, Emily Elizabeth Harris formerly Best, General Labourer.
Registered by E E Harris, Mother, of Albion Street Withycombe Raleigh, on Eighth August 1912

Death Sep 1938 Devon Central 5b 31 HARRIS Frederick R, aged 26.

Death Certificate
Died on 24th July 1938 at The Cottage Hospital, Littleham, Exmouth.
Frederick Richard Harris, Male, 26 years, of 3 Lower Parade Exmouth Carpenter & Builder.
Certificate received from B R Dunning, Deputy Coroner for County of Devon. Inquest held 25th July 1938. The death was registered on Twenty sixth July 1938
The cause of death was fracture to base of skull as a result of falling off motor cycle on 23rd July 1938.

Devon & Exeter Gazette 29 July 1938
SPEED WOBBLE AND PUNCTURE
Motor Cyclist's Fatal Crash
Inquest and verdict at Exmouth
A verdict of "accidental death" was returned at an inquest held at Exmouth on Monday by Mr B R M Dunning (Deputy Coroner for East Devon) on Frederick Richard Harris, aged 28, of 3 Lower Parade Exmouth, who was thrown from his motor cycle and received fatal injuries near Exmouth on Saturday evening.
Mr H Linford Brown appeared on behalf of Harris' mother who is a widow, and Mr R Green was foreman of the jury.
Samuel John Best, 8 Albion Street Exmouth (uncle) said Harris had been riding motor cycles for twelve years, and in witness's opinion, was a careful driver.
Dr J D R Murray said Harris was suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull, a fractured collar bone, and numerous abrasions. He died just after midnight without regaiing consciousness.
Numerous Injuries
Ernest Lawrence Hawkins, Helena Place Exmouth said he was in the Salterton Road at about 9pm and saw two motor cyclists coming from the direction of Budleigh Salterton towards Exmouth. Going down over the slight gradient they drew abreast, and their speed was then about 50 miles an hour. They appeared to witness to be racing along together. Just afterwards witness heard the sound of an engine revving very fast, and came to the conclusion that there had been an accident. On going down the road he saw Harris lying in the road.
Were Not Racing
Edward George Tolman, 43 Victoria Road Exmouth, said he saw Harris at about 8pm on Saturday and they decided to go for a short ride. On the way back along the Salterton Road Harris was leading until they came to the wide road above the brickyard, and witness then drew level. Suddenly Harris' machine appeared to wobble and he came off and landed in the road. Witness immediately ran into a nearby house and telephoned for the ambulance.
Answering the Coroner witness said he estimated his speed just prior to the accident at 50 miles an hour. They had not arranged to race, and were not racing at the time. They were both perfectly sober.
PC Kirby said he examined the machine and found that the front tyre was deflated there being a puncture in the inner tube. From marks on the road it appeared that from the time Harris got into difficulties until he stopped he had travelled 85 yards. There was no indication that the machine had struck the kerb.
The Coroner remarked that there was no evidence to show that the two motor cyclists were racing, but there was evidence to show they were going very fast. A speed wobble was a very serious thing and was difficult to correct. The jury might come to the conclusion that that was what happened in this case and whilst Harris was trying to correct the wobble the machine began to bump, and one of the bumps was so severe that it drove one of the spokes through the wheel and into the tyre and that was what finally threw deceased off.
The only verdict they could return was one of accidental death.
The jury returned a verdict as stated and expressed sympathy with the relatives.