| Lincolnshire Echo 05 July 1940: Injured Airman’s Death From “Delayed Shock” Lincoln Inquest Adjourned An inquest was opened and adjourned at Lincoln County Hospital to-day by the City Coroner (Dr G.C. Wells-Cole) on Sergeant Fred Robinson, R.A.F. (50 Squadron ground crew), who died in the hospital yesterday following injuries suffered in an accident on 29 June. The coroner said Robinson and another airman, on a motor-cycle, collided with a car driven by Arthur Thomas Dickinson, of Northorpe, Gainsborough, on the Lincoln-Grantham road at 10.35 p.m. The other airman was seriously injured and unable yet to give evidence. It was not clear which of the men was driving the motor-cycle. Thomas Robinson, a miner, of Carleton-terrace, Pontefract, identified Sergeant Robinson as his son. Dr H.E. Thackeray, senior house surgeon at the hospital, said Robinson had his right leg torn off just below the knee. Two operations were performed and provided temporary relief but Robinson never really picked up and died from delayed shock following the injury. The inquest was adjourned for four weeks for the attendance of Robinson’s companion. The inquest was duly performed a month later, and a report on 03 August, from the same paper, was published: Tracks Evidence At Inquest “Misadventure” Verdict on R.A.F. Sergeant “Death by misadventure” was the verdict returned at an inquest at Lincoln County Hospital yesterday on Sergeant Fred Robinson, R.A.F., who received fatal injuries when his motor-cycle was in collision with a car driven by Arthur Thomas Dickinson, farmer, of Northorpe, Gainsborough, on the Lincoln-Grantham on 29 June. The jury exonerated Dickinson from blame. The inquest had been adjourned for the attendance of Corporal Aubrey Cook, R.A.F., Robinson’s pillion rider, who was also injured. P.C. Vasey said tracks of the motor-car were on the correct side of the road. Another set of marks, suggested to be the motor-cyclist’s, veered on to the wrong side of the road. Inspector R. Duckles said that shortly before the time of the accident he saw two airmen riding a motor-cycle on the Lincoln-Grantham road. He thought the speed of the machine was too great. The police did not propose to take any proceedings against the motorist. The Other Chap Dickinson said that before the accident he saw a light approaching him which was wobbling from side to side of the road. He braked, and drove on the grass verge with his near side wheels. The motor-cycle came across the road towards him and he was unable to avoid a collision. Although seriously injured, and with a foot severed, Robinson said “look after the other chap,” when he went to him after the accident. An R.A.F. officer asked permission to question Dickinson. Mr C.G. Nelson, for Dickinson, objected on the grounds that the police were represented and the officer had no legal standing. Mr W.L. Kitchen, who represented Robinson’s relatives, supported the contention, and the Coroner (Dr G.C. Wells-Cole) assented to the objection. The Coroner said that Corporal Cook was still not well enough to attend. In a statement to the police he had said that the car swerved into the motor-cycle. Cook had been severely injured and his statement was definitely at variance with the evidence of Dickinson, and did not tally with the marks on the road. He had, therefore, decided not to adjourn the inquest further for his attendance. |