| Reason for Loss |
Bedfordshire Times and Independent - Friday 25 August 1944: TRAGIC END TO A BIRTHDAY. Fatal Accident on a Dangerous Hill. Remarking that this was the fourth airman to be killed by accident on the same site, Mr. R. G. Rose. North Bedfordshire Coroner, recorded a verdict death from fracture of the skull caused by fall from bicycle, inquest on Corpl. Edward Robert Dolan, of Westbourne Road. Portsmouth, at the Three Counties Hospital. Arlesey, Tuesday. A/C Harry Ingram said that he and Dolan left an RAF camp on the night of 19th August to celebrate Dolan’s thirty-seventh birthday. They went into the "Rose and Crown” and later to the “George” in Potion, and then left to return to camp. They were perfectly sober. They arrived at the barrier and rode down a hill into the camp. Ingram rode in front, and when he got to the bottom he heard a shout. He turned back and found Dolan lying the grass on the right side the road. An ambulance had already been sent for. L- A/C Alfred Cooper said he saw two cyclists while walking down the hill. The rear light of the second cyclist wavered from side , and then went in the air and disappeared. When he got to the bottom of the hill he saw the cyclist lying on the grass verge. He hurried to the hospital and ambulance was sent for. HAD BEEN WARNED. Dr. Ruth M, Haslum, house surgeon at the Three Counties Emergency Hospital, said that Dolan died from laceration to the brain and fracture the skull. P G. R. Sandell. of Sandy, said he examined the road where the accident occurred. It was a steep hill which just over half way down took sharp bend to the left. There were marks the road surface. The bicycle was in perfect order but the chain was off. The personnel of the camp had been warned many times about cycling down the hill, and members of WAAF at the camp were forbidden to cycling down it. Summing up, the Coroner said it looked 'as if the cyclist struck the kerb on his near side, lost control, and went across the kerb to the verge at the other side.
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