See also
| Husband: | Gilbert John PERKINS (1897-1935) | |
| Wife: | Ethel Maud MAYNARD (1903-1969) | |
| Marriage | Q2 1924 | Crediton , Devon, England |
| Name: | Gilbert John PERKINS | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | John PERKINS (1872-1956) | |
| Mother: | Alice Edith GREENSLADE (1874?-1933) | |
| Birth | 1898 | Crediton , Devon, England |
| Census | 2 Apr 1911 (age 13) | Crediton , Devon, England1 |
| 1 Woodbine Cottages, Charlotte Street | ||
| Occupation | 2 Apr 1911 (age 12-13) | School; Crediton , Devon, England1 |
| Census | 19 Jun 1921 (age 23 yrs 7 mns) | Morchard Bishop, Devon, England2 |
| Copstone Barn, Black Dog | ||
| Occupation | 19 Jun 1921 (age 22-23) | Post man; Morchard Bishop, Devon, England2 |
| Employment: GPO Place of Work: Black Dog, Morchard Bishop |
||
| Death | 14 Jun 1935 (age 37) | Woodbury, Devon, England |
| Burial | 25 Jun 1935 | Witheridge, Devon, England |
| Burial | 25 Jun 1935 | Witheridge, Devon, England |
| Bow Cottage | ||
| Name: | Ethel Maud MAYNARD | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 15 Apr 1903 | Thelbridge, Devon, England |
| Death | 1969 (age 65-66) | Barnstaple, Devon, England |
Devon & Exeter Gazette, June 21 1935
AFTERMATH OF WAR
One Armed Postman Takes His Life
LYMPSTONE INQUEST
Last Friday afternoon, Gilbert John Perkins, aged 37, a Lympstone postman was discovered dead in a stream which runs through Coombe Farm. Woodbury. He had failed to return after making his morning delivery, and a search was instituted. P.S.Garnish, with P.C.s Edy and Pearce, Mr. G.S. Litton (ex-sub-postmaster at Lympstone), and Mr. G. Norton (a member of the staff), formed the search party, and the body was eventually found by Messrs. Litton and Norton, lying in water about a foot deep. The body was taken to Lympstone by Transport Officer W. Doble in the Exmouth ambulance. Deceased who leaves a wife and two children was recently transferred from Witheridge, where he lived at Bow Cottage. He was wounded in the war and as a result had an artificial arm.
THE INQUEST
The inquest was held at Lympstone on Saturday by B.R.Dunning (Deputy Coroner for East Devon), and a verdict of “Suicide while of unsound mind” was returned.
Archibald Stewart Perkins, wool machinist, 6 East Street, Crediton, said he last saw his brother on May 12th, when he was suffering from nerves. He said he could not manage his work. He seemed worse than at any time since leaving the hospital after the war. He had been a postman since 1920.
Mr. Gilbert Simon Litton, ex-sub-postmaster of Lympstone, of Underhill, Lympstone, said Perkins left on his round about 7 o’clock in the morning, and was not expected back until about 10.15. As he did not return, witness went to look for him. He had called at Coombe Farm, which was his last call. Later, witness together with a Mr. George Morton, found his tunic cap, and postbag beside a stream at the farm, and deceased was in the shallow water. There were no signs of the bank having given away.
George Morton, postman, Lympstone, said deceased had seemed depressed, and complained of his arm.
Dr. Stuart C. Darbyshire said he found no signs of violence on deceased. Death was due to asphyxiation from drowning.
P.C. Edy, Exmouth, said he was shown deceased’s postbag on the edge of the stream, in which deceased was still lying.
The Deputy Coroner: I wonder somebody had not lifted him out by then.
Witness said there were 11½ inches of water, and deceased’s head was completely covered. Deceased’s tunic was folded on the bank, with the bag over it. Among the articles on the deceased was a letter.
Frederick John Heywood, of Exmouth head post office, said Perkins’s work for the Post Office was satisfactory.
WIFE’S EVIDENCE
Mrs. Ethel Maud Perkins, of Bow Cottage, Witheridge, said her husband’s letters had been full of complaints, stating that he could not do his round as he could not get on with his artificial arm. His arm seemed to hurt him at any change of weather. He said the round was too much, and the loads were heavy.
Mr. Litton, recalled, said the maximum load would be about 30lb. Morning and afternoon rounds would total about eight miles.
Mrs Perkins said they had arranged to live at Lympstone, but when he found the work too heavy he said he would apply for a removal.
Mr. Heywood, recalled, said Perkins had complained that the number of letters to handle was too large owing to his arm, and the authorities had made arrangements to reduce his load by 50 per cent, and for his hours of duty to be shortened. If this was still too much he was told a lighter duty would be arranged. He seemed happier, and, from a departmental point of view, he had little cause to worry.
The Deputy Coroner said the Post Office had treated Perkins very well, meeting his complaints generously. His unsound mind seemed partly due to his arm and the fact that he was in strange surroundings.
Sympathy with the relatives was expressed by Mr. Heywood on behalf of the Post Office, and the Coroner concurred.
| 1 | Text From Source: Census England 1911 Address: 1 Woodbine Cottages, Charlotte Street Place: Crediton, Devon, England Name,Relation,Sex,Age,Married,Years,Chd Born,Chd Living,Chd Died,Occupation,Industry,Employ Status,At Home,Where Born,Nationality,Infirmity John Perkins,Head,M,38,M,,,,,Joiner,builder,,,Crediton, Devon, England,, Alice Edith Perkins,Wife,F,35,M,14,3,3,,,,,,Witheridge, Devon, England,, Gilbert John Perkins,Son,M,13,S,,,,,School,,,,Crediton, Devon, England,, Stanley James Perkins,Son,M,12,S,,,,,School,,,,Crediton, Devon, England,, Archibald Stewart Perkins,Son,M,8,S,,,,,School,,,,Crediton, Devon, England,, |
| 2 | Text From Source: Census England 1921 Address: Copstone Barn, Black Dog Place: Morchard Bishop, Devon, England Name,Relation,Age,Sex,Marr/Orph'd,Birthplace,Nationality,Education,Occupation,Employment,Place of Work,Chd <16,Children's Ages Gilbert John Perkins,boarder,23y 7m,M,Single,Crediton, Devon, England,,,Post man,GPO,Black Dog, Morchard Bishop,, He was boarding with wheelwright James Bradford and his family. |