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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 17 Apr 1937
Page 3 Column 2
SEQUEL TO FALL IN SNOW
DEATH OF FORMER TAUNTON LICENSEE
MR. J. WELFARE'S INTERESTING CAREER
A fall in the backyard at his home while sweeping away snow on March 10th caused the death of Mr. John WELFARE, a retired coachman, of 7, Herbert-street, Taunton. He was 79 years of age, and died on Tuesday, five weeks after the accident.
SATISFIED WITH HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
The West Somerset Coroner, Mr. Geoffrey P. CLARKE, held an inquest at the home yesterday morning.
The widow, Mrs. Betsy WELFARE, described how, when working in her kitchen at about 9.30 on March 10th, she heard her husband groaning. She went into the yard and saw him lying on his side, helpless. He had swept away some snow, and the broom was lying beside him. Witness called for assistance and her husband was taken to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital. He remained there until March 25th, when he left of his own free will. He was brought home in the ambulance. Witness and her husband were both completely satisfied with the treatment he received at the hospital.
LEFT FEMUR FRACTURED.
Dr. Robert LEE-MICHELL, who was called to see Mr. WELFARE after the accident, said he ordered his removal to the hospital. An X-ray examination revealed a fracture of the left femur. After his return home on March 25th witness attended him on a number of occasions.
The Coroner: There was no reason why he should not have come home? He was quite comfortable? - Yes. He would come home. The nurse came twice a day and did what she could.
“MISADVENTURE” VERDICT.
Dr. LEE-MICHELL added that the cause of death was pulmonary hypostatic congestion, following a fracture of the left femur due to the accident.
The Coroner returned a verdict of “Death by misadventure.” in accordance with the medical evidence. He remarked that both Mr. and Mrs. WELFARE had no complaint to make against the hospital. Deceased simply wanted to be at home. He (Mr. CLARKE) was quite satisfied that no blame attached to anyone respecting the accident.
SERVED IN GREAT WAR.
Mr. WELFARE had had a varied career, and had travelled in many parts of the world. He saw service with the Royal Engineers in South Africa, being present at the battle of Ulundi, and he was awarded the Zulu War Medal, with clasp. When the Great War broke out he succeeded in enlisting in the Army Veterinary Corps by the stratagem of deducting ten years from his age. Subsequently he was transferred to the 133rd (Prince Palatine) Heavy Battery, Territorial R.G.A., and, in the latter part of 1915, he saw some fierce[?] fighting on the Somme. Although he had some narrow escapes he was never wounded.
A FORMER LICENSEE.
In pre-war years Mr. WELFARE was employed in private service as a coach-man, and, for about nine years was in the service of the late Colonel VAUGHAN LEE, of Dillington Park, Ilminster. Subsequently he became landlord of the Bell Inn at Broadway, and, for a period of about three years he was licensee of the Gardener's Arms, Rowbarton, Taunton. Next he decided to try his fortunes in Canada, and, at the beginning of 1913, he went out to the Prairie Provinces. Until the outbreak of the Great War, when he returned to England, he was engaged in farm work.
After the war Mr. WELFARE returned to Taunton, and he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding on March 16th, 1932. There are two sons and one daughter.
<NOTES: John WELFARE son of Henry WELFARE and Frances Anne SNASHALL, married Elizabeth MILLER
Betsy WELFARE is Elizabeth MILLER, married John WELFARE>