'The Pearl Assurance Company with its lofty clocktower under construction' by Robert D Beattie (1900-1979)
|
The medals of Benjamin L Birchall with permission from the Kiwi Medals site. https://kiwimedals.com/2013/04/21/a-birchall-casualty-from-arras-france-may-1917/
|
Birchall of Drummany, Stillorgan Park
Benjamin Rhodes Birchall married Elizabeth Ann Brierley
born 1 Oct 1868 19 Oct 1892 born 24 Dec 1866
Oldham Lancs Juab, Utah Oldham, Lancs
died 28 Jun 1941 died 8 Dec 1946
Blackpool Blackpool
Benjamin Rhodes Birchall born 1 Oct 1868 at Oldham, Lancashire son of George Birchall
and Delilah Rhodes. He married Elizabeth Ann Brierley on 19 Oct 1892 at Nephi, Juab,
Utah. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Brierley and Mary Ann Kershaw. They were
living in Oldham in 1901 and in Accrington from 1909 to 1913 and in Ireland by 1914 and
lived at Drummany, Stillorgan Park from 1917 to 1937. Benjamin retired after 42 years
with Pearl Insurance Company in 1937 and they were living at Blackpool by 1939. Benjamin
died 28 Jun 1941 at St Walburges Road, Blackpool and left 15K in personal estate. Elizabeth
died in Blackpool on 8 Dec 1946 and left 23K in personal estate.
1 Benjamin Lawrence Birchall only son born 17 April 1894 at Salt Lake City, Utah baptised
at the Irish Conference, British Mission. He was an insurance clerk in 1911. He worked
for the Pearl Assurance Company in Dublin where he was an assistant superintendent.
He enlisted in Naas and served as a gunner with the 17th Division Ammunition, Royal
Field Artillery. He died of wounds at the 37th Casualty Clearing Station on 11 May 1917
and was buried at Avesnes-Le-Comte cemetery in France. He is remembered on the
Pearl Assurance war memorial at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and on the war
memorial in Monkstown Church.
2 Ena Birchall only daughter born 1906 at Oldham, Lancashire. She was a keen lawn
tennis player and a regular at the Metropole where her dresses and dancing were much
admired. On 16 Sept 1936, she and her parents attended the wedding of Phyllis
Olhausen and William Youkstetter at Abbey Street Methodist Church. They later
attended the reception at the Gresham Hotel. They left the reception about 8:30 as a
party of twelve and went to the second performance of a variety show including Roy
Fox and his band at the Gaiety Theatre. She was in a box with some others from the
wedding party. Shortly after the interval her gold evening dress caught fire and ignited
quickly. In panic she fell over the edge of box 2 and into the dress circle a few feet below.
Men from the party jumped after her and tried to smother the flames with their coats.
She was badly burned and was taken to Hospital. She was visited each day by her father
and she told him that she wanted nobody blamed for the accident. She died from her
injuries on 22 Sep 1936 at Mercer’s Hospital. She was buried at the family grave at
Chadderton, Oldham. The inquest found for accidental death, the fire probably caused
by a cigarette end or match. No blame was apportioned to any in the party or to the
theatre.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023
Benjamin Rhodes Birchall married Elizabeth Ann Brierley
born 1 Oct 1868 19 Oct 1892 born 24 Dec 1866
Oldham Lancs Juab, Utah Oldham, Lancs
died 28 Jun 1941 died 8 Dec 1946
Blackpool Blackpool
Benjamin Rhodes Birchall born 1 Oct 1868 at Oldham, Lancashire son of George Birchall
and Delilah Rhodes. He married Elizabeth Ann Brierley on 19 Oct 1892 at Nephi, Juab,
Utah. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Brierley and Mary Ann Kershaw. They were
living in Oldham in 1901 and in Accrington from 1909 to 1913 and in Ireland by 1914 and
lived at Drummany, Stillorgan Park from 1917 to 1937. Benjamin retired after 42 years
with Pearl Insurance Company in 1937 and they were living at Blackpool by 1939. Benjamin
died 28 Jun 1941 at St Walburges Road, Blackpool and left 15K in personal estate. Elizabeth
died in Blackpool on 8 Dec 1946 and left 23K in personal estate.
1 Benjamin Lawrence Birchall only son born 17 April 1894 at Salt Lake City, Utah baptised
at the Irish Conference, British Mission. He was an insurance clerk in 1911. He worked
for the Pearl Assurance Company in Dublin where he was an assistant superintendent.
He enlisted in Naas and served as a gunner with the 17th Division Ammunition, Royal
Field Artillery. He died of wounds at the 37th Casualty Clearing Station on 11 May 1917
and was buried at Avesnes-Le-Comte cemetery in France. He is remembered on the
Pearl Assurance war memorial at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and on the war
memorial in Monkstown Church.
2 Ena Birchall only daughter born 1906 at Oldham, Lancashire. She was a keen lawn
tennis player and a regular at the Metropole where her dresses and dancing were much
admired. On 16 Sept 1936, she and her parents attended the wedding of Phyllis
Olhausen and William Youkstetter at Abbey Street Methodist Church. They later
attended the reception at the Gresham Hotel. They left the reception about 8:30 as a
party of twelve and went to the second performance of a variety show including Roy
Fox and his band at the Gaiety Theatre. She was in a box with some others from the
wedding party. Shortly after the interval her gold evening dress caught fire and ignited
quickly. In panic she fell over the edge of box 2 and into the dress circle a few feet below.
Men from the party jumped after her and tried to smother the flames with their coats.
She was badly burned and was taken to Hospital. She was visited each day by her father
and she told him that she wanted nobody blamed for the accident. She died from her
injuries on 22 Sep 1936 at Mercer’s Hospital. She was buried at the family grave at
Chadderton, Oldham. The inquest found for accidental death, the fire probably caused
by a cigarette end or match. No blame was apportioned to any in the party or to the
theatre.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023