Clara Ada Rumming and an unmarked grave

Distressing Accident – On Monday an inquest was held at the Castle inn, Swindon, on the body of Clara Ada, aged 15, daughter of John Rumming, 4, Dover-street, New Swindon, striker in the Great Western Railway Works. The evidence went to show that the mother left the deceased at home with other children about eleven o’clock on the 27^th of October. About four o’clock the deceased must (as she stated to a neighbour) have prepared to clean up the grate, when she became giddy. On recovering she found her clothes in flames, and having unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish them under a water tap, ran out, when they were put out by some neighbours, who, with oil dressed the burns she had sustained. Dr. Howse attended the deceased, but she died on Sunday last from exhaustion, consequent upon the injuries received. All the lower parts of the body were burnt more or less. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

Trowbridge Chronicle, Saturday, November 12, 1881.

Ada was buried on November 9, 1881 only the 56^th burial in the new cemetery. She was buried in an unmarked public grave, plot A460 where she lay alone for more than 20 years. In 1902 Elizabeth Painter, a 52 year old widow from Ponting Street was buried with her in this public grave and in 1916 they were joined by Walter William Palmer.

Walter William Palmer joined the Coldstream Guards, later transfering to the Grenadier Guards and served from 1894 for 12 years. As a former soldier Walter was called up as a reservist at the outbreak of the Great War. He enlisted with his old regiment on September 12, 1914 and left for France as part of the Expeditionary Force on November 11.

In 1917 Major General Sir Fabian Ware founded the Imperial War Graves Commission (now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) and a programme of installing a headstone on the graves of the war dead was begun. Walter William Palmer had died as a result of his military service and was awarded an official headstone in recognition of his sacrifice.

Unfortunately, the names of those buried with him in the public grave are not recorded on this headstone, but if you visit the grave of Walter William Palmer please spare a thought for young Clara Ada Rumming (and Elizabeth Painter) who are buried with him.