Hi Angela, Welcome to the list. you said; > > ..... and was in the Royal Air Force when he died aged 19........ > ....... His death certificate shows that he died on 13 July 1921 in > the River Severn at P? Rough? In the parish of Uffington or Uppington. > The > cause of death shows that he accidentally drowned while ? in waters of the > River Severn. > Could the following article in the Bridgnorth Journal dated 23 July 1921 be referring to the drowning. Quote; "Shrewsbury. Recognition of a man's bravery - There has been a pleasing sequel to the tragic occurrence in the Severn at Shrewsbury, when two young airmen lost their lives. It will be remembered one went down in sixteen feet of water, and the other lost his life in attempting a rescue, while both bodies were recovered by Mr Richard Forgham, of St. Michael's Street, who dived repeatedly until success attended his efforts. At the Sentinel Sports on Saturday he was presented with a silver wrist watch, with the inscription:- "Richard Forgham, Esq, from the Sentinel Sports Club. A little memento of a big act, July 1921." Mr Forgham served his apprenticeship with the Sentinel and is still employed at Harlescott." End quote. Unfortunately I couldn't find any mention of the actual accident in the preceding issues. Hope it helps, Gwynne Transcribing the Bridgnorth town census. http://www.chadwickg.freeserve.co.uk

Helle Angela, Further to Gwynne Chadwick's interesting response to you, re a posssible rescuer for your interest, Alfred Ashby. With the archives well spam protected, which is good, posting this suggestion on list Below from the archives, wonder if the researcher writing still has the same email address, if Angela would feel like trying to contact him to see if more known, as could well be Forgham relatives with additional info re Alfred Ashby. Message board headed Forgham Family history: from john@oxborough-russell.fsnet.co.uk (per a Google). "am writing on behalf of my stepfather, Joseph Edward Oxborough Russell (known as Edward), who is trying to trace his mother's line in the Shrewsbury area where he was born. He was born Dec 7, 1918 to Minnie Russell, nee Forgham, who was born in the Union Workhouse, Berrington, May 23, 1887. Minnie was the daughter of Fannie Forgham (the father's name is not known), a domestic servant at St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury and resident in the Union Workhouse, Berrington. We know that Fannie also gave birth to Richard Forgham, July 24, 1884, and Charles Forgham, Feb 1, 1894. Both boys were born in the Union Workhouse, Berrington and the" -. . . and quite a bit more to the posting. Message was dated dated however March 2003. and "This same possibility would also apply to Richard Forgham who Minnie remembers growing up with". Jo. Tropical Shropshire (and of course topical!) .