Death at Rawson's Brewery, Pond Street Sheffield - February 1939

 

The photo shows Rawson's Brewery in Pond Street Sheffield. 

Thomas Rawson's and Co Brewery situated in Pond Street Sheffield was totally destroyed by enemy action and was never rebuilt. The irony of the destruction was that in the late 1930's Sheffield Corporation was giving serious consideration to demolishing the Brewery itself and constructing a new technical college. The air raid flattened the site and the brewery was never rebuilt. It was developed after the war as Sheffield Polytechnic which is known nowadays as Sheffield Hallam University

This report is from the Times dated 16th February 1939 - it is rather ironic

Similar reports appear in a few regional newspapers, and one states that William was still alive when he was reached but had extensive injuries and as a result died soon afterwards. 

All the reports refer to William Oswald Furniss but his burial record states that his middle name was Oliver and not Oswald

FURNISS, William Oliver (Brewers Engineer, age 67).

     Died at Rawsons Brewery, Pond Street; Buried on February 20, 1939 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.

His wife Florence died 12 years later

FURNISS, Florence (Widow, age 78).

     Died at City General Hospital; Buried on July 28, 1951 in Consecrated ground;

     Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.