On This Day, 31 May 1917

Birmingham Mail

Thursday 31 May 1917

FATALITY AT SMETHWICK POWER STATION

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned at an inquest at Birmingham this afternoon on the body of Robert Oliver Henley (17), 114, Lewisham Road, Smethwick, who fell from the roof of the Smethwick Power Station on Sunday and sustained a fractured skull. Following a fire at the station on Saturday Henley was engaging in covering up holes in the roof with tarpaulins when he fell through a pane of glass on to the concrete floor below, a distance of 18 or 20ft. The jury expressed the opinion that had a stepping board been provided the accident would not have happened.