The above report in the
Evening Telegraph of 15 March 1926 tells a sad story but also presents a
conundrum: there is no death record for a William James Godson, given as the
real name of boxer Billy Gibbins of Canning
Town
There is, however, a death
registered in Hackney for a William James Gadsdon. Some sleuthing turns up a
relevant baptism at West Ham Essex in 1898 for a child of that name born to
William James Gadsdon snr and his wife Julia (born Peterson). The age of the
boxer is slightly out.
Apparently, Billy Gibbins
from Canning Town
His opponent, Edward Ferry,
was in all likelihood Ted Ferry from Bethnal Green who had a more
successful career than Gibbins: Ferry boxed between 1922 and 1937 in 188
professional contests.
There was another Billy
Gibbins, a boxer of Western Australia Sheffield
fighting in the 1930s. Anyone know who the original Billy Gibbins was who
inspired these boxers to carry his name into the ring?
If you have a boxing
ancestor try Find A Boxer at www.boxinghistory.org.uk/alist.html
FOLLOW-UP:
The Chelmsford Chronicle of 19 March 1926 confirms Billy Gibbins's real name as William James Gadsdon:
FOLLOW-UP:
The Chelmsford Chronicle of 19 March 1926 confirms Billy Gibbins's real name as William James Gadsdon:
A further report in the Yorkshire Evening Post 15 March 1926 gives a little more personal detail:
Acknowledgment:
Celia Dodd
1 comment:
Mole, an injury such as this would in all probability have been an extradural haemorrhage, resulting from a blow to the temple (fractured temporal or parietal bone)causing a laceration of the middle meningeal artery. The bleeding and clot would compress the brain resulting in coma and death. Successful treatment can be implemented by drilling holes (burr holes) into the temporal bone to evacuate the blood and clot. Sadly this was not the case, Andrew
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