Maisie Hill

PRIVATE MAISIE RACHEL HILL.

Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Service number; W/113748.

Died on October 23rd 1943.

Aged 19 years.

COMMEMORATION:

Castor (St. Kyneburgha) Churchyard,

Peterborough,

Northamptonshire.

Daughter of Cardinal and Hilda Hill, 49, Main Street, Ailsworth, Peterborough.
Sister of Stanley, Reginald and David.

Reports copied from The Peterborough Standard and the Stamford Mercury, dated October 1943.

When the funeral of Maisie Rachel Hill, the 19-years-old A.T.S. girl who was killed in a “jeep” on Saturday, took place at Castor on Wednesday, life-long residents of the village said they had never seen the Church so full. Total strangers wrote the most moving letters of sympathy to the stricken family, and the American Forces were also represented by a Major and a Captain.
Maisie was travelling home from Nottingham; where she was in the pay office, on an unexpected leave. Dark, well-built, with a ready smile, Maisie Hill was popular both with her comrades and in the village. There were no fewer than seventy-four wreaths, and her parents are deeply moved by so widespread an expression of sympathy. Her father, Mr. Cardinal N. Hill, is farm foreman to Captain W. Feeny. A brother, Stanley, was with the cavalry until he was released for farm work; and another brother, Reg, is in the Army and has been home on compassionate leave. Her youngest brother, David, is still at school.
Maisie was given a lift in a “jeep” at Wittering, and two minutes later, at Mr. Abbott’s cottages by the Thornhaugh forge, at about 3.45 in the afternoon, the “jeep” struck a stationary lorry. Maisie was terribly injured, and mercifully died instantaneously. The driver of the “jeep” was practically unhurt. It was not until over four hours later that the shocking news was brought by P.C. Maddox to the little thatched cottage where her parents live.
It was a simple funeral service on Wednesday, with only one hymn, “The radiant morn hath passed away”- and the 23rd Psalm. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and immediately behind walked the parents and the two elder brothers. Other immediate mourners were Mrs. W. Sismey (grandmother), Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sismey, Longthorpe, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Sismey, Mr. and Mrs. George Hudson, Mr. George Neville, Mr. Arthur Hill, Deeping, Mrs. P. Youngman, Sheringham, Mrs. E. Swift, Luton, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sismey, Walton, Mr. Frank Sismey (uncles and aunts), Mrs. Margaret Crowson, (cousin). The village schoolmaster (Mr. T. Salmon) was at the organ.
The inquest on Monday was adjourned indefinitely after only formal evidence.

A fatal accident occurred on the Great North Road, at Thornhaugh on Saturday afternoon, the victim of which was a 19-year-old member of the A.T.S., Miss Maisie Rachel Hill, of Main Street, Ailsworth.
Miss Hill who was travelling home on leave, was a passenger in a “jeep”, which was involved in a collision with a stationary Army lorry. She was killed outright, but the driver of the “jeep” was only slightly hurt.
Miss Hill was the only daughter of Mr. C. N. Hill, farm foreman to Captain W. B. Feeny, and of Mrs. Hill, for whom and her three brothers, deepest sympathy is felt.
Only evidence of identification was taken at the inquest, which was opened by the Hunts. Coroner (Mr. Lionel Abrahams) on Monday, and the inquiry was then adjourned sine. die.

An Ailesworth A.T.S. private, coming home on leave, met her death on the Great North Road, on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased was Pte. Maisie Rachel Hill, aged 19, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal Hill, Main Street, Ailesworth. The accident occurred a quarter-of-a-mile north of Thornhaugh. Miss Hill was walking, and accepted a lift in a jeep, driven by a technical sergeant in the American Army. There was a collision between the jeep and a stationary Army lorry, and Miss Hill was thrown out. She received terrible injuries, and died almost at once. The sergeant was not hurt.
Miss Hill had been in the A.T.S. nearly two years. After leaving Castor school, she worked on a farm, and later went to the London Brick Co. Her father is farm foreman for Captain W. B. Feeny, of Ailesworth, and there are two sons, Gnr. Reginald Hill, R.A. and Mr. Stanley Hill.

HILL:- Thornhaugh, Oct 23, Maisie Rachel Hill, A.T.S. Ailesworth, 19.
Ailesworth- October 23, Maisie Rachel Hill, 19.

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal Hill and family, wish to thank all kind friends and relations for the kind sympathy shown to them in their terribly sad and sudden bereavement; also for the beautiful floral tributes.- Please accept this, the only intimation, as it is impossible to answer all letters.
Ailesworth.

In loving memory of
Maisie Rachel
Dearly loved daughter of
Cardinal and Hilda Hill
Who died 23rd October 1943
Aged 19 years.

Maisie worked at London Brick Company before joining the A.T.S. at the age of 17. She worked in the Accounts Department at Chilwell Barracks, Nottingham.

An Ailesworth A. T. S. private coming home on leave met her death on the Great North Road, on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased was Pte. Maisie Rachel Hill, aged 19, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal Hill, Main - street, Ailesworth. The accident occurred a quarter-of-a-mile north of Thornaugh. Miss Hill was walking, and accepted a lift in a jeep, driven by a technical sergeant in the American Army. There was a collision between the jeep and a stationary Army lorry, and Miss Hill was thrown out. She received terrible injuries, and died almost at once. The sergeant was not hurt.

Miss Hill had been in the A. T. S. nearly two years. After leaving Castor school
she worked on a farm, and later went to the London Brick Co. Her father is farm foreman for Capt. W. B. Feeny, of Ailesworth, and there are two sons, Gnr. Reginald Hill, R. A, and Mr Stanley Hill.

HIGH CHARACTER.

Our Castor and Ailesworth correspondent writes:
In the A. T. S. Pte. Hill bore a high character, and was shortly to receive her first stripe as lance-corpl. Her Commanding Officer speaks highly of her. She was a remarkably fine girl, not only physically, but in her general character. She was of an amiable disposition, possessing many sterling qualities, and she made friends wherever she went. She will be very much missed by her relatives and friends.

An inquest was opened at a Royal Air Force sick bay on Monday afternoon by the Huntingdonshire Coroner, Mr Lionel Abrahams.
Dr. J. C. Hill, R.A.F. medical officer, said that death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull, and other violent injuries.
The American sergeant said he gave the girl a lift, and half-a-mile farther along the road he saw a stationary army lorry parked to his right, by the roadside, the jeep collided with the lorry, and the girl was thrown out and killed instantly.
Junior Commander, Roake, A.T.S. gave evidence of identification, and P.C. Webb also gave evidence. The inquiry was adjourned sine die.

The funeral took place at Castor Church on Wednesday, Canon Carleton officiating. Mr. T. Salmon played “ The Radiant Morn hath passed away,” and the coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and saluted by representatives of the A.T.S.
The mourners were the parents, Mr. Stanley Hill, Gnr. Reginald Hill ( brothers), Mrs . W. Sismey (grandmother), Mr. and Mrs. P. Sismey, Mr. and Mrs. A. Sismey, Mr. and Mrs. Hudson (uncles and aunts), Mrs. Youngman, Mrs. Swift (aunts), and Mrs. Crowson (cousin).
Also at the church were the Hon Mrs. C. Pelham, Mrs. R. P. Winfrey, Col. R. J. C. Crowden (representing Capt W. B. Feeny), Junior Commander Roake (O. C. K Co. A.T.S.), Cpl Wainer, L/Cpl Sykes, L/Cpl Kinch (representing A.T.S.), Major McGovern, Captain Cicero (representing a fighter squadron of the U.S.A.A.F.), Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. and Miss. Rawlings, Mrs. Gale, Mrs Peppercorn, Peter Peppercorn, Mrs. A. Woodward, Mrs. G. Taylor, Mrs. A. Mason(Sutton), Miss Britten (Sutton), Mrs. Neal, Mrs A. Glover.
Miss. Hill, Mrs. George, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. W. Dudley, Mrs. Warr, Mrs. Ashton, Mrs. Leader, Mrs. White, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wyldbore, Mrs. H. Sutton, Mrs. Smith (Glinton), Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. E. W. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. W. Gibbons, Mrs. W. Taylor, Mrs. Wadd, Mr. A. Taylor, Mrs. B. Ball, Mrs. R. Hill, Mrs. J. Ward, Mrs. Bailey, Miss. Kathleen Bailey, Mrs. A. Cooke, Mrs. A. Pell, Mrs. F. Hornsby, Mrs. C. Ward, Miss. P. Yew.
Mrs. Roffe (Waternewton), Mrs. Hankins, Mrs. Parker, Miss Afford, Mrs. F. Afford, Mrs. W. Pepper, Mrs. Hopkins, Mrs. A. Gibbins, Miss Tilley, Mrs. Jauncey, Miss. Harker, Miss. Taylor, Mrs. L. Longfoot, Mrs. and Miss. Goodyer, Miss. Griffin, Miss Snart, Mrs. H. Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. F. Taylor, Mrs. and Miss. Fox, Mrs. H. Longfoot, Mrs. C. Sharpe, Miss. B. Sharpe, Mrs. L. Sharpe, Mrs. J. Fox, Mrs. F. Sharpe, Mrs. F. Harris, Mrs. Chitty, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Story, Mr. S. Smith, and Mr. S. Brown.

Among the many floral tributes were the following:
From the officers of K Co, A.T.S.; In remembrance from the members of K Co, A.T.S.; With deepest sympathy and love from her workmates, A.T.S.; With deepest sympathy from the Ailesworth and district ex-Servicemen; In fondest memory from the colleagues and friends of Wing 8, R.A.P.C.
Others were sent by her broken-hearted Mam, Dad and brothers; Col. and Mrs. R. J. C. Crowden; Capt. W. B. Feeny; the Rector and Mrs. Carleton; the Hon. Mrs. Anderson Pelham; Mrs. H. Sharpe and family; Mr. and Mrs. E. Garfield, Pearl, little Pat and Peter; Mr. and Mrs. Jinks and Mr. and Mrs. Harman; Edith and Tom, Walton; Auntie Alice, Uncle Ernie, cousins Iris, Rupert and Colin; Uncle, Auntie and the girls, Longthorpe; Grandad, Grandma and Frank; Aunt Mabel and Uncle George; Uncle Bill, Ida and Gillian; Mrs. Bouy and family; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Longfoot; Mr. and Mrs. C. Taylor; Aunt Clara; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Glover; Mr. and Mrs. J. Ward and Mrs. Manning, Ailesworth.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Sharpe; Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Goodyer, Winnie and Edna; Mr. and Mrs. H. Coulson, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. C. Oliver; Frank, Grace and the children; Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jack; Pollie, Arthur and Gladys; Mr. and Mrs. R. Cox and Ted (Upton); Mrs. Fox and Hilda; Aunt Sophia, Uncle Jake and Margarette (Helpston); Mrs. M. Chappell; Mr. and Mrs. B. Ball and Sheila; Mrs. Harker, Michael, Johnnie and Eileen; R. and C. Hill; Edna and Melvyn; Mr. and Mrs. Halls and Peg; Aunt Fanny, Alf, and Sarah; Mr. and Mrs. M. Brown and Olive; Aunt Elsie, Uncle Wacky, Joan and Billy; D. Oliver and F. Jackson.
Millie and Harry; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Taylor and children; Mr. and Mrs. T. Neal and family; Dot, Philip and family, Sheringham; Mr. and Mrs. Afford, Charlie and Olive; Mr. and Mrs. Hankins; Mrs. Parker; Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Cooke and family; Mr. and Mrs. W. Gibbons; Gladys and Mrs Stone; Mr. and Mrs. Woodward and family, Beat, and Grace; Mr. and Mrs. Britten (Sutton); Mr. and Mrs. Snart and family; Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Dudley and family; Victor Howard.
Mr. and Mrs. Story; Doris and Bill; Minnie and Fred; Mrs. Bailey; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Cooke; Mrs. F. Taylor, Bettie and Mrs F. Thompson; Mr. and Mrs. Burton and Mr. and Mrs. T. Gibbons; Eva, Harry and Rex; Reg; Vi and Bob, Mr. and Mrs. G. Griffin and Mrs. A. Griffin; Mr. and Mrs. Lunn, Gladys and Harold; Eileen and Bill, and Mr. Bass; Elsie and Phyllis and Bob, and Eva Gibbons.