POOLE Children.

Joseph 9 yrs. David 8 yrs. Harry aged 6 yrs Margaret 4 yrs and Jean aged 2 yrs all died 23 April 1933 at Palace Barracks family accommodation due to a gas leak. Their was no gas in their home.

Children of Lance Corporal Harry Poole M M Border Regiment stationed and living in married quarters with his wife Mary nee Scott in Palace Barracks, Holywood, County Down.

Gas had been installed at the site, but was replaced by electricity in 1930 when the pipes were sealed. In 1933 a gas cooker was installed in a neighbouring flat, but the fitter did not check that the pipes in the other flats were plugged. Gas seeped through into the Poole’s flat and the five children age 2 to 9 died.

Lance Corporal Poole and his wife had gone out for the evening and left the children to look after themselves They returned home later, checked on the children, due to slight gas smell opened the windows on to find the following morning all the children had died.

Private Harry Poole, 2319, 2 Manchester Regiment. Went to France on 4/5/1915. Awarded the Military Medal whilst with the Manchester Regiment. Gazetted 14 May 1919. Transferred to Private 54001 East Lancs Regt, then Border Regiment. He survived the War and married Mary Scott in 1923.