Dr. Thomas Horrock Openshaw of the Jack the Ripper Case - London Orthopaedic Surgeon, his wife Selina Gertrude Openshaw, and the tragic death of their son Lawrence Pratt Openshaw - Air Crash.

Monument to Thomas Horrocks Openshaw C.B., C.M.G., M.S., R.F.C.S. and Selina Gertrude Openshaw, All Saints' Maidenhead Cemetery, Boyn Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

"Life's race well run.

Life's work well done.

Life's victory won.

Now cometh rest.

In Loving Memory

of Our Dear

Father and Mother

Thomas Horrocks Openshaw C.B., C.M.G., M.S., R.F.C.S

of 16 Wimpole Street London

A Great and Beloved Surgeon

Who Was Called To Rest

17th November 1929

In His 74th Year

And Selina Gertrude Openshaw His Wife

Who Fell Asleep On 24th February 1929

In Her 72nd Year

Nearer My God To Thee.

Thomas Horrocks Openshaw was born on 27th March 1856 in Bury Lancashire, to John Lomax Openshaw, a commission agent, and his wife Gertrude Pratt. Thomas first appears on the 1861 Census, aged 5, living with his parents and siblings at 85 Brookshaw Terrace, Bury, Lancashire.

In 1871 Thomas was living with his parternal uncle Thomas Williams Openshaw, a clergyman and 2nd school master of Bristol Grammar school where young Thomas was educated, and his family at 12 Somerset Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire. Thomas originally studied to become an engineer but later entered Durham University to study medicine. In 1877 he entered the London Hospital Medical College.

On the 1881 Census Thomas now a medical student can be found lodging at the home of William Pendry at 14 Nicholas Street, London. Thomas completed his medical studies and was awarded a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, M.B.B.S. In 1883 he was appointed a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, M.R.C.S. In 1886 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, F.R.C.S. After his fellowship he was appointed the Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy at London Hospital Medical Collage. A year later in 1887 he was appointed Curator of the Pathology Museum, where he extended the Museum's collection of pathological specimens, creating an important research facility for medical students.  

Thomas H. Openshaw
c1902

In the autumn of 1881 a serial killer stalked the streets of Whitechapel, London. On 16th October 1888 a letter containing a kidney reportedly from the body of Catherin Eddowes, later known as the "From Hell" letter, was received by George Akin Lusk, the Chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, a group of civilians who patrolled the streets of Whitechapel during the spate of murders in 1888. George Lusk was persuaded to take the letter and kidney to Dr Frederick Wiles's surgery in Mile End. Frederick Wiles was away so his assistant took the kidney to Thomas at the nearby London Hospital. Thomas determined it to be from the left-hand side of a female human body aged around 45 years old and from a person who drank heavily. This was mentioned in the press at the time and on 29th October 1888 Thomas received his own letter from "Jack the Ripper" which stated:

"Old boss you was rite it was the left kidny i was goin to hoperate agin close to your ospitle just as i was going to dror mi nife along of er bloomin throte them cusses of coppers spoilt the game but i guess i wil be on the job soon and will send you another bit of innerds

Jack the Ripper

O have you seen the devle

with his mikerscope and scalpul

a-lookin at a kidney

with a slide cocked up."

That same year Thomas, being a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry, was appointed surgeon to the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps. After the outbreak of the Second Boer War in South Africa in 1889, Thomas left the London Hospital and served as surgeon to the Imperial Yeomanry Field Hospital. Thomas was later taken as a prisoner of war and held captive for two weeks before being released as part of a prisoner exchange.  He was later appointed Principle Medical Officer at Number Three Medical School Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. For his services during the Second Boer War Thomas was awarded the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George C.M.G., by Queen Victoria. 

On 23rd July 1890 Thomas married Selina Gertrude Pratt at St Paul's Church, Avenue Road, London. On 1st August 1890 the Courier and Middlesex Counties Couriers Gazette called the following announcement:

"Marriages

Openshaw-Pratt- On 23rd inst., at St. Paul's Avenue Road, N.W., by the Rev. T. W. Openshaw, M.A., of Clifton, uncle of the bride-groom, assisted by the Rev. J W. Bennett, M.A., Thomas Horrocks Openshaw, M.S., F.R.C.S., Eng., of 21 Gower Street, W. C., to Selina Gertrude, youngest daughter of the late Wm. Pratt, Esq., of 71 Avenue Road, N.W."

 

Selina Gertrude Openshaw was born Selina Gertrude Pratt on 1st July 1857 in Bruern, Oxfordshire, to William Pratt, a gentleman farmer, and his wife Martha Hollis. Selina first appears on the 1861 Census, aged 3,living with her parents and siblings at their farmhouse in Bruern, Oxfordshire. Selina's mother Martha was to pass away in June of 1862.

In 1871 Selina can be found living with her widowed father and elder sisters Mary Jane, and Emily Francis, at 71 Avenue Road, London. Selina's father William passed away in 1878. In 1881 Selina can be found boarding at the home of William Hampton at 3 St John's Terrace, Willesden, Middlesex,along with her sisters, Martha Sarah, and Emily Francis.

The 1891 Census finds the newly wed Thomas and Selina living at 16 Wimpole Street, London. Boarding with them at the time is Frederick Henry Milbank, a stockbroker.  On 29th Januray 1892 Thomas and Selina celebrated the birth of their first child, a son, Lawrence Pratt Openshaw.

Thomas and Selina found themselves victims of crime in 1892. On 20th September 1892 the Morning Leader reported:

"DUPING THE DOCTORS. 

The staff of the Bombay Gazette will not rejoice at the distinction conferred upon Mr. Arthur Robinson at Clerkenwell yesterday—if his statement be true that he once was numbered in their ranks. He was indicted for having stolen seven tablespoons and six fish knives, the goods of Dr. Thomas Horrocks, Openshaw; also for having stolen two tablespoons, and other articles, value £4, the goods of Dr. Bilton Pollard. Detective-sergt. Webb, E. Division, said prisoner had been in the habit of calling at the houses of doctors in Harley-st., Wimpole-st., and Cavendish-square, and under the pretence of wanting to write a letter to the doctor, obtained admission and stole anything he could lay his hands on. ‘The ex-Indian journalist, in pleading guilty, said ‘he desired to keep his real name secret for the sake of his relatives, He had had no work for the last two months, and had a sick wife. An assistant to a pawnbroker in High Holborn stated that a number of articles which subsequently proved to be worth £6 6s. 6d. were purchased by the firm for 30s. The astonished magistrate promptly disallowed the pawnbroker's expenses, and postponed sentence." 

On 29th April 1898 Thomas and Selina's second child, a daughter, May Elizabeth Foord Openshaw was born.

In 1899 Thomas founded the Orthopaedic Department at London Hospital. 

The family can be found living at 16 Wimpole Street, London on the 1901 Census, living with the family is Selina's older sister Emily Francis Pratt, a hospital sister. By 1911 their son Lawrence had left the family home and is visiting George Grimsdale, a retired corn merchant, and his wife Blanche at Nunny Court, Frome, Somerset.

In 1921 Thomas is at his home 16 Wimpole Street, London with his daughter May, who is working as assistant divisional superintendent at the ministry of pensions. Selina is at Berry Lane, Godmancester, Huntingdonshire with her older widowed sister Mary Jane Headington. I have been unable to locate Lawrence on the 1921 Census.

After the outbreak of the First World War, Lawrence enlisted with the Navy on 16th November 1914, later training to fly aircraft in Eastbourne in December 1914. On 17th March 1915 Lawrence earned his Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate on a Bristol Biplane at the Royal Naval Air Station at Hendon. Aged 58, Thomas was considered too old to serve abroad during the war but contributed to the war effort as a Colonel in the Royal Medical Corps as a consultant surgeon. Thomas received the Territorial Decoration medal for his services during the war. After the war Thomas was elected Surgeon to King Edward VII Hospital where he was an acknowledged expert in orthopaedics. He also was instrumental in the founding of the Queen Mary Convalescent Auxiliary Hospital for the Limbless in Roehampton. Thomas oversaw the creation of artificial limbs for the amputees of the First World War. For this work he was awarded the Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B.

Lawrence would continue his military career in aviation attaining the rank of Major. He became a prominent pilot who helped further the advances of modern aerial warfare and peacetime aviation.  

Thomas was one of the first surgeons to use the new X-ray technology when it was introduced in England. In 1923 he was a witness in a medical negligence case against a Yeovil  doctor who was accused of improperly setting a broken arm causing the plaintiff three months of suffering. On 2nd February 1923 the Western Chronicle reported:

 "YEOVIL DOCTOR SUED.

 

Setting of Broken Bone. 

SPARKFORD GIRL ALLEGES NEGLIGENCE. 

Doctors Not Infallible. 

INTERESTING ACTION AT SOMERSET ASSIZES. 

A case of considerable interest to Yeovil people and of exceptional interest to the medical profession, came before Mr. Justice Rowlatt, and special jury, at the Somerset Assize, which closed at Taunton on Saturday. The plaintiff, Miss Susan Grace Coleberd, a cheese-maker, of South Barrow, Sparkford, claimed damages against Dr. Ptolemy Colmer, of Yeovil, alleging negligence on the part of defendant in setting a broken arm on June 9th, 1921."

Thomas was called as a witness and questioned by the plaintiff's lawyer Mr Rayner Goddard as to the use of X-rays in treating fractures.

"Dr. Thomas Horrock Openshaw, C.B., consulting surgeon to the London Hospital, stated that he was the first surgeon to use the X-ray when introduced into this country.  It was not usual to X-ray limb in the case of ordinary fracture. His theory was that she was a bad bone-maker. *suggesting the fault was Miss Coleberd by healing incorrectly*

Mr. Goddard: So you say an X-ray examination was not necessary in this case? Yes. It would have prevented this case being brought. You would not have a leg to stand on if there had been an X-ray examination by the defendant."

 

After deliberation the Jury returned a verdict in favour of the defendant Dr. Colmer.

In 1927 Lawrence Pratt Openshaw married Alice Jean Bruce in Yeovil but their marriage was to be tragically short as Lawrence died on 6th June 1927 in an air crash at Bournemouth.  On 8th June 1927 the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported:

"THE CRASH IN THE AIR. 

When Longton and Openshaw Were Killed. 

The story of the twofold air disaster the Whitsuntide Flying Meeting at Bournemouth was related the Rectory of a little Dorset village of West Parley this afternoon at the inquest Walter Hunt Longton and Major Lawrence Pratt Openshaw, both married men and pilots of the two machines which collided in mid-air in the first race of the meeting. The Coroner intimated that the Air Ministry had stated it did not propose be represented at the inquiry. Two farm labourers were among witnesses. As the two machines wore turning, they said in evidence, the lower one appeared to rise suddenly, and with a terrific crash the machines fell to the ground. Witnesses could not identify the machines. When wreckage hit the ground, they said, it burst into flames. Bertram Steel described the efforts to extricate Mr Openshaw from the flames. Squadron-Leader Longton, he said, could not be got out till the fire had done its work."

On 9th June 1927 the Shields Daily News reported on the Inquest:

"AIR RACES. 

Jury’s View of Bournemouth Tragedy. 

THE DANGER POINT. 

A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded at the inquest yesterday Squadron-Leader Walter Hunt Longton and Major Lawrence Pratt Openshaw, both married men, who were killed the air race meeting crash at Bournemouth Monday. The jury added a rider stating: It is only inviting disaster for several aeroplanes to race together over short course with sharp turns. They also expressed high appreciation of the attempts of Steele and others to rescue Openshaw. 

FARM LABOURER’S COURAGE. 

Bertram Steele, a farm labourer, who with his brother succeeded in dragging Major Openshaw from the burning wreckage, said that as the two machines turned the corner the lower one seemed to rise and the tips of the wings met, bringing their noses together. They fell like a stone and burst into flames. He made an attempt to get the men out, but the heat was too much. Twice he failed, but the third attempt, with the help his brother, he managed to get Openshaw out. Squadron-Leader Longton could not be reached until the fire had done its work. 

Leonard Dawe, the dispatch rider on the course, said that he saw five or six machines go round the turn close together. 

QUESTION OF BLAME. 

Clement Ebbett, an aeronautical engineer, who was an observer at the turning point, said that when Openshaw overtook Longton on the bend, was gaining height all the time. In his opinion Openshaw never saw Squadron-Leader Longton at the turn. 

“In your opinion is either of them to blame,” the Coroner asked. 

“I would not say that,” replied the witness, “but I would say that Squadron Loader was not blame.” 

In his opinion the accident was due to the fact that Openshaw in rising at the turning point into collision with Longton. The angles of the machines on the turn were less than 90 degrees, which was quite safe.

MEETING OF PILOTS. 

Harold Perrin, secretary of the Royal Aero Club, said that the rules of air racing provided that overtaking aircraft were responsible for keeping clear. Before a race meeting started there was always a meeting of pilots, “and through the regulations more less.” There was no regulation which forbade overtaking at the turning point. The Coroner said that no blame attached to either pilot. The turning post seemed to him to be the danger point."  

On 11th August 1928 Thomas and Selina's daughter May married Sidney Edward Bruce Jenner, a stockbroker, at St. Trinity Church. Marylebone, London.

Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Jenner on their
Wedding Day 11th August 1928
Copyright: National Portrait Gallery

On 24th February 1929 Selina passed away at 16 Wimpole Street, London, aged 71. Thomas was to follow Selina on 17th November 1929. On 21st November 1929 the Sheerness Times Guardian reported:

"DEATH OF MR. T. H. OPENSHAW. 

The death has taken place this week of Dr. Thomas Horrock Openshaw, F.R.C.S. (Eng.), the eminent surgeon so long associated with the London Hospital. Quite a number of residents of Sheerness in years gone by derived great benefit from his surgical skill, both as patients at the London Hospital, and in their homes. Dr. Openshaw was 73 years of age, and in writing of him The Times (London), states that he was known to his innumerable friends is "Tommy Openshaw," and his death will come as a surprise, for he was always in such good spirits, and appeared to be in such robust health. "No one looking at him," says the writer of "The Times" obituary notice, "would have suspected that he was a great London surgeon. Somewhat short in stature, he was of so sturdy a build that he looked shorter than he really was. He spoke with a marked Lancashire accent, and with it he had the genuine friendliness of a North countryman, together with that bluntness and absolute honesty of purpose characteristic of his race.' Dr. Openshaw was a personal friend of Dr. G. Aldridge, formerly in practice at Sheerness as a medical practitioner, and now of Frintou, Essex."

In 1931 May and Sidney Jenner celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter Margaret Gertrude Jenner, who was followed by a son John Openshaw Jenner in 1935. The family can be found on the 1939 Register living in Springfield, Spring Lane, Cambridgeshire. May Elizabeth Foord Jenner was to pass away on 12th June 1984 in Bassingbourne, Royston Hertfordshire.