[Observer1940]

Thank you Dennis,

I have just traced the piece in The Times, Law Report, which gives a little more detail about time and place. Updated original posting.

Compensation was granted to Mr Billings by Mr Justice Charles as you rightly say, of £450 (£200 under the Fatal Accidents Act and £250 under the Law Reform Act).

However, the defendant (Pilot) Reed was allowed Leave to Appeal and despite the admission of Negligence by the defence before the trial at Nottingham, the poor husband Mr Billings lost his compensation, because the injury was not a "war injury" according to the 1939 Act, as she had died two days later.

I expect the defence appealed to avoid paying out compensation to others who died in similar circumstances. To avoid a precedent.

CWGC give the implication on their Clara Jane Billings page that her civilian war death was enemy action, by stating this under her name ...

"Of the many civilians of the Commonwealth whose deaths were due to enemy action in the 1939-1945 War, the names of some 67,092 are commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St. George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London."

About time CWGC gave a more frank account.
Mark