It is quite a plain gravestone in Palmerston Cemetery - only the inscription is notable. "Erected by fellow footballers and friends" for a young man of 25 years. The reason for the inscription is a sad one.
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES
INJURIES TO SPINE
FOOTBALLER DANGEROUSLY ILL
Severe injuries to the spinal column were received by Lindsay Kitchen, of Palmerston, while playing football for Palmerston against Seacliff at the Palmerston Show Grounds on Saturday. During the game a loose scrum collapsed, and, when broken up, it was discovered that Kitchen had been injured. Dr Stronach, of Palmerston, attended the injured man, and ordered his removal to the Dunedin Hospital, where he was placed on the dangerously ill list. -Otago Daily Times, 11/7/1938.
FOOTBALLER'S DEATH
COLLAPSE OF SCRUM
(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Following an injury to his spine which he suffered when a scrum collapsed in a football match at Palmerston South on Saturday, Lindsay Kitchen, a Palmerston South resident, died in hospital. Poverty BayHerald, 12/7/1938.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
PALMERSTON FOOTBALL CLUB.
All Players and Members are requested to attend the Funeral of their late Club Mate LINDSAY KITCHEN. TO-MORROW (WEDNESDAY). Club members will meet at the Borough Council Office at 2 p.m. A. CAMERON, Hon. Secretary. -Otago Daily Times, 12/7/1938.
NORTH OTAGO AND PROVINCIAL SECTION
THE OAMARU DISTRICT
MINIATURE RIFLE NOTES By Target
The Hampden Club members had a night off this week, several of the leading riflemen dropping a point or two. J. Tabor, a first-year shot, secured his first possible, and is to be congratulated. The next scores were 77’s. Mr C. Woodley, who passed away last week, was keenly interested in rifle shooting, and acted as supervisor in shield shoots on the Hampden range for many years, until last year, when ill-health prevented him from carrying out these duties. The sympathy of members goes out to his widow and family. Another loss was sustained by the club in the tragic death of Lindsay Kitchen while playing football. Lindsay was a popular member of both the .303 and miniature clubs until he transferred to Palmerston prior to this season’s opening. Sympathy is also extended to his parents. -Otago Daily Times, 16/7/1938.
Such are the final days of Lindsay Kitchen. What of his early days? "Papers Past," of course, gives us the snippets of his early life. He is passing his Primer 4 class in 1920 at the Palmerston School, and Standards 1 to 5 in later years. In the Children's Section of the 1926 Palmerston Horticultural Society's show he wins second prize for "Six pods peas" and at the end of that year passes Standard 6 with merit.
In September of 1937, Lindsay is reported as Chairman of the 21st party of one Miss Hazel Woolford, part of a "bright and entertaining programme": "The reception room was effectively arranged in a decorative scheme of blue, gold, and lemon, with a birthday cake as centre-piece on the table. The guest of honour wore a becoming bouffant sleeved frock with a high neckline and posy to match, and was the recipient of many gifts, including a gold key given as a special token of remembrance." Otago Daily Times, 4/9/1937.
Next year, 1938, Lindsay Kitchen played some rugby. And, in July, his last game.
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