Saturday 18 December 2021

405085 Aircraftsman Class 1 Kenneth Gregor Williamson Aitken, 23/12/1919-20/12/1942

Airman Dies After Swim

Considered to be one of the fittest men at a Northland air station, Flight Mechanic Kenneth Gregor Williamson Aitken, collapsed and died yesterday. He would have been 24 tomorrow. He was a single man, his next-of-kin being Mrs. G. Graham, Mt. John, Hendon, Otago. Deceased had been swimming with friends at Parua Bay shortly after lunch. Saying he felt sick when he came out of the water, he was taken by car to Onerahi, where he received treatment.

At the inquest today, Flight-Rigger W. T. Rodgers said he had known Aitken about six months. He considered him very fit. On Sunday morning Aitken had complained of a headache, but had been better after taking some aspros. Rodgers returned at about 6 o’clock to find deceased in bed, being treated with cold packs on his forehead. He had taken over and continued using the cold packs until Aitken had begun to grow cold, when he covered him with blankets, as advised by a medical orderly. His breathing had been heavy, but had returned to normal at about 7.15, when Rodgers was called to the telephone. Rodgers did not see deceased then till 7.30, when a medical sergeant informed him. that he thought Aitken was dead. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was certified dead. The coroner (Mr. J. G. Draper) adjourned the inquest sine die.  -Northern Advocate, 21/12/1942.


DEATHS.

For the Empire's Cause

AITKEN. — On December 21, 1942 (suddenly), at a North Island N.Z.R.A.F. station, Flight-mechanic Kenneth G. W., dearly loved eldest son of James and Florence Aitken, late of 17 Gresham street, Anderson’s Bay; aged 24 years. Deeply mourned. — Funeral intimation later.— Hope and Kinaston, funeral directors.  -Evening Star, 22/12/1942.


Airmen Pay Last Respects

After a brief service in a Whangarei chapel, men of a Northland air station yesterday afternoon paid their last respects to one of their members who died of sickness on Sunday. Flight-Mechanic Kenneth Gregor Williamson Aitken, popular and good matured, had carved a place for himself in this community of airmen. As a tribute to his memory, a party last night marched behind the hearse on its way to the railway station. Six of his closest companions bore the coffin, draped with the Union Jack, to the hearse and marched ahead of the rest of the party. There was no elaborate preparation, and the whole ceremony was marked by its fitting simplicity and dignity.  -Northern Advocate, 23/12/1942.


Airman’s Death Due To Heat Apoplexy

In accordance with the medical evidence, a verdict that the death of Flight-Mechanic Kenneth Gregor Williamson Aitken, 24, on December 20, had been due to heat apoplexy complicated by early diabetes was returned by the Whangarei coroner (Mr. J. G. Draper) at the conclusion of an inquest last evening. The police were represented by Senior-Sergeant A. Henderson.

Evidence of Aitken having had a swim at Parua Bay was given by Robert Hamilton Boag, a corporal of the armed forces. Aitken had not stayed long in the water and had practically collapsed shortly afterwards. Treatment had been given for some time and as he had not appeared to be getting any better he was taken in a car to a medical hut. The only words he had uttered were “my head.’’ The day had been hot and deceased had not been wearing a hat.

Possibility of Coma Francis Grantham Ralph, a sergeant in charge of a medical section, said Aitken had been in bed in his own hut and being attended to by some of his friends, one of whom had explained his condition. On examining him, continued Ralph, he had found that there was no pulse or heart-beat and he considered he was dead. Removal to the Whangarei Hospital was ordered, as he thought there might be a possibility of Aitken being only in a deep coma. He had regarded Aitken as a very fit man physically as he had been most active and interested in most branches of sport. He had always been running about without his shirt and had been well-tanned. His head covering when he had had one consisted only of his glengarry. 

A medical orderly, Harold Leslie Capp, said that when Aitken had been brought in for medical attention he had been in a semi-conscious condition and complaining that his head was hurting. Cold packs had been applied and his pulse at that time had been normal although he complained of his head aching. The medical officer had been telephoned and the symptoms explained, advice given being carried out in the application of cold packs and two tablets of aspirin. Some improvement had followed and Aitken had been removed to his own hut, where he had been visited eight times and on each occasion he had been sleeping except for one time when he had been restless for a few seconds. On the last occasion before Sergeant Ralph had been left in charge the pulse had been normal and the breathing steady. 

Dr. H. F. Buckley gave evidence of performing a post-mortem examination. There had been no marks of injury or violence on the body, but the brain had shown intense congestion with haemorrhages scattered over the surface, although there was no haemorrhage in the brain itself. Taken in conjunction with the ante-mortem history, these findings pointed to death from heat stroke or heat apoplexy in a man made more susceptible on account of his being an early incipient diabetic, diabetics being more prone to heat stroke than normal individuals. In his opinion death was due to heat apoplexy complicated by early diabetes. 

In reply to the coroner, Dr. Buckley said he did not think that Aitken’s life could have been saved if he had been taken straight to hospital from the beach instead of to the medical hut. Treatment given at the hut had been correct.

Evidence was also given by Dr. S. H. Ward, who said that he had been telephoned by Capp, who had explained Aitken’s condition and had prescribed treatment. When medically examined he had had no sign of illness and had been graded 1. He had been present at the post-mortem and concurred with Dr. Buckley’s report.  -Northern Advocate, 7/1/1943.


Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.


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