James Alexander Bell died 1967

[Kathmferrier]

Just wondering if anyone has access to the Dundee courier or the Arbroath Guide or Arbroath Herald.
James Alexander Bell (28) and his cousin David Bell Williamson(17) died in April 1967. James dies in Stracathro of injuries sustained in a motor accident and the suspicion is that his cousin died in the same accident.
I tried the local library in Blairgowrie today to see if we could find anything in the papers but we couldn’t get further forward than 1962.

TIA

[MonicaL]

You can view the death registration for David and James on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

1967 is within the period you can view images online.

Monica

[CaroleW]

James death was registered in Kirkden, Kinnell & Guthrie.  David's death was registered in Forfar & Rescobie

[Kathmferrier]

Thanks

I managed to find the certificates but was really looking for a report of the accident. The death certificte says motor accident. Family tradition says it was a motor bike accident. I was looking for newpaper report to see if this was in fact the case.

[MonicaL]

I did look yesterday on www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ but nothing coming up.

Did they both have similar causes of death?

Monica

[Kathmferrier]

I did look yesterday on www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ but nothing coming up.

Did they both have similar causes of death?

Thanks for looking.
 
TBH although I found both of them on the free search I only paid to look on Scotlands people for James Alexander Bell as he’s my second cousin on his paternal side. David Williamson is his cousin on his maternal side so we’re not related. 
They are buried together in Friockheim. The headstone inscription says ‘erected by their parents’ and the comment ‘devoted cousins.‘ With the deaths only being a day apart it seems likely it was the same accident. The informant on James Bell’s certificate was another Williamson cousin - seems like someone had the unfortunate task of registering two deaths.

I was hoping a newspaper report might give me more information.

When I’ve been looking on newspaper sites they don’t seem to go further forward than about 1962. I’m beginning to wonder if there’s some kind of cut off point for accessing back copies online. The genealogy group in our local library think it’s possible to get access to more up to date items in the main libraries. Looks like I might need to go to Perth or Dundee.

[MonicaL]

In terms of the BNA, they have imaged more up to date editions, past 1962. They are adding all the time to the database so maybe that is the issue, that they haven't got to those years yet for a particular newspaper.

Just checking now the Dundee Courier. There are issues of the paper up to 1997, but not yet complete. There is a big gap between 1955 to 1986. Big gap for sure but the BNA will remain work in progress for man years.

Monica

[Kathmferrier]

Thanks for that information

Monica
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[MonicaL]

To help out...

You were right in your expectations regarding the death of David Bell Williamson    Cause of death from his registration: