Photo: B. Chandler
The family headstone reads:
In loving memory of
Our dear daughter
Lawren Elinora Hare W.R.N.S.
Died as a result of accident
31st Dec. 1943 aged 19 years.
Also of William her father
Capt. M.N. O.B.E. 1885-1954.
Angela Conroy has submitted the following:
Evening Chronicle 03/01/1944 reports:
Whitley Bay Wren Killed in Road Accident
Two brothers, both marines, and a Wren have died in Winchester Hospital from injuries received in a road accident during the weekend.
They were William and Daniel Ring, St George's Road, Glasgow, and Leading Wren Elinora Hare, of King's Drive, Whitley Bay, and were stationed at a naval camp in Hampshire.
The accident, in which an army lorry was involved, occurred while they were waiting for a bus.
Another Wren, Cynthia Arpthorpe, of All Soul's Avenue, London, was also injured and taken to hospital. Her condition is not regarded as serious.
BACK FROM LEAVE
Leading Wren Hare, who had just returned from Christmas leave, is the 19-year old daughter of Captain William Hare, M.N. O.B.E., and Mrs Hare, of 16 King's Drive, and had been in the service nearly two years, previously employed as a shorthand typist in Newcastle.
A native of South Shields, she lived in Buenos Aires until age of 15, when she became a pupil at Whitley and Monkseaton High School.
Whitley Seaside Chronicle and Visitors' Gazette 07/01/1944 carries a death notice:
HARE- 16 King's Drive, Whitley Bay, Dec 31st, accidentally, Leading Wren Elinora, W.R.N.S., aged 19, dearly beloved daughter of Capt. and Mrs W. Hare. Interred Whitley Cemetery Jan. 5th with naval honours.
Whitley Seaside Chronicle and Visitor's Gazette Friday 14/01/1944:
Whitley Bay Wren Killed In Accident
The many friends of Leading Wren Elinora Hare of King's Drive, Whitley Bay will learn with regret of her death in a Winchester Hospital following an accident on New Year's Eve. It appears that Miss Hare was returning from leave, and was waiting in a queue for a bus near a camp when an American army lorry came out and ran into the queue killing two soldiers, as well as Miss Hare. She had been in the service for nearly two years, previously being employed as a shorthand typist in Newcastle.
A native of South Shields, she lived in Buenos Aires until the age of 15 when she became a pupil at Whitley and Monkseaton High School. She was interred at Whitley Cemetery with Naval honours.
Elinor Hare is remembered in Whitley Bay on W84.01 and W84.05 and on our List of Ships’ crews
