The Port Hope Simpson Come Home 2002 town emblem

The human figure represents the spirit of Port Hope Simpson and its enthusiastic fire; the Labrador flag represents our heritage; the house represents the importance of home and family that exists in our community and the Port Hope Simpson banner represents our town's pride and teamwork.
Espoir gauche Simpson les deux deces non resolues

Port упование Simpson 2 unsolved смерти

Port упование Simpson 2 unsolved смерти

Ελπίδα Simpson λιμένων δύο άλυτοι θάνατοι

Ελπίδα Simpson λιμένων δύο άλυτοι θάνατοι

Port Hope Simpson twee onopgeloste sterfgevallen

Port Hope Simpson twee onopgeloste sterfgevallen

港希望Simpson 二未解決的死亡

港希望Simpson 二未解決的死亡

港希望Simpson 二未解决的死亡

港希望Simpson 二未解决的死亡

운반 희망Simpson2개의 미해결 죽음

운반 희망Simpson2개의 미해결 죽음

Esperanza portuaria Simpson dos muertes sin resolver

Esperanza portuaria Simpson dos muertes sin resolver

左舷希望Simpson 2 つの未解決の死

左舷希望Simpson 2 つの未解決の死

History portu�rio de Simpson da esperan�a do desenvolvimento com fotografias

History portu�rio de Simpson da esperan�a do desenvolvimento com fotografias

Storia port di Simpson di speranza di sviluppo con le fotografie

Storia port di Simpson di speranza di sviluppo con le fotografie

Porthoffnung Simpson Geschichte der Entwicklung mit Fotographien

Porthoffnung Simpson Geschichte der Entwicklung mit Fotographien

Two unsolved deaths & links

Two deaths on 3 February 1940 in Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada are still unsolved. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Serious Crimes Unit, Gander, Newfoundland have opened up their own investigation. This illustrated journal http://twounsolveddeaths.blogspot.com
from 15 July to 28 August, 2002 not only covers an invitation to the town's Coming Home celebrations but also includes a further attempt to establish the facts. If you know anything at all about what happened please do not hesitate in contacting your local RCMP detachment or the police force of jurisdiction in your area.If you live outside Canada, please contact your local police service and ask them to make a request for assistance from the appropriate Canadian law enforcement agency. The main RCMP website address is http://www.rcmp.ca or Email me!

The Tombstone in Port Hope Simpson, 15 November 1969.

The Tombstone behind a white wooden fence. Note the small, broken,slim piece of original concrete headstone leaning up against the front right of the memorial. 29 July 2002.

The Inscription on The Tombstone of Arthur Eric Williams (known as Eric), and Erica Anitoff Williams, reads as follows:
ARTHUR ERIC WILLIAMS SON OF MR. & MRS. J. O. WILLIAMS LABRADOR HOUSE SOUTHERNDOWN WALES BORN JULY 30 1913 LOST HIS LIFE IN A FIRE ON THIS SPOT FEB. 3RD 1940 IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO SAVE HIS BABY DAUGHTER ERICA AGED 18 MONTHS. GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.
But at least Six Discrepancies exist that cast serious doubt about its truthfulness:
1 The following additional words were inscribed on the small original concrete headstone but left out from the final inscription:
HAVING SAVED HIS WIFE HE DIED IN THE FLAMES WITH HIS DAUGHTER ERICA.
After hearing about the deaths for the first time, J.O. Williams would subsequently have heard about other circumstances involving Eric, Keith Yonge, the local company Manager in Port Hope Simpson and Olga. J.O. decided to remove any mention of Olga, Eric's wife from the inscription for all time.
2 The original nameplate of the house that J. O. Williams built, (he was known as Jack within his family) is made up of only one word: "LABRADOR" and not "Labrador House" as found on the inscription.
3 Erica was an illegitimate child who was 43 months two days old when she died and not 18 months as inscribed.
4 Also according to her birth certificate, Erica was born on 15 July 1936 at 29 St. Isan Road, Heath, Cardiff but no house existed on that plot of land at that time.
5 The main permanent address of Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Williams when Eric and Erica died in acrimonious, suspicious circumstances on 3 February 1940 is probably false because by 15 March 1938 Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Williams in fact lived at Flat 23 Kenilworth House, Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales and Arthur Eric Williams was living next door at Flat 14 Dunraven House, Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales. It is highly likely the flats were their true permanent addresses on the night that Eric and Erica died . Labrador House would most likely have been kept as a holiday home by the sea for the use of the Williams family.
6 Furthermore, Labrador House is located in Ogmore-by-Sea, Dunraven Bay, Bridgend, Wales and not in the village of Southerndown which is one mile away. The name "Dunraven" is not only self-explanatory but it is also associated with smuggling in that particular area of South Wales; 29 July 2002

Keith Younge, local Manager of the Labrador Development Company Ltd., Port Hope Simpson; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams, from a set of semi-official photographs; 11January 2003

Father and Eldest Son: John Osborn Williams l.aged 48years,deceased; Arthur Eric Williams aged 21 years,deceased, taken in Port Hope Simpson, 1935; courtesy of John Illsely, grandson of J.O. Williams, from a set of semi-official photographs;11 January 2003

Two dolphins decorating a ceramic wall tile near to Labrador House; 18 January 2003

LABRADOR (House), 55 Main Street, Ogmore - by - Sea, Bridgend CF32OPL built by J.O. Williams in the 1920s (the house that Jack built);18/01/03

The Naming Ceremony on 23 August 1934, l. to r.: Sir John Hope Simpson, John Osborne Williams Junior. fourth from left, Arthur Eric Williams fifth from l., Thomas Lodge, Commissioner for Public Utilities eighth from l., John Osborn J.O. Williams ninth from l.; photograph courtesy of John Edward Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; date of ceremony from Simpson John Hope, Peter Neary (Editor), Quita Hope Simpson, P.E. Neary page 19 White Tie & Decorations Sir John and Lady Hope Simpson in Newfoundland, 1934-1936 Publisher: Univ of Toronto Press (March 1996)

A photograph that appeared in The Times page 16, 22 January 1934 showing a rather younger picture, probably in his late 30s, of the 66 year old Commissioner of Natural Resources who arrived in St. John’s, Newfoundland on 15 February 1934!

Mary Jane Barclay and John Hope Simpson on their wedding day 19 September 1900; extract from White Tie & Decorations Sir John and Lady Hope Simpson in Newfoundland, 1934-1936 by John Hope Simpson , Peter Neary (Editor), Quita Hope Simpson , P. Neary Publisher: University of Toronto Press; March 1996

John Hope Simpson outside Buckingham Palace on the day King George V conferred his knighthood. The knighthood was announced in the Kings birthday honours list of 3 June 1935; White Tie & Decorations Sir John and Lady Hope Simpson in Newfoundland, 1934-1936 by John Hope Simpson , Peter Neary (Editor), Quita Hope Simpson , P. Neary Publisher: University of Toronto Press; March 1996

p10 COMPANY BROCHURE, a Big Stick cut at Port Hope Simpson and presented to The Great Western Railway, Cardiff as a flagpole; 1935

p1 letter from J.O. Williams to Keith Younge, his Company's Manager in Port Hope Simpson 1941

p2 letter from J. O. Williams to K. Younge, 1941

p3 letter from JO Williams to K Young; 1941

p4 letter from J. O. Williams to Keith Yonge, his Company manager in Port Hope Simpson, 1941

36 South Court Road, Penylan, Cardiff CF23 9DB, one of the permanent residences of J.O. Williams from 8 May 1928; 11/01/03

12 West Bute Street, Cardiff CF105EN today. Dowlais Arcade is also located on this street where Williams� company office was based with the adress of "Dowlais Chambers." 11/01/03

29 St. Isan Road, Cardiff CF14 4LUwhere Eric Williams had dishonestly claimed to be living when he had registered Erica Anitoff, his daughter�s birth on 31 August 1938; building of the house wasn�t completed until after the Second World War; 11/01/03,

Roath Parish Church, Cardiff: the most likely location for the marriage ceremony of Arthur Eric Williams and Olga Marie D'Anitoff, 18 August 1937; 2 January 2003

p1 letter from J. O. Williams to P. Clutterbuck, Dominions Office, London; 2 May 1939

p2 letter from J. O. Williams to P. Clutterbuck, Dominions Office, London; 2 May 1939

p3 letter from J. O. Williams to P. Clutterbuck, Dominions Office, London; 2 May 1939

p4 letter from J. O. Williams to P. Clutterbuck, Dominions Office, London; 2 May 1939

John Osborn Williams and his eldest son Arthur Eric Williams were living at these addreses respectively by March 1938: Flat 14 Dunraven House (r. of entrance) and Flat 23 Kenilworth House Westgate Street Cardiff (l. of entrance) and Westgate Street Cardiff (Source : Companies House, Cardiff) 3.1.03

The location of J.O' s Flats in Westgate Street,near Cardiff Castle; 3 January 2003

p1 Summary of the Revised Report of Newfoundland Comptroller & Auditor General Bradney into the Labrador Development Company Ltd.; 16 March 1945

p2 Summary of the Revised Report of Newfoundland Comptroller & Auditor General Bradney into the Labrador Development Compnay Ltd. 16 March 1945

p3 Summary of the Revised Report of the Newfoundland Comptroller and Auditor General Bradney 16 March 1945

Views from LABRADOR HOUSE (top) and from THE COTTAGE (bottom) looking out over The Bristol Channel on a very wet morning, 3 January 2003

J. O. Williams Property Assets, brief details

The Cottage, 34 Main Street, Ogmore-by-Sea, Bridgend CF32 OPL where J.O. and Ethel Kate retired to and which also served as their Company office during their later years; 18 January 2003

The entrance to Bridgend Cemetery, Bridgend, South Wales 18 January 2003

Location of the grave of John Osborn and Ethel Kate Williams, Bridgend Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Environmental and Planning Directorate, Bridgend County Council, Council Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend CF31 4WB; 18 January 2003

Final resting place of John Osborn Williams aged 77 years; (b. 28 March 1886, d.6 July 1963) and Ethel Kate Williams, aged 69 years; (b. 31 January 1887, d. 20 March 1956) Bridgend Cemetery, South Wales; (Notice of Vandalism was posted at the cemetery, July 2002)18 January 2003

p.1
Preliminary findings about the two deaths, Port Hope Simpson 3 February 1940

p2 Preliminary findings about the two deaths, Port Hope Simpson, 3 February 1940

Certified copy of an entry of death for John Osborn Williams died 6 July 1963

Evidence of the need to finally, once and for all, completely sever the Labrador Development Company-Government business relationship: Telegram from the Newfoundland Government to the Dominions Office; 2 January 1946

Evidence of the Trickery and Powers of Deception of J. O. Williams: letter from John Chadwick, Dominions Office to Lt. Col. Russell Edmunds, British Treasury, 20 January 1947

Evidence pointing the finger of blame at the British and Newfoundland Commission of Government's failure to control the activities of J. O. Williams and his Labrador Development Company, Port Hope Simpson. In a letter from C.H.M. Wilcox, British Treasury, London to P.A. Clutterbuck, The Dominions Office, London, 13 July 1943

COMPANY BROCHURE front cover showing a team of working dogs hauling wood out from the forest; brochure printed in Great Britain by William Lewis (Printers) Ltd., Cardiff; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

p1 COMPANY BROCHURE extensive, dense forest on the banks of the Alexis River, 1934; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

p2 COMPANY BROCHURE dense forest on the banks of the deep water of The Alexis River, 1934; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

p3 COMPANY BROCHURE bot.r.clkwise The late Mr. Arthur Eric Williams was with the the first landing party in Alexis Bay in June 1934; landing stores; the first pioneer landing party landing;a waterfall in Gilbert River; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

P4 COMPANY BROCHURE After Four Months Work, Port Hope Simpson; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

P5 COMPANY BROCHURE A Steamer being loaded, Alexis Bay, Port Hope Simpson, September, 1934; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

p6 COMPANY BROCHURE Deck Cargo of Labrador Pitprops at Port Hope Simpson; Big Logs cut at Alexis River Logging Camps; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

p7 COMPANY BROCHURE The Visit of The Commission of Government officials, August 1934; front.l.: Hon.Thomas Lodge; m.: Hon. Sir John Hope Simpson; r.: J.O. Williams et.al; courtesy of John Illsley, grandson of J.O. Williams; 11 January 2003

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