Histories

THE identities of the two British girls drowned in a mountain torrent at Valles in the Brenner Pass in the Tyrol were disclosed today as:—. Miss Bridget Julia Gibbs (27), the twin daughter of the Rev. Reginald Gibbs and Mrs Gibbs, of Aldenham Vicarage, Watford, and relative of Lord Aldenham; 

And Miss Catherine Roper (21), the only daughter of Mr and Mrs G. D. Roper, of Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset. 

"All we have heard of the tragedy is that my sister and her friend lost their lives by drowning," Miss Gibbs' sister told reporter Aldenham to-day. 

"They had been on a walking tour in Italy since the beginning of June with a third friend, Miss Frances Coke, the daughter of General Coke. My sister had been on a similar holiday last year, when she gained experience of climbing. "The party was to have come back next month." 

Miss Gibbs said her sister was a cousin of Lord Aldenham and of the late Venerable the Hon. Kenneth Francis Gibbs, formerly chaplain to the King and Archdeacon of St Alban's. A requiem service has been arranged at Aldenham Church, Herts., on Thursday. 

A member of the household at Forde Abbey told the Press Association, "We are anxiously awaiting details of the tragedy.

The Rev, Reginald Gibbs, father of one of the drowned girls, has been vicar of Aldenham since 1923. He has held several livings in Devon. Baron Aldenham, to whom Miss Gibbs was related, was Conservative M P for the City of London from 1892 to 1906. He is closely associated with city banking circles. 

Miss Frances Coke is a daughter of Brig. - Gen. E. S. D'Ewes Coke, Eton End Datchet, Berkshire. Mrs Coke, her mother, told a reporter today—" The three girl were very great friends and were on a hiking tour together " The first news we had of the accident was in telegram from my daughter on Sunday saying that the other two girl had been drowned and asking us to inform their parents. Mrs Roper came up from Chard immediately and she and my husband left for the scene by air at 5.30 in the morning. My daughter spent a hiking holiday Europe last year and so enjoyed it that she wanted to repeat it. Only yesterday afternoon we had letter written just before this happened saying how beautiful it was there." Brig.-Gen. Coke, who has two sons and two daughters, was formerly in the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and served on the North-West Frontier of India and in the Great War. Rev. Reginald Gibbs told a reporter, " My daughter did a great deal of work in helping me in the parish, which extends over rather scattered area, and also put in much work for the diocese, specially for the Bishop of St Alban's. She was at one time president the Girls' - Diocesan Association in the diocese. She was outstanding girl. " During 1930 she worked in South Africa as temporary secretary to the Bishop of Southern Rhodesia, the Rev, Edward Francis Paget. Her brother, the Rev. Michael Gibbs, is working with the Bishop at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. My daughter, who went to school with her twin sister at Abingdon, Oxfordshire, was extremely fond of walking, and visited Austria last year with the two friends with whom she went to Brenner pass this week end. I expecting further details about the tragedy from General Coke and Mrs Roper who have gone out there." Miss Gibbs was also related Lord Hunsdon, of Ware, Herts. 

The tragedy is described in the following message from Rome:— 

'Two English girls, Bridget Gibbs and Catherine Isabel Roper, have lost their lives by drowning in a mountain torrent at Valles, a little village in the Brenner Pass. One of them died in attempting to save the other. 

The girls had come to the district from London, with their rucksacks on their backs, to have a mountain holiday. The body of one of the girls has been recovered, but the other is still missing. 

The two girls arrived with friend, who had accompanied them from Paris. It was she who vainly endeavoured to fetch help when the tragedy occurred on Saturday. They spent Friday night Vipiteno, and left early on Saturday for Rio de Pasterna, where they bought food, and proceeded to make mountain climb through the Valle Vizzi, It understood that they were making for Austria through the mountains. They lost their way, however, and decided to make for Valles to obtain a guide. They, therefore, turned back, and retraced their step.

They had to cross a mountain torrent which was swollen snow. In parts there was ice and snow, which made the stepping stones dangerous. The first girl slipped, and was immediately swept Into the raging eddies. The second girl made a gallant attempt to rescue her friend, and threw herself after her into the current, but she was soon overcome the force the water The third girl was left on the bank, and rushed downstream, but could nothing. She went quickly possible to Valles search help, and in the evening came back with a number of men, who managed to retrieve the body of Miss Gibbs. Firemen, carabinieri, and others sought again to recover the second body, but so far it has not been found. 

The search for the body Miss Roper is being pushed on by her mother and General Coke, who arrived by air to-day. 

It is expected that Miss Gibbs will be buried at Valles, near the scene of her death.