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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: jovi75 on Wednesday 10 June 09 20:05 BST (UK)
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Can anyone find info on a railway accident that killed 26 servicemen (one being my G Grandad) in France on 14th Feb 1917. He is buried at Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery (suburb of Rouen) so assume that the accident happened around that area.
Any insight would be great.
Thanks
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Who was he serving with at the time?
If he was being transported by rail with his unit, the relevant war diary may be one place to start.
Looking at the cemetery report, there are a few casualties from 9th Bn, Durham Light Infantry on the 14th Feb.
Their war diary is at Kew in WO 95/2840
Phil
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I had a look through the service record of Harold John Niven, A/Cpl 1359, 19th Bn AIF, who was also killed in the accident, but could not find any reports etc, other than he was admitted to 8th General Hospital, Rouen.
Phil
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Thank you for your reply. My G Grandfather was a driver with the 48th Res. Bty - Royal Field Artillery. I once saw a reference to an Australian serviceman who had died in a train accident on that date in France and wondered whether my G Grandfather was serving alongside an Australian Regiment at the time. Unfortunately when I tried to get back to the site I couldn't find it.
I guess if it was just a simple train accident, in the scheme of things, wouldn't have been much news so probably not recorded anywhere!
Regards
Jovi75
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My great great uncle was also killed in this accident but was buried at St Sever Extention Rouen, I know about the accident but not where they were coming/going from.
It happened at 8pm on the 13th February, 33 died, 26 buried at Bois Guilliame.
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major g.thornton was in command of the leave train that left havre at 6.30am on 13th feb 1917,the train was at the level crossing at epinay when it was hit by trucks from supply train W25,a coupling broke and 36 trucks crashed into the leave train behind it,two first class carriages and one third class were completly destroyed,one officer[2/Lt e.f greenfield]and 26 men were killed,54 men were badly injured,most of the injured were put aboard a hospital train that had been standing nearby,personel from the 7th+15th hospital trains that arrived shortly after,helped in the rescue of men trapped in the wreckage,three men pinned under the debris were released after 5hrs,major e.s smith the railway transport officer at nearby serqueux took command of the scene,billeting arrangements for most of the 23 officers and 1151 men on board,were found in the nearby villages.
the bodies of the dead were taken by road at 1800hrs,to the 8th general hospital at rouen.
mack
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Hello Manmack,
Thank you for posting. Why do you think that the servicemen (including my G Grandfather) buried at Bois Guilliame are shown as having died on 14th February? I guess maybe they were the injured and died later or they were not identified until the 14th and so that was the date given.
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hiya jovi.
ime guessing that your gt grandfather was 103133 theodore brack
38 injured men were admitted to the 8th gen hospital at rouen on 13th feb,3 others were admitted to the 10th gen hospital rouen on the same day,the following day the bodies of 27 men who died in the accident were admitted to the 8th gen hospital,the bodies of these men were not removed from the wreckage until the morning of 14th feb,16 injured men were taken to one of the casualty clearing stations at rouen,the hospital would not have known the exact time of their death,so it was probably recorded for official purposes as 14th feb.
mack
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I guessed that's probably what had happened. Thanks for that.
Yes my G Grandfather was Theodore Brack. Ironically his father and paternal grandparents were actually German!!!
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Mack
If you have a breakdown of the casualties, esp the wounded, to Regiments then I would be interested in knowing if any Royal Welsh Fusiliers were amongst them.
TIA
Gwil
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hiya gwil.
i only have the names of 1 officer and 23 other ranks,there are no RWF amongst them.
mack
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Thanks Mack
Gwil
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Hi Mack,
Is there any written report about the accident (other than the newspaper article I already have). I know battalions often had diary entries during the war and wondered if anything existed that may have mentioned this tragic accident?
Regards Natalie
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hiya natalie.
theres a full inquest report in the service records of pte bert platford,its probably the only surviving report left,pte platford was one of those killed.
mack
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Thanks, have found the report.
Regards
Natalie
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That is brilliant, thank you for that! I had a look for the others but couldn't even find half of the service records never mind the report!
I do wonder if there might be a full list of all the ones killed like the one of Bert in the record where is says he had head injury and a broken back. Anyone know?
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Yes I wondered that too as the inquest report mentions a list of those killed was available. My G Grandfather's service report doesn't appear to have survived sadly but it was interesting to look through that of Pte Bert Platford's.
Mindyou seeing exactly how he suffered in the accident did make me wonder if I really wanted to see the exact way in which my own relative met his end!!!!
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18 of the soldiers are buried in one line of graves,there wasnt much space in the cemetery to bury them in individual graves,so they buried them in pairs,but each soldier has his own headstone
driver 103133 theodore brack is buried with pte 2924 jonathan bird,theodore was buried first.
mack
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Wow, I didn't imagine that the graves would be shared. Mindyou, in a strange way it's kind of nice to think they were not buried alone in a foreign place!
A lot of really interesting information, many thanks.
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My Great grandfather was probably involved in this accident - he dies from his injuries in January 1918. I haven't been able to find any information re - the newspaper report or inquest details. Would appreciate any links/ideas!
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All of my info is still in the UK (I have moved overseas), however I will look on my old laptop and see if it's stored on there or if I can find the link online again for you.
How sad that your G Grandfather suffered for virtually a year before succumbing to his injuries.
If you go on the Commonwealth Graves site you should be able to find his grave.
Regards
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Hello - thanks for your help. Over the last few days I have discovered that my Great Grandfather does not seem to have been involved in this accident but curiously was involved in an accident, probably in the same tunnel, in January 1918. Not sure if you would have any info on this - I know that there was an inquest at the time but not found any details on it so far !!
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Theodore brack was my great great grand father .I have a fair bit of info on him. I'm currently doing a family tree. Any help would be great. Thanks x