THE GRETNA TRAIN SMASH

Evening Star, Issue 22067, 28 June 1935, Page 11

THE GRETNA TRAIN SMASH

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF BRITAIN'S WORST RAILWAY ACCIDENT It is just 20 years since . there occurred, the train smash the appalling death-roll of which, numbering 227, made it the worst accident in the history of British railways, and one of the worst in the world (writes “ Chatsworth,” in the Melbourne * Argus ’). The censorship in force during the war prevented the newspapers from making any reference to the disaster at the time, and very little has appeared since. Yet the tragedy was poignant, since it involved the death of many gallant youngsters who, their months of training and preparation ended, were at last going out to take their part in the Great War. Death lurked somewhere in the uncertain future, but none of the Seventh Battalion of the Royal Scots realised that death rode with him in the train which left Larbert, in Scotland, in the early hours of May 22, 1915. The battalion, under the command of Lieu-tenant-colonel W. C. Peebles, was on its way to Liverpool, where it was to take ship for the Dardanelles. Two trains were required to transport the men. The first left some two hours in advance of the The first train had on board the colonel and headquarters staff, together with “ A” and “ D ” companies; in all, 498 officers and men.

Priority was riven to this troop train, and it mad© good time on the run south. In the crowded carriages the excited young soldiers, most of whom had never beiforo been out of their native Scotland, eagerly speculated on their destination and the prospects of a speedy and safe return. Shortly before 6.45 p.m. the tra*a was nearly at Quentin’s Hill Junction, near Gretna. At the same time the EustonGlasgow night express was rapidly approaching the junction, and a local train was travelling north. The custom was to switch this local train on to the up track at Quentin’s Hill to leaver the way clear for the express. This procedure was followed on this (particular morning; but the signalman forgot the special troop train. Speeding round a curve, it crashed with terrific force into the local train.

Leaving the rails, the troop train rocked along the sleeprs, pitching the crushed and torn bodies of the soldiers on to the permanent-way. Ultimately it turned over on the down track, a mass , of twisted steel and splintered woodwork. A few second later horror was added to horror. At 50 miles an hour the Glasgow express hurled, itself into the wreckage. The weight and impetus of the train carried it for some distance through the splintered coaches lying on the track. Then it, too, overturned. Fire broke but. Frantically the survivors of the three trains, aided by people who had hurried to the scene, fought to extricate the dead and injured from the blazing debris, the injured being rushed in motor cars to Carlisle, where every available hospital bed was being prepared. Of the men m the troop train three officers and 211 of other ranks were killed. In all, 220 officers and men were injured. The express and local train contributed 13 dead and 30 injured to the long list of casualties. Many of the dead were burned so badly, that identification was impossible. _ lii the hospitals at Carlisle the inj’nred received, among others, messages of sympathy from the King and Queen — then, as always, foremost in kindly thoughts for all in trouble. The second troop train, with “ B and “ C ” companies, proceeded by a different route to Liverpool, where these men were joined' by the survivors of the smash. The War Office, however, decided that the men, after their terrible experience, were not fit to travel overseas, and they were sent back to Scotland and were given leave in order to recover from the shook. The second half-battalion, with six .officers who had survived the accident, sailed in the Empress of Britain the following day. A Board of Trade inquiry was held in order to ascertain the cause of the accident. It found that it was due to the negligence of two signalmen, one of whom admitted that be bad completely A 3» loosd train *h*o £9 S&-

nailed a clear road for the troop train. Both men stood their trail on a charge of culpable homicide, were found guilty, and were sentenced, one to penal servitude for three years, and the other to imprisonment for 18 months. A memorial was erected in the Rosebank Cemetery, Leith, in memory of the men of the Royal Scots who lost their lives in the disaster.