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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: q98 on Saturday 25 November 17 06:17 GMT (UK)
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The following partial report was carried in the deceased's local newspaper:
QUOTE
November 4.
Archibald McDonald, a sergeant in the 6th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers died in a rail accident at Tonbridge on his way back to the Western Front after home leave.
END QUOTE
On 4 November 1915, my ancestor died in a rail accident, see CWGC entry below for date confirmation. Despite searching www.railwaysarchive.co.uk , no rail accidents during November 1915 at "Tonbridge", "Tonbridge Junction", "Tunbridge", "Tunbridge Junction" or "Tunbridge Wells" were located.
Supplemental Information:
www.cwgc.org:
Serjeant MACDONALD Archibald, Service Number 12098, Died 04/11/1915, Aged 22, "D" Coy. 6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers. (Surname mis-spelled. "Died" corresponds with Date displayed on newspaper report.)
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk:
Archibald McDONALD, born 1893. No Death Extract located, suggesting he died in England.
Any information relating to the rail accident would be gratefully received.
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Does his death certificate give any more information, was there an inquest
Death Dec qtr 1915
Archibald MacDonald age 22
Tonbridge 2a 1054
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There is this article from the daily record and mail 10th november, lanarkshire
Killed while returning to the front
Sergt a mcdonald 6th scots fusiliers, was buried with military honours at ardrossan cemetery yesterday. Sergt mcdonald, who resided at 18 winton st, ardrossan, had been home from france on a weeks furlough, and when feturning on saturday, was accidently killed on the railway at tunbridge.
The funeral was a large one and was attended by the pipe band of the royal scots fusiliers from ayr, a firing party from the same regiment and officers and men from hms pactolus. The funeral service was conducted by the rev s lyle orr, saltcoats.
Forgive my punctuation, typing from my tablet.
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Thank you middlesbrough and rosie99.
rosie99: there was no DE on Scotland's People and I can locate no formal Accident Enquiry Report or Inquest. Your reply quotes Tonbridge 2a 1054; any idea what that means? Also another mis-spelling of his surname.
Thanks.
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If he died in Tonbridge that is where his death would be registered. The details I gave were for the registration of his death on the GRO index
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp
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Aha, thank you.
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Any information relating to the rail accident would be gratefully received.
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"was accidentally killed on the railway"
I wonder of he was killed walking on the track or something Trains did stop for water. Or he may have been off the train and killed trying to get back into a carriage while the train was moving.
Accidentally killed rather than a railway accident? Possible.
Sgt Archibald Hillcoat MacDonald has a write up on a site. It is him. Google the full name with Sgt in his name.
Article called 3-Towners. Near the end of the series of articles. The submitter mentions "train crash".
3-Towners are Ardrossan - Saltcoats - Stevenston
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Thanks barryd
That submitter is myself, born and raised in Saltcoats, and came to Australia 44 years ago.
No-one can locate any data on a "train crash" or "rail accident".
Can anyone identify which local (Tonbridge) newspapers were published in 1915?
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I was thinking the same, not a train crash but an accident on the railway.
There are online newspapers for this period
Kent & Sussex Courier
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
There is a report in 1915 of another soldier taking his life near to the railway in the Tonbridge area but I can see nothing for your man using search terms 'railway' & 'Tonbridge' or 'accident ' & Tonbridge
The death certificate may give more information. The GRO are currently running a trial for PDF copies of the register entry for £6 instead of the £9.25 that you would have to pay for a certificate
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp
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Thank you once more rosie99.
.
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" when returning on Saturday, was accidentally killed on the railway at Tunbridge"
This is curious - per CWGC he was killed on 4 November, which was a Thursday.
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Thanks ShaunJ, I missed that. I'd stick with 4 November per CWGC.