British Railways (LMS) Staff Obituaries.
No guarantee can be given as to the accuracy of this data and you are always urged to seek the original entry for confirmation of he data.
This text file consists of a list of Names and retirement information,
extracted from the British Railways Staff Magazine. (Carry On)
London Midland Region. March 1948.
Name. Retirement type. Event Date. Age. Born. BR Depot
Adderley, A. R. Deceased December 1947 84 1863 Carnforth
Adkins, A. W. Age December 1947 0 0 Camden
Alexander, A. Deceased December 1947 63 1884 Manton
Allen, T. J. Deceased December 1947 84 1863 Shipley
Allred, F. Deceased December 1947 61 1886 Manchester
Anderson, A. Age December 1947 0 0 Manchester
Anderson, S. Age December 1947 0 0 Bromsgrove
Asford, W. Age December 1947 0 0 Preston
Banks, A. G. Age December 1947 0 0 Bradford
Barnes, D. Deceased December 1947 75 1872 Glasgow
Bell, J. Deceased December 1947 70 1877 Glasgow
Bell, W. J. Age December 1947 0 0 Whitehead
Berry, J. S. Deceased December 1947 77 1870 Manchester
Blackmore, J. Deceased December 1947 74 1873 Liverpool
Boulton, W. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Liverpool
Brighouse, S. J. Deceased December 1947 77 870 Derby
Brocklehurst, F. Age December 1947 0 0 Earlestown
Brown, L. Age December 1947 0 0 Fleetwood
Burns, P Age December 1947 0 0 St Pancras
Carter, A. F. Deceased December 1947 70 1877 Crewe
Chaplin, C. R. Deceased December 1947 84 1863 Camden
Chapman, T. Deceased December 1947 77 1870 Newton Heath
Chappell, A. Deceased December 1947 67 1880 Healey Mills
Chubb, G. O. Age December 1947 0 0 Chesterfield
Clark, G. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Stoke
Clarke, G. Deceased December 1947 74 1873 Rugby
Clarkson, T. Deceased December 1947 71 1876 Lostock Hall
Cooper, G. A. Age December 1947 0 0 Sheffield
Cox, T. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Aberdeen
Crossland, W. Age December 1947 0 0 Low Moor
Culley, M. G (Miss) Age December 1947 0 0 Buton
Davey, W. H. Deceased December 1947 61 1886 Nelson
Davidson, C. Age December 1947 0 0 Lochee
Davies, J. Age December 1947 0 0 Bardford
Dawson, A. Deceased December 1947 76 1871 Chester
Daykin, J. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Toton
Dickson, J. T. Deceased December 1947 65 1882 Glasgow
Donaldson, A. Deceased December 1947 74 1873 St Pancras
Eade, T. C. Deceased December 1947 67 1880 Barking
Evans, F. Age December 1947 0 0 Llandudno Junc
Findlayson, J. Deceased December 1947 85 1862 Inverness
Fletcher, T. W. Deceased December 1947 62 1885 Borough, High St.
Fraser, D. J. Age December 1947 0 0 Glasgow
Furnivall, W. Deceased December 1947 76 1871 Crewe
Godfrey, T. Age December 1947 0 0 Dove Holes
Godwin, C. J. Age December 1947 0 0 Camden
Goodman, W. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Coventry
Gowland, G. Deceased December 1947 80 1867 Doncaster
Goy, E. A. (Miss) Age December 1947 0 0 Stoke
Graham, W. T. Age December 1947 0 0 Glasgow
Grange, E. E. Age December 1947 0 0 Wadburgh
Harding, G. Deceased December 1947 86 1861 Crewe
Hartwell, A. T. Deceased December 1947 62 1885 Ettingshall Road
Haywood, W. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Chesterfield
Hendrie, W. F. Deceased December 1947 83 1864 Edinburgh
Hewitt, F. G. Age December 1947 0 0 St Pancras
Hibbert, G. E. Deceased December 1947 71 1876 Derby
Hockey, A. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Watford, H. Q.
Hunt, W. Deceased December 1947 70 1877 Euston
Huntly, R. J. Deceased December 1947 72 1875 Cudworth
Jackson, J. S. Age December 1947 0 0 Watford, H. Q.
Johnston, A. Age December 1947 0 0 Kirriemuir
Kain, G. S. Age December 1947 0 0 Derby
Knightley, E. Age December 1947 0 0 Camden
Lazenby, G. B. Age December 1947 0 0 Goole Dock
Ledingham, J. Deceased December 1947 75 1872 Inverness
Littledyke, G. H. Deceased December 1947 73 1874 Stoke
Loomes, H. F. Age December 1947 0 0 Wellingborough
Macnamara, H. Age December 1947 0 0 Preston
MacPherson, J. Age December 1947 0 0 Salsburgh
Marshall, W. C. Age December 1947 0 0 Derby
Martindale, T. Deceased December 1947 84 1863 Bolton
Mc. Burnie, C. W. Age December 1947 0 0 Rutherglen
McBride, R. Age December 1947 0 0 Bridgeton
McDonnell, A. Deceased December 1947 75 1872 Garston Docks
Morris, T. Deceased December 1947 74 1873 Leicester
Murdo, A. K. Age December 1947 0 0 Liverpool
Nelson, J. Age December 1947 0 0 Liverpool
Owen, A. E. Age December 1947 0 0 Derby
Page, C. H. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Bristol
Partington, J. B. Deceased December 1947 65 1882 Manchester
Pinchbeck, R. G. Deceased December 1947 41 1906 Skipton
Price, A. Deceased December 1947 78 1869 Lilbourne
Pullan, T. Deceased December 1947 100 1847 Stockport
Rawlin, W. C. Age December 1947 0 0 Stoke
Rhead, W. Deceased December 1947 73 1874 Chester
Rich, J. H. Deceased December 1947 77 1870 Maryport
Rotherham, E. Deceased December 1947 77 1870 Southport
Salter, W. McL. Age December 1947 0 0 Heaton Mersey
Shaw, F. Deceased December 1947 64 1883 Mirfield
Shephers, W. Deceased December 1947 68 1879 Blackburn
Smith, F. A. Age December 1947 0 0 Birmingham
Snell, C. S. Age December 1947 0 0 Derby
Southworth, G. Deceased December 1947 63 1884 Crewe
Stanway, G. Deceased December 1947 79 1868 Euston
Steele, A. Deceased December 1947 76 1871 Crewe
Stephens, J. K. Deceased December 1947 80 1867 Euston
Stewart, J. Deceased December 1947 75 1872 Kilmarnock
Stott, G. Deceased December 1947 75 1872 Liverpool
Sykes, C. M. Deceased December 1947 60 1887 Manchester
Sykes, E. Deceased December 1947 74 1873 Blackburn
Thomson, C. J. Age December 1947 0 0 Maiden Lane
Timmis, B. Deceased December 1947 60 1887 Manchester
Tittle, J. Age December 1947 0 0 Garston Dock
Tomlinson, B. T. Age December 1947 0 0 Derby
Tooley, W. H. Age December 1947 0 0 Bolton
Upton, A. H. Deceased December 1947 67 1880 Preston
Walley, A. T. Deceased December 1947 78 1869 Crewe
Watson, J. J. Age December 1947 0 0 Somers Town
Whitton, R. Deceased December 1947 76 1871 Dundee West
Williams, H. Age December 1947 0 0 Watford, H. Q.
Williamson, J. Age December 1947 0 0 Glasgow
Wodhams, S. W. Age December 1947 0 0 Euston
Wright, R. W. Age December 1947 0 0 Manchester
Yarsley, T. J. Deceased December 1947 65 1882 Dudley
Young, P. Age December 1947 0 0 Heeley
FILM STAR ENGINE DRIVER.
Once, when Driver Bill Arthur of Kentish Town Motive Power Depot brought the
King and Queen in the Royal Train from Leicester to St. Pancras all Bill's
family were on the platform at the London terminus to share his pride. It
was one of the highlights in Driver Arthur's career on the foot plate.
Now another proud adventure has come to Bill for he is the "lead" in a
railway film depicting Controlled Firing of Locomotives which is to he shown
to drivers and firemen everywhere.
The most cherished possession of this 63-year-old driver of St. Pancras-Leeds
expresses is his watch. It was given to him by his father Isaac (still hale
and hearty at 87) when he retired after 52 years' service as a driver and
then a Shed Foreman at Peterborough.
ELI DEFIED DOCTOR'S OPINION.
Back in 1878, after he'd been a year on the railway, Eli Counter of Skipton
was sent for a "medical" and the doctor found him "too delicate for railway
service." However, because of his other qualities he was allowed to continue
duty on the iron road.
He's now ninety years old, in good health, and looks back with a keen memory
to his 48 years service on the railway during which he rose to the position
of Passenger Guard and Relief Station Master.
THREE RAILWAY BRIDES TAKE THREE RAILWAY GROOMS
Express Fireman Ernest Rogers of Camden and Miss Margaret Partington, Cook,
Railway Hostel, Longsight (above), when they were married recently in
Manchester. Best man was the bridegroom 's brother, a fireman on the Southern
region. Bride and groom met while on duty.
February "all Railway" wedding No.2 was between Miss Mary Elvin, Clerk in the
M.P.D., Kentish Town, and Clerk Robert Cunnington, M.P.D., Willesden.
Miss Elvin's two brothers (Engineer's Dept., Glasgow and Queen's Hotel,
Leeds, respectively) and sister (St. Pancras Hotels Dept.) were at the
wedding.
A third wedding during February was that between Camden Goods Messenger
Miss Louisa Rind and Goods Checker Ernest Cross. The happy pair first met on
the Goods Shed at Camden.
HE WOKE LORD ROBERTS.
I observe you sometimes publish in "Carry On" records of families who have a
large number of railwaymen among their relatives, and it occurred to me some
particulars of those related to my wife and myself might be of interest.
Here is the list 7 station masters, 1 goods agent, 1 inspector,
1 surfaceman, 1 porter, I foreman painter, 2 passenger guards, I locomotive
fitter, 2 passenger clerks, 2 goods clerks, 1 engine driver, 2 signalmen.
We have in our possession a letter (written in his own band-writing by the
Manager in 1863) appointing my wife's grandfather as station master at 17/-
per week and uniform. He died in harness at 81, there being no Superannuation
Funds in those days. My father and I had 104 1/2 years service between us,
he started in 1860 at 2/6d. per week. In all his 54 years service he was only
off a week ill.
When Booking Clerk at Kilmarnock he issued the first tickets to Glasgow via
the G. B. & K. Joint Railway. When on duty at Castle Douglas, in my early
days, I had an interesting experience when collecting tickets on the Irish
Express from Stranraer Harbour to Carlisle. On entering a first class
carriage a gentleman was sound asleep, and I wakened him. He told me he was
from Euston and the guard had his ticket ! It was the practice to do this,
and the guard should have told me not to disturb him. On speaking to the
guard he said he had the ticket, but said "Do you know whom you have
wakened?" I said "No" so he replied "It is Lord Roberts".
He was very civil and not like some of those we found it necessary to wake
upon that train.
HISTORY IN CLOCK.
There is so much interesting history written inside the clock in our signal
box that when it was recently sent for repair the old case was retained.
It seems that every signalman who has come to this box has signed inside the
clock his name and the date he took charge.
The date of the death of Queen Victoria and King Edward are recorded and the
arrival of a new door mat August 1910. is mentioned.
Here are some other items:-
Royal train passed this box January 11th, 1904.
Titanic sunk April 11th, 1912.
Seddon hung April 18th, 1912.
Signalman J. L. Hall,
Dundon Box, Harlington.
AMONG THOSE RETIRING.
10 MILLION WAGONS OF BEER.
In his 56 years on the railway at Burton, Checker J. 0. Adams dealt with over
10 million wagons of beer and was never late and never absent during the
whole of that time.
Jack Adams has never had to consult a doctor and he puts his buoyant health
down to the practice of never going to bed the same day that he got up and if
he ever did feel off colour, he took a rusty spade into the garden and
brightened it by hard digging.
For 39 years Jack has been a football referee and is still president of the
Burton Referees' Union. At 72 years of age he is in excellent health.
HIS HOBBY WAS GOOD WORKS.
Into retirement after 50 years service goes Assistant A/c Clerk Ernest
Williams of the District Engineer's Dept., Abergavenny.
Two sons remain to carry on the railway tradition, Donald who is at present
Assistant Transport Engineer, Paddington, and Vernon, Assistant Operator at
Stonebridge Park Power Station.
Amongst his many activities Mr. Williams served as General Secretary of the
Abergavenny Railwaymen 's Coal Association from l908 until 1939, when owing
to war conditions the Association was closed down. He also served on the
Committee of the Railwaymen's Institute at Abergavenny for a number of
years. He was also a keen railway ambulance man and a Serving Brother of the
Order of St. John.
ASSORTED GIFTS FOR AULD JOCK.
Signalman John Gracie (Auld Jock) of Shields Junction, Glasgow, went off with
a briar pipe, tobacco and pouch, a pocket knife and a shaving brush when he
retired after 46 years service. They were gifts from his mates and, ringing
in his ears as he left was a chorus of "good lucks" from Station Master Clark
and District Signal Inspector Johnstone and the goodly company who had
gathered to say farewell.
BIG SEND OFF FOR MR. LITTLE.
So highly thought of was Goods Agent John Little of Whitehaven by staff and
traders alike that he was presented at his retirement ceremony with a very
handsome pigskin travelling case and a wallet bulging with notes. Mrs. Little
received a dressing table set.
When making the presentation, Mr. J. Patterson, J.P., Managing Director of
Beacon Mills said "Mr. Little has always done his best to ease any
difficulties experienced by traders and had served both his employers and the
public faithfully and well. He could certainly look back on a field of
memories secure in the knowledge that he had worthily earned is leisure."
Afterwards, Goods Agent Little took the whole of his office staff out to
dinner at a local hotel.
DRIVER GOT A PEPPERMINT.
65 year old Driver Ernest Glover at Kentish Town, retiring after 50 years
service looks back on a lifetime of effort to secure the present day high
standard of railway working conditions, for he was one of the earliest
stalwarts of the N.U.R. Says "Old Jaggers" in a reminiscing vein "The only
tip I ever got was after the last war. An old lady said to me: 'Thank God we
have arrived safely,' and gave me two packets out of her petticoat pocket.
When she had gone I opened them, and in each I found a peppermint lozenge
marked: Extra Strong."
50 YEARS SERVICE.
When Chief Booking Clerk Sydney Hardwick, of Hanley, a railwayman for more
than 50 years, was given a wallet of notes by his colleagues on the day of
his retirement, it was revealed that Sydney started his railway career as a
messenger at Egginton in 1897.
Sydney is going to spend his retirement on a small holding.
TWO WOODS AT FOUR OAKS
The waiting room at Four Oaks was full to overflowing by staff and traders on
the day Station Master J. A. Dowdeswell retired after 48 years service.
Besides a parting gift of a cheque, he was given a pair of bowling woods,
and Mrs. Dowdeswell was presented with an umbrella. S. M. Dowdeswell is "hot
stuff" at bowls.
CABINET FOR FOREMAN.
Crewe Loco. Works Sports Club was filled to capacity by the staff of the
Brass Finishing Shop to pay tribute to retiring foreman A. Collins who was
presented with a handsome sideboard cabinet.
Foreman Collins was always to the forefront in Work's Welfare schemes and had
been a foreman for over 20 years.
HE'S HAD A BUSY LIFE.
A railwayman for 52 years, an Ambulance worker for 50 years and a member of a
brass band for 42 years are records held by Dockgateman A. T. Morse of Lydney
Harbour who has now retired from the railway.
For many years he combined his job of dockgateman with that of diver and did
all the diving work required at the docks.
This 67 year old holder of the Ambulance Gold Medal and 20 years gold bar,
played the double bass in the Lydney Town Prize Band and for the last 6 years
he has been its Financial Secretary.
ARTHUR MANSELL SAYS GOODBYE.
A man who has trained a large number of railway officers in Block Rules and
Regulations has retired after 50 years service. He is District Traffic
Inspector Arthur Mansell of the Chester District who at a smoking concert at
Bangor held in his honour was presented with a wallet of treasury notes.
MAN WITH THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS.
Retirement of Mr. W. W. Sharp of the C.O.L.E. Office after 46 years service
will cause a babble of regret and reminiscence in railway clubs and
institutes throughout the country, for the friendliness, humanity and
tireless pursuit of staff welfare of this genial gentleman were known to
railwaymen everywhere.
Bill Sharp was Editor of the L.M.S. Magazine until it ceased at the outbreak
of war, a job which took him all over the railway to be present at sport,
horticultural and social events. The end of the "L.M.S. Mag." was not the
end of Bill's Welfare activities. He organised and controlled the L.M.S.
Prisoners of War Fund which looked after the interests of the 1,150 L.M.S.
staff who were in enemy hands. And here again Bill Sharp displayed his
remarkable talent for "good works." It is on record that, however difficult
to get any particular article requested by a prisoner was, Bill saw to it
that it was obtained.
Mr Sharp was the first Chairman of the Railway Athletic Association and is
its present Vice-President; he is treasurer of the London Midland Dramatic
Society, Box Office Manager for the London Midland Operatic Society, a life
member of the London Midland Athletic Club, and Editor of the R.A.A. year
book.
However, retirement from the Railway service will not mean the end of
Mr. Sharp's athletic interests. He will often be seen in the future hurrying
from his home at 17 Blenheim Road, St. Albans, to be present at some railway
welfare function. Nor will Bill's retirement mean a severance of the family
railway tradition for his twin sons John and Bill are in the Chief
Accountant's Office at H.Q.
NO FINER GANGER THAN FRANK.
"He's always been a grand mate to work with" said colleague N. Fradley about
Ganger Frank Hodson of Weston, Staffs, on the day the latter retired after 46
years service. This fine tribute was followed by another when Station Master
Cloney, in presenting Frank with a smoking outfit and money on behalf of his
mates, said "Despite his 67 years, Frank has worked 15 hours a day and has
done an enormous job for us. There is no more conscientious ganger on the
railway."
MUSICAL CHAIRS.
Two stalwarts of the Railway-Passenger Guard Johnnie Brown (50 years service)
of Hamilton and Goods Guard Duncan Hogg (42 years service) of Motherwell,
have just retired but that's no end to either family's railway connection.
Johnnie Brown's brother still carries on as Goods Agent at Rutherglen and his
son is a Goods Guard at Motherwell; Duncan Hogg's son is a passenger guard at
Hamilton.
A bit complicated maybe but when you've sorted it out it becomes clear that
Hamilton Passenger Guard Brown's son is a Goods Guard at Motherwell while
Motherwell Goods Guard Duncan Hogg's son is a passenger guard at Hamilton.
A LIST OF NAMES THAT APPEAR IN THE ABOVE TEXT :-
Adams J. 0.
Arthur Bill
Brown Johnnie
Collins A.
Counter Eli
Cross Ernest
Cunnington Robert
Dowdeswell J. A.
Elvin Miss Mary
Findlay R.
Glover Ernest
Gracie John
Hall, J. L.
Hardwick Sydney
Hodson Frank
Hogg Duncan
John Little
Mansell Arthur
Morse A. T.
Partington Miss Margaret
Rind Miss Louisa
Rogers Ernest
Sharp W. W.
Williams Ernest