Highland Division Soldiers Killed in Railway Accident - Home Counties

[rgalley]

I'm aware of the tragic railway accident which befell elements of the 52nd (Lowland) Division at Quintinshill, near Gretna in May 1915. However, I have been contacted by someone who tells me that the Highland Division was also affected by a railway accident about the same time when it was on its way to France from Bedford. The story I've been told is that somewhere in the Home Counties a troop train carrying elements of the Highland Division from Bedford to the south coast broke down and the men were ordered off, only to be hit by an express train travelling in the opposite direction with substantial loss of life. I have no more than that to go on and have not been able to shed any more light on the story. I'm pretty sure that the person who told me the story is probably thinking of the Gretna incident, but someone out there may know different!

Any thoughts?

Richard

[IPT]

The nearest incident I could find was the Bere Ferrers incident in 1917, involving 10 New Zealanders being hit by an express train - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bere_Ferrers_rail_accident

[Guest]

I don't think I ever got to the bottom of this, and not sure if it's the same incident. Click

Mike