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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Bere Ferrers


chris basey

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Part of our enjoyable few days in Cornwall and Devon was to seek out the waterside church of Bere Ferrers. It's an attractive drive through narrow lanes covered with wild flowers and, eventually, we found it.

Well worth the trip as it's such an attractive spot. However, we had no idea that the village War Memorial has an additional plaque which was placed there in 2001. It commemorates the deaths of ten New Zealand men who were killed in a rail accident at the small local station in 1917.

Have a look here for the story.

In the church is a beautiful brass commemorative plaque placed there by the villagers at the time.

The men were buried in Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery.

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Part of our enjoyable few days in Cornwall and Devon was to seek out the waterside church of Bere Ferrers. It's an attractive drive through narrow lanes covered with wild flowers and, eventually, we found it.

Well worth the trip as it's such an attractive spot. However, we had no idea that the village War Memorial has an additional plaque which was placed there in 2001. It commemorates the deaths of ten New Zealand men who were killed in a rail accident at the small local station in 1917.

Have a look here for the story.

The link doesn't work anymore, Chris.

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Sorry about that Roel, here is the text:

A Devon village has unveiled a lasting memorial to 10 soldiers from New Zealand who died in an accident there.

It was in September 1917 that a group of soldiers, freshly arrived from New Zealand, were passing through Devon on their way to the Western Front (via Salisbury Plain). They were to join up with British forces already bogged down in the trenches.

But, within hours of setting foot on British soil, 10 of the soldiers were killed in a freak accident at a railway station in the small Devon village of Bere Ferrers.

The accident happened on September 24th 1917, when the soldiers were travelling from Plymouth to Salisbury. The train stopped at Bere Ferrers and the soldiers disembarked (believing that they had reached Exeter where some much-needed refreshment was scheduled).

But, as the train overhung the station platform, some jumped onto the track, not realising that a train was coming down the line. Eight of the men were killed instantly; two more died at Tavistock Hospital. All the men were buried at Efford Cemetery in Plymouth.

It was a tragedy that touched local people and the names of the dead soldiers were inscribed on a plaque at the local village church.

Now, to coincide with the 74th anniversary of their deaths, the names have been added to the parish war memorial, alongside the names of all the local people killed in the world wars.

Phil Archer, who is vice chair of Bere Ferrers Parish Council, is also a member of the Royal British Legion. He said the engraving of the names - and the laying of a wreath in a special ceremony - was a fitting way to remember the men who had travelled across the world to help Britain.

The ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, villagers - and representatives from the New Zealand armed forces.

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Thanks.

What a terrible story.

Good they are remembered too.

Roel

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Chris

Thanks for drawing our attention to this tragedy.

Nice to know about the plaque now there to remember them.

Glyn

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  • 6 months later...

I wonder if any pal can provide any photos of the Bere Ferrers Station accident memorial that commemorates the death of ten New Zealand soldiers? This tragic incident is well known and the ten men who were killed were:

Surname GILLANDERS

Given Name William Simon

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 55050

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs M A

Next of Kin Surname GILLANDERS

Next of Kin Relationship Wife

Next of Kin Address 1 Rugby Street Christchurch

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 36

Occupation Sheep-farmer

Surname GREAVES

Given Name William Frederick

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 57068

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs Crawford

Next of Kin Surname GREAVES

Next of Kin Relationship Mother

Next of Kin Address Maharahara

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 36

Occupation Farm Hand

Surname JACKSON

Given Name John Stanley

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 55753

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title J

Next of Kin Surname JACKSON

Next of Kin Relationship Father

Next of Kin Address Salvation Army Chaplain Featherston

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 27

Occupation Coppersmith

Surname JUDGE

Given Name Joseph

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 56791

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs C

Next of Kin Surname JUDGE

Next of Kin Relationship Mother

Next of Kin Address 17 Leyland Street Accrington Lancashire England

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 34

Occupation Labourer

Surname KIRTON

Given Name Chudleigh Inwood

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 56795

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Robert

Next of Kin Surname KIRTON

Next of Kin Relationship Father

Next of Kin Address Parnell Street Fitzroy New Plymouth

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 34

Occupation Farmer

Surname MCBRYDE

Given Name Baron Archibald Wilson

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 55776

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Mrs T H

Next of Kin Surname MORTIMER

Next of Kin Relationship Friend

Next of Kin Address C/- Mutual Stores (Limited) Princes street Dunedin

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 27

Occupation Labourer

Surname MCKENNA

Given Name Richard Vincent

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 57122

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title James

Next of Kin Surname MCKENNA

Next of Kin Relationship Father

Next of Kin Address Private Bag Pahiatua

Comment Born in Australia

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 37

Occupation Farmer

Surname TRUSSELL

Given Name William John

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 56874

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs Clara

Next of Kin Surname TRUSSELL

Next of Kin Relationship Mother

Next of Kin Address Kawakawa Street Wanganui East

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 35

Occupation Cabinetmaker

Surname WARDEN

Given Name John

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 56883

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title S

Next of Kin Surname WARDEN

Next of Kin Relationship Father

Next of Kin Address Artlone Randalstown County Antrim Ireland

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 35

Occupation Farmer

Surname WEST

Given Name Sidney Ennis

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 54624

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Mrs F H

Next of Kin Surname SAMPSON

Next of Kin Relationship Aunt

Next of Kin Address Sentry Hill Taranaki

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 28

Occupation Farm Hand

The following two New Zealanders actually survived this accident:

Surname BARNES

Given Name Robert James

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 55026

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs G N

Next of Kin Surname BARNES

Next of Kin Relationship Wife

Next of Kin Address 6 Stevensons Lane Kaiti Gisborne

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 36

Occupation Storeman

Surname GATLEY

Given Name Nathaniel Johnston

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 56920

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Mrs W

Next of Kin Surname MCDONALD

Next of Kin Relationship Sister

Next of Kin Address Heddon Bush Southland

Roll Roll 69

Page Page 26

Occupation Horse-trainer

Any assistance with a photo of this memorial would be appreciated.

Regards

Zack

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  • 11 years later...

My Grandfather, 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Llewellyn Griffiths 36744 was on the train, when the accident occurred. In fact Gillanders and Barnes were in his platoon that he was commanding as part J company 28th Reinforcements. 
I went to the 100th commemoration in 2017. The town still commemorates the accident and will carry on doing so.

A new memorial has been installed at the station.

 

image.jpeg.adaa84d810ef8c686ef45bd337803e8a.jpeg
 

And outside the church in the village

 

image.jpeg.229b86d76962bf127da0af78d8a4287b.jpeg

 

there are also documents kept at Archive NZ Wellington which details the accident and the cause. I have copies if anyone is interested.

 

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