chris basey Posted 24 May , 2007 Share Posted 24 May , 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris basey Posted 27 May , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2007 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 27 May , 2007 Share Posted 27 May , 2007 Thanks. What a terrible story. Good they are remembered too. Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 27 May , 2007 Share Posted 27 May , 2007 Chris Thanks for drawing our attention to this tragedy. Nice to know about the plaque now there to remember them. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esskay Posted 28 May , 2007 Share Posted 28 May , 2007 This incredible NZ WW1 resource site (that has been referred to in the past) gives a little more info including names of the casualties: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sooty/bere.html Cheers Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackNZ Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackNZ Posted 19 December , 2007 Share Posted 19 December , 2007 Can no-one assist with a photo of this memorial? Zack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackNZ Posted 20 December , 2007 Share Posted 20 December , 2007 No one - nothing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 20 December , 2007 Share Posted 20 December , 2007 A few minutes on the web produced these sites: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~owend/I...ereferrers.html http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sooty/bere.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/092001/26/kiwis.shtml The last carries this image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackNZ Posted 20 December , 2007 Share Posted 20 December , 2007 Brilliant thanks Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDGRIFFITHS Posted 1 December , 2019 Share Posted 1 December , 2019 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. And outside the church in the village there are also documents kept at Archive NZ Wellington which details the accident and the cause. I have copies if anyone is interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 1 December , 2019 Share Posted 1 December , 2019 The names of these New Zealand soldiers are also recorded on the memorial of the neighbouring village to Bere Ferrers, Bere Alston: warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/236630 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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