Perhaps the most tragic event to befall the people of this area happened just one month after the end of World War Two. The rail crash in 1979 at Invergowrie was not the worst to affect the people of Perth and Perthshire. Bourne End was truly tragic, newlyweds, soldiers being de-mobbed, just released POW’s, many had served in combat and not been home for years. To them, it was all over, and they were looking forward to life returning to peaceful and happy normalcy.
On the night of 30 September 1945, the overnight train to London Euston Station left Perth packed with over 700 people on board, many of them servicemen and women. It was a 15-coach express train hauled by The London, Midland and Scotland, Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No. 6157, The Royal Artilleryman. Due to engineering work being carried out on the Watford Tunnel, the train was diverted from the fast lanes to the slow lanes at Bourne End, near Hemel Hempstead in the Borough of Dacorum. The morning was fine and sunny, and the train driver was highly experienced.
At 8.20pm the driver of the train failed to slow down in response to the cautionary signals on the approach to the diversion. The train entered the 15 miles an hour section at nearly 60 miles per hour. The train derailed and the first 6 carriages overturned and fell down an embankment. Only the last three carriages remained on the rails.
The alarm was raised by a U.S.A.A.F. pilot, Captain McCallum who had just taken off from Bovingdon Aerodrome and observed the accident. He notified his control tower, and they notified the railway authorities. American personal at the aerodrome and local people helped significantly with assistance to the injured. Medical aid was forthcoming at once, a doctor who was a passenger rendered immediate assistance and was joined by another doctor at 9.20pm and two more at 9.30pm. The first casualty was admitted to the West Hertfordshire Hospital, three miles away at 9.30pm.
Local St. John’s ambulance crews arrived at the horrific crash within 20 minutes and were soon joined by ambulances from further afield. The residents of the hamlet of Bourne End were having a VJ (Victory over Japan) party as the train derailed. The uneaten sandwiches and sausage rolls were welcomed by the survivors. The Berkhamsted Woman’s Voluntary Service quickly provided urns of hot tea.
The first carriage, a luggage van was completely crushed by the second carriage and flung at right angles above it. The floor of the third carriage was ripped out and it was left pointing into the air at 45 degrees. The fourth carriage lay alongside the third.
43 people were killed and 124 injured, 64 seriously. Among the dead and injured were members of the Services who had fought on many battlefields and had just returned from the war safely.
Perthshire Casualties:
Former Leading Aircraftwoman Lillian Mary Bennett Edwards, 462073, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, Age 25. Mrs Lillian Edwards died on 1st October 1945 at the West Hertfordshire Hospital. Lilian was stationed at RAF Leuchars until her demobilisation three weeks previously. A guard of honour of W.A.A.F.’s from Leuchars escorted the hearse from her parents’ home at 11 Park Crescent, Scone to Scone Cemetery. Helen was travelling with her new husband, Corporal Leslie Edwards from Coulson in Surrey. He was uninjured in the crash.
Corporal Helen Ann Taylor (Nicky) Grassie, W/156152, Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), age 24. Helen was the daughter of Captain J.T. Grassie, D.S.O., M.B.E., Sports Master at Perth Academy and formerly of the Black Watch, and Mrs Grassie of Atholl Bank Cottage in Perth. Helen was formerly employed in the art department of Munro Press Ltd., Perth.
Sergeant David MacBeth, Black Watch, Age 29 son of Mr George MacBeth, Blackford Estate.
Sergeant William Lumgair, Black Watch, Age 40, formerly a piping instructor at Glenalmond College and a well-known soccer referee and swimmer.
Trooper William Albert Toy, 316888, Royal Armoured Corps, Age 34. His wife lived at 8 Crieff Road, Perth. Trooper Toy was wounded twice in North African and Italian campaigns.
Guardsman Alexander Lachlan Bruce, 2699533, Scots Guards, Age Unknown. Guardsman Bruce was from the Central Hotel in Errol. He was on compassionate leave to attend to the business of his father-in-law who was seriously ill. Guardsman Bruce is buried in Murie Cemetery, Errol.
Leading Aircraftman Henry Albert Frost, 1611304, RAFVR, Age 42, stationed at RAF Errol.
Leading Aircraftman Harry Albert Harris, 1216387, RAFVR, Age 37, stationed at RAF Errol.
Gunner John Smith, 1562772, Royal Artillery, age 32, son of Mary Smith, 31 Darnhall Drive, Craigie, Perth. Gunner Smith was to report to The Royal Arsenal at Woolwich after having served in Italy.
The Perthshire Injured:
Wren Rose Donaldson, age 18 from Ainslie Gardens, Perth.
Wren Catherine West, age 22 from Charlotte Street, Perth
David Grieve, Ainslie Gardens, Perth
Wing Commander Robert Napier, Burnbank Terrace, Perth
David Phillips and Mrs Phillips, George Street, Perth
Chief Petty Officer Douglas Clark, age 29, was going south to take part in a course.
Driver David Birrell, Ballantine Place, Perth was a P.O.W. in Germany for five years and was on his way to re-join his unit.
Able Seaman David Guthrie, Abbot Street, Perth, on route to Plymouth.
Private Alex Miles, age 26, Park Terrace, Perth. Served three years in the Middle East and was returning home after his first leave home in four years.
Thomas Ferrell, 13 George Street, Dunblane.
George Strathdee, 72 George Street, Dunblane.
William, Mrs Betty and Miss Betty Munro, Invergowrie
Lance Corporal Sadgrove, Rosebank, Bankfoot.
Private David Philp, Lance Corporal Ronald Seagrave, Private Peter Francis McFarlane and Corporal James Meek, all stationed at the Queen’s Barracks, Perth.
Perthshire Uninjured:
Lieutenant Colonel A. V. Holt, Guildtown.
Buchanan Dunsmore, Comely Bank, Perth.
Flight Lieutenant W. G. Wood, MurrayVille, Kinnoull, Perth.
Eddie Robertson, Black Watch, Ainslie Place, Perth.
Research by Ken Bruce
