Details of the Fatal Accident

Place Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, England
Date Monday 4th November 1940
Railway Company Great Western Railway
No. of Fatalities 27
Cause of Accident Derailment
Description Accident occurred to the 9:50 p.m. express from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol. After leaving Taunton late due to wartime enemy action in the Bristol area, the train was routed onto relief line to allow passage of a fast newspaper train. The driver misread the signals and did not realise the train was on the relief line, thought he was on the down main with clear signals ahead (which were intended for the newspaper train) and the train was derailed on catch points.

Sources/Further Reading

  • History of the Great Western Railway, Vol. III, pp183
  • Somerset County Herald, 9th November 1940
  • Steam World magazine, August 1994 (briefly)
  • The Railway Accident at Norton Fitzwarren, 1940 (A.R. Kingdom)

List of Fatalities

The 27 fatalities are listed in the table below together with brief notes of any other information found so far.

The last column shows the General Register Office (England and Wales), Statutory Register (Scotland), General Register Northern Ireland or Civil Registration for Ireland reference where this has been identified.

Surname First Names Age Occupation Residence Notes GRO/SR/GRONI/GROIE Reference
ANDREWSErnest Frederick53Chief petty officer gunner's mate (navy)Sheffield, WRY1940/Dec Taunton 5c 782
BALBESSidney Simon18Journeyman hairdresserSouth Hackney, MDX1940/Dec Taunton 5c 779
BALLValetort Rosevelt39Metropolian Police officerBellingham, KEN1940/Dec Taunton 5c 783
BREWERFrederick Walter45Show manager for orchestraIlford, ESSaka ELGAR1940/Dec Taunton 5c 784
BUTCHERRonald24Seaman (navy)?, SCT1940/Dec Taunton 5c 783
COLTARTDora Phyllis39Shortlands, KENMarried.1940/Dec Taunton 5c 784
COLTARTJohn Gilchrist42Senior doctor at Beckenham HospitalShortlands, KENDr.1940/Dec Taunton 5c 784
COUPERFrank Ralph30Section leader (navy)Bristol, SOM1940/Dec Taunton 5c 779
DAVISCharles Albert23Seaman (navy), 1940/Dec Taunton 5c 783
FORWARDWilliam Henry20Seaman (navy)Kingswood, 1940/Dec Taunton 5c 780
HAININGGordon Kerr25Stoker (navy), Stationed at Devonport.1940/Dec Taunton 5c 786
HASELDINEJohn Edward23Electrical artificer (navy)Bristol, SOM1940/Dec Taunton 5c 782
HEATHJohn William24Seaman (navy)Bristol, SOM1940/Dec Taunton 5c 785
HOCKLEYDennis Charles40Chief petty officerDevenport, DEV1940/Dec Taunton 5c 782
JAMESCharles Henry55Train driverActon, MDXPassenger on the train.1940/Dec Taunton 5c 781
LEWISArchibald Steward50Variety artisteLondon W14, MDX1940/Dec Taunton 5c 779
LEWISLucy54London W14, MDXMarried.1940/Dec Taunton 5c 779
LOBERGAlfred Douglas21Press tool makerBromley, KEN1940/Dec Taunton 5c 780
LORYWilliam John35Metropolian Police officerBrockley SE4, KEN1940/Dec Taunton 5c 780
RIVETTJames William45Metropolian Police officerSouth Chingford, ESS1940/Dec Taunton 5c 783
ROBINSONCharles William47Seaman (navy)Greenford, MDX1940/Dec Taunton 5c 783
ROSEDouglas Allenby22Seaman (navy)Swansea, GLA1940/Dec Taunton 5c 786
SEABRIDGEWalter39Locomotive firemanPerivale, MDX1940/Dec Taunton 5c 780
SMITHDonald Charles Torble23SoldierNortholt, MDX1940/Dec Taunton 5c 786
STINSONEdward22Naval writerBristol, SOM1940/Dec Taunton 5c 782
WEATHERHEADCyril34Petty officerStratford-on-Avon, WAR1940/Dec Taunton 5c 785
WILLISMary Elsie Florence20Insurance clerkTorquay, DEVUnmarried1940/Dec Taunton 5c 785