Details of the Fatal Accident

Place Ilford, Essex, England
Date Sunday 16th January 1944, 6:20 p.m.
Railway Company British Railways (Eastern Region)
No. of Fatalities 9
Cause of Accident Signals passed at danger
Description The 2:38 p.m. express train from Yarmouth stopped at Ilford after the driver had not seen signals in the fog. The stationary train was then hit by the following train from Norwich which had passed several signals at danger.

Sources/Further Reading

  • Hull Daily Mail, 20th January 1944
  • The Times, Friday 21st January 1944

List of Fatalities

The 9 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
ALLENHarold27Sqdn-Ldr R.A.F, formerly schoolmasterNuneaton, WAR1944/Mar Ilford 4a 526
FRESSANGESGeorge Albert36Roman Catholic priestNorwich, NFKFather1944/Mar Ilford 4a 478
GAFFRONVernon L.Airman (USAF)Kenosha, WIAmerican citizen
HALLDonald20Lieutenant in Duke of Wellington Regt, formerly accountant clerkGreenacre, West End, South Cave, ERY1944/Mar Ilford 4a 526
HEILGERSFrank Frederick Alexander51MP for Bury St Edmunds since 1931Wyken Hall, Bardwell, SFK1944/Mar Ilford 4a 526
MCGHEET.Sergeant (US Forces)Wheeling, USAAmerican citizen
NEWMANPeter Alexander22Assistant film production managerPembridge-villas, Notting Hill, London, MDX1944/Mar Ilford 4a 527
RICEWalter James58Builder and contractorHempstead-rd, Watford, HRT1944/Mar Ilford 4a 527
STAMPERDavid L.Cincinnati, OHAmerican citizen