Details of the Accident

Place Hither Green, Kent, England
Date Sunday 5th November 1967, 9.16 p.m.
Railway Company British Railways (Southern Region)
No. of Fatalities 49
Cause of Accident Derailment
Description 19.43 Hastings to Charing Cross was approaching Hither Green at speed when a wheel struck a small wedge shaped piece of steel that had broken away from the end of a running rail. This piece of broken rail caused a derailment. Poor track maintenance was blamed. In 2017 a memorial service was held to mark the 50th anniversary. I am proud to have helped by providing a list of the victims for use during the service.

Sources/Further Reading

  • Bexhill Observer, 1st December 2008
  • The Times, 7th November 1967

List of Fatalities

The 49 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
ASHLEERose Margaret36Gladstone Road, Crowborough, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 312
ASHMOREElizabeth Tamara20Headley Down, Bordon, HAM1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 376
AUSTINHoward L.17Etchingham, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 376
BARTLETTJanet E.18Old Bakery, The Ridge, Hastings, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 378
BOHANEJennifer Ann26Saxonbury, Mayfield Lane, Wadhurst, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 271
BRANCHJacqueline16London Road, Hurst Green, SRY1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 378
BREEDSGay E.17Student at Thomas Peacocke (now Rye) CollegeCross Way, Addington, SRYBench erected Rye SSX in memory1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 312
BREEDSJudith M.21Student at Thomas Peacocke (now Rye) CollegeCross Way, Addington, SRYBench erected Rye SSX in memory. Daughter of Mary BREEDS1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 312
CANNONDorothy V.57Priory Road, Hampton, MDX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 371
CHARLTONKathleen73Bollo Lane, Chiswick, London W., MDX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 310
CHEVALLIERVeronica B.34Eamont Street, St John's Wood, London N.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 376
COVENEYEric G.64Eckington House, South Tottenham, London N., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 340
CRONKTerence D.19Bishops Close, Wateringbury, KEN1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 238
DUTCHEdith Olive May65Walham Grove, Fulham, London S.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 340
FLETTONEric H. O.64Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill, ESS1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 272
FORSTERRev. Harold Theodore Gibson51Harrow, MDX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 377
HARDWICKJulia H.28Mayfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, KEN1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 273
HARDWICKMarion Gay23Mayfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, KEN1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 273
HAYCRAFTCharles23Rock Robin Farm, Wadhurst, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 237
HAZARDJacqueline A.20Acorn Drive, Nottingham, NTTMarried. "An expectant mother"1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 377
HEPPENSTALLGillian Mary29Mark Cross, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 271
KEMPElla Gladys40The Stream, Cartsfield, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 238
LAVENDERBernard John44Kings Drive, Wembley, MDX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 274
LAVENDERIrene E.44Kings Drive, Wembley, MDX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 273
LAVERSMark Clifton20Bowmans, Burwash, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 341
LEWISBetty26Serving in the Women's Royal Naval ServiceSwan Terrace, Hastings, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 311
LINGHAMAnn E.19Ribblesdale Road, Streatham S.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 238
MCPHERSON-HEARDJuliet W.20Linden Cottage, Mill Hill, London N.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 238
MEYERSGeorge Alfred26Tadworth Road, Neasdon, London N.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 273
REEDDianne Sandra22TeacherCurzon Avenue, Enfield, MDXWas married the previous week.1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 377
RITSONSusan Anne21College Glen, Maidenhead, BRK1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 341
ROLLSRuby Hazel H.48Tottenham. London N., LNDUnmarried1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 377
ROOTSHugh P.19Rolvenden, KEN1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 237
SELLINGSGeoffrey19Naval cookH.M.S Hardy, Royal Navy, 1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 340
SMITHMichael2Whitehall Hotel, Bloomsbury Square, London W.C., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 311
SMITHWendy38Whitehall Hotel, Bloomsbury Square, London W.C., LNDMarried1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 311
SPENCERRichard21Student at Thomas Peacocke (now Rye) CollegeWoodhurst Road, Abbey Wood. London S.E., LNDBench erected Rye SSX in memory1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 340
STEWARTRosemary22Fairmead Road, Upper Holloway, London N, LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 312
THOMSONWilliam D.28Flight LieutenantRelatives lived at Luton Road, Hastings, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 311
TREACHERAlison Winifred23Lancaster, Steyning, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 377
TURNERChristopher Ian31Cross-in-Hand, SSXSon of Surgeon Rear-Admiral P. S. Turner1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 238
TURNERJames Gordon Melville60Former Merchant Navy officerCripps' Corner, Staplecross, SSXWon the George Cross in WWII1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 239
WARDLindsay Margaret19Gunters Lane, Bexhill-on-sea, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 239
WATSONJoyce48Chartfield Avenue, Putney, London S.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 342
WHITEHarold Arthur75Bollo Lane, Chiswick, London W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 310
WHITTARDWalter H.64Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London S.W., LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 239
WILLIAMSDiannaStudent at Thomas Peacocke (now Rye) CollegeRye, SSXBench erected Rye SSX in memory
WILLIAMSMabel Lillian Daisy69Henderson Court, Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead Ave, LND1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 341
YEOCatherine20Parents lived at Wadhurst, SSX1967/Dec Lewisham 5D 271