On 24 September 1917 ten New Zealand soldiers were killed when they were hit by a train at Bere Ferrers in southern England.

The accident occurred as troops from the 28th Reinforcements for the NZ Expeditionary Force were being transported from Plymouth to Sling Camp on Salisbury Plain.

The train carrying the New Zealanders had left Plymouth Friary Station at 3pm. Prior to departure the men on board were informed that rations would be served at the train’s first stop in Exeter. Orders were given for two men from each carriage to collect provisions from the guard’s van when the train stopped.

At 3.52pm the train made an unscheduled stop at Bere Ferrers in response to a signal. As the rear carriages stopped outside the station those on board assumed they had reached Exeter. Eager to find food and ignoring the ‘two from each carriage’ instruction, many of the men jumped off, some onto the opposite track. Moments later they were struck by an oncoming train. Nine New Zealanders were killed instantly and another died later in hospital.

The dead soldiers – William Gillanders, William Greaves, John Jackson, Joseph Judge, Chudleigh Kirton, Baron McBryde, Richard McKenna, William Trussell, John Warden and Sidney West – were buried at Efford Cemetery in Plymouth. An inquest held shortly after the accident concluded that the men had left the train on the wrong side because they assumed that the door through which they had boarded the train was also the exit. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

The record shown above is the casualty form from William Gillanders’ military personnel file. The full file can be viewed online here: <a href="http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11241539" rel="noreferrer nofollow">ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServle...</a>

Archives New Zealand reference: AABK 18805 W5539 Box 22 0044700 (R16786115)