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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 14 Apr 1945
Page 4 Column 4
TWO MEN KILLED ON THE LINE
TAUNTON VICTIMS
STRUCK BY A TRAIN AT EXETER
How two Taunton employees of the Great Western Railway met their deaths while repairing a foot crossing at St. David's Station was described at an Exeter inquest on Monday on Charles CRIDLAND, 64, labourer, 11, Cleveland-street, Taunton, and Walter BOND, 59, fitter's mate, of Walford Gate, near Taunton.
Arthur Robert THORNE, of 57, Lambrook-road, Taunton, a carpenter, who was working with deceased, gave evidence that about 3.30 on the previous Thursday afternoon he heard the look-out man shout.
KNOCKED CLEAR
“I rose immediately,” he said, “and just as I got upright an engine struck my right shoulder, flinging me over the rails. When I got my breath I got up and saw CRIDLAND four or five yards away badly injured. Like myself, he had been knocked clear of the line. I had no idea where the man BOND was. I did not hear the approaching train and I did not hear any horn sounded.”
Witness added that shunting operations were in progress and it was rather noisy.
Questioned by Mr. H. COLLINS, representing the N.U.R., witness said if the look-out man sounded the horn he did not hear it.
HORN WAS SOUNDED
William Edward LOBB, of 47, Barley Mount, Exeter, carriage and waggon examiner, told the Coroner that he heard the horn sounded, and that he considered it was sounded at the proper time, giving the workmen plenty of opportunity to get out of the way of the train.
William John MANLEY, of 20, Scott-avenue, Exeter, said he was a length-man at St. David's Station, acting as look-out man on the day of the fatality, as he had done on and off for 34 years.
He sounded his horn for several trains during the afternoon, and THORNE and CRIDLAND stopped work each time and waited for the trains to pass.
He saw BOND approach the two men, who were kneeling at their work, and stand talking to them for four or five minutes.
Seeing the train approaching form the Plymouth direction, witness warned the men verbally, but as they took no notice he blew his horn.
The train was then still a long way off and they had plenty of time to stand up and get clear.
CARRIED BY ENGINE
THORNE and CRIDLAND got up from their knees, but none of the men got off the line immediately, so he again sounded the horn.
“They did not seem to more, and to my horror,” witness added, “I saw the train strike them.”
BOND was carried along in front of the engine, and CRIDLAND and THORNE were thrown clear by the impact.
Witness also stated that, so far as he could judge, there was no other noise to prevent the men from hearing the horn. He could only assume they were engrossed in conversation and did not move quickly enough.
Returning a verdict of “Death by misadventure,” the Coroner said he understood full enquiry had been made of the engineman and fireman of the train, and that neither of them saw anything of the accident.
<NOTES: Charles Clement CRIDLAND son of Thomas CRIDLAND and Jane DYER, married Elizabeth STAPLE>