Rowles, Bertie 1907 December 13th
On Saturday evening a young fireman named Bertie Charles Rowles accidentally met his death at Salisbury London and South Western Railway Station. He was on the platform waiting for a milk train to come in, it being his duty to change the engines and then go on to Templecombe. He was not at the west end of the platform where the train stopped, and instead of walking down, tried to jump on the footboard of one of the carriages, but owing, it is supposed, to their wetness, he slipped, fell between the footboard and the platform, and was so badly crushed by succeeding trucks that he died on his way to the Infirmary. The sadness of his end is accentuated by the fact that he leaves a widowed mother with whom he lived, and for whom and the other relatives much sympathy is felt. At the inquest the jury showed their kind feeling by handing over their fees.
The inquest was held at the Infirmary on Monday evening before the Coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith) and a jury of which Mr W Carter was chosen foreman. Inspector Goodyear (permanent way), Inspector Trump (police dept), Inspector Vaughan (locomotive dept) and Mr Doyle (locomotive foreman at Salisbury) were present on behalf of the L & SWR Co.
William Frederick Rowles, a sergeant in the Army Pay Corps, stationed at Aldershot, said the deceased was his brother, and was aged 24 years. He was single and resided with his mother at 60, St Pauls Road, Fisherton. He was employed as a fireman on the L & SWR and had been with the company about six years. He was a steady man, of temperate habits, and of good health.
Sidney Frank Randall, of 16, Ashley Road, porter in the office of the L & SWR stationmaster, said that on Saturday about 5.40 he was standing on the platform between the bookstall and the stationmaster’s office, and saw the empty milk train from Wimbledon to Templecombe run in. The deceased was walking along the platform, and he saw him try to climb on the footboard of one of the trucks, and all of a sudden fall between the platform and the footboard of the truck. Three or four trucks then passed by him. His head and shoulders lay on the platform, and his chest was pressed against it. Assistance was procured and the deceased put on a stretcher and taken to the Infirmary. On his way down the deceased, who was constanty moaning, said, “Hold my head,” and when witness put his hand at the back of it said that was better. He stopped groaning when he got to Mr Lapham’s shop. He ran on from there to inform the Infirmary officials that deceased was being brought in.
By the jury:- The truck he tried to jump on was at about the centre of the train. It was deceased’s duty to relieve the fireman of the incoming train, and he should have been at the west end of the platform waiting to get on the engine and go down to the sheds. Instead of walking to the stopping-place he tried to jump on one of the trucks to save him walking down, but the steps of the trucks being wet, as it had been raining, he slipped between the footboard and the platform.
Joseph Ralls, a brakesman, living at 25, George Street, said he worked the milk train into Salisbury, and when they stopped he was told there was a man between the platform and the train. He walked back and saw deceased lying on his back near the tail end of the train, on the step of a truck. A stetcher was procured, and he and others took him down to the Infirmary.
Michael Joseph O’Flynn, assistant house surgeon, said the deceased was brought to the Infirmary about six o’clock Saturday evening. On his arrival he made a superficial examination and felt his pulse, and thought he felt it beat, and got things ready to try and bring him round. He felt his pulse again and found it was no use, as there was no evidence of the heart beating. He had since examined him, and found both arms had been broken, and the ribs of the left side broken in. The right elbow had been dislocated backwards, and a piece of bone broken off. Death was due to shock consequent on the injuries received.
Inspector Trump informed the jury that it was strictly against the rules for anyone to attempt to get into a train when in motion. The deceased had accepted a copy of the rules in September, and knew that instructions were strictly laid down against that sort of thing.
The Coroner said they all knew that. It was one of the strictest rules, he thought.
The Inspector: It is.
The Foreman: But the thing is very frequently done, although it ought not to be.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death” and gave their fees to the mother.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 