On Monday June 9 2025 author and historian Dr. Tony Redding gave a gripping talk on the St John’s rail disaster of Wednesday December 4 1957. He had a full-house audience at our local, the Brookmill pub. It was very powerful stuff! This event was hosted by The St John’s Society, to launch a new project – the commissioning of a Memorial Plaque at St John’s station, remembering the 90 people who died on that foggy night in South East London. St John’s remains Britain’s third worst railway disaster. Over the coming months, we will update you on our progress in raising funds for this very worthwhile community project. If you wish to contribute to the fund, please use our ‘Donate‘ button on the About Us page, making it clear that the donation is for the ‘Memorial Plaque Fund‘.
Tony’s book on this horrific event is entitled “A study in tragedy: the 1957 St John’s rail disaster”. We will advise you regarding the publication date. Meanwhile, he welcomes additional information to aid his research – his email contact is shown at the foot of this entry. He has already talked to many survivors, rescuers and members of families caught up in this tragedy. His late father, Jack Redding, was a railwayman who helped cut free the injured and dead trapped in the wreckage. Jack went on to do the same 10 years later, after the November 5 1967 derailment at Hither Green.
In order to give you some idea of the scale of this research, Tony has kindly agreed to the publication below of an impressive list of personalities who will feature in the book, together with a line or two describing their involvement. The St John’s Society regards this list as an on-line tribute to everyone affected by the events of that awful Wednesday evening in December 1957.
Dr Tony Redding
tonyr@mulberryr.co.uk
THE ST JOHN’S RAIL DISASTER
A TRIBUTE TO THOSE INVOLVED
Ali, Linda. Her father helped at the St John’s crash site, moving debris to allow access for the emergency services.
Andriewartha, Catherine Ann. She travelled home on the train before the 5.18pm Hayes service.
Attenborough, Richard. He took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Austin, Howard, 17. He died alongside his 16-year-old girlfriend Jackie, in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Avery, Jennifer. She turned down an invitation that evening. The friend involved died at St John’s, having taken his usual train.
Axton, Belinda Hawkes. Her father joined other volunteers helping in the rescue of passengers.
Baines, Denis. His father, Ernest, was in the cab with the driver of the Hastings to London train that derailed at Hither Green on November 5 1967. Denis went on to become a train driver.
Baker, Major, Salvation Army. He went to the crash scene.
Baker, Patricia. She was trapped and severely injured at St John’s. She was freed but died a few hours later.
Barratt, Lou. He lost three fingers in the crash at St John’s.
Beckett, S.G. He was a Signalman (down traffic) at Parks Bridge signal box during the evening of the St John’s rail crash. He confused the Hayes train and the Hastings diesel.
Bell, Matron Marjorie, MBE. She headed the Lewisham Hospital response to the St John’s accident.
Benge, Henry. He was the Foreman who made the error that led to the Staplehurst rail accident of June 1865, involving Charles Dickens.
Bengeyfield, Derek. He worked in London Ambulance Service’s Control Room throughout the night of the St John’s accident. His shift lasted 22 hours.
Beston, Margaret. She recalled the sad story of T.W. Marsh, who died in the St John’s disaster, and his widow, Olwyn.
Betteridge, Senior Cadet. He was with the late turn crew in “Romeo One”, the first police car on the scene at St John’s.
Biggs, Police Sergeant Bill. He helped those arriving at Ladywell Baths to identify bodies.
Bioletti, Peter. A 19-year-old Police Probationer. He was amongst a group of police officers responding to the St John’s disaster.
Bishop, Stephen. He was 13 in 1957 and saw people “staggering down the embankment opposite.”
Blau, Dr. Alice. She treated Hayes train survivor Joan Remnant.
Boarer, Charles. He was Shed Master at London’s Bricklayers Arms Locomotive Depot. He went to the St John’s crash site and called for cranes and equipment sourced from several depots.
Bohane, Jennifer. She was killed in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Bolt, Doug. His mum was about to board the Hayes train at Charing Cross when she became ill. The train left without her.
Bond, John and Eric. The brothers escaped the St John’s crash with cuts, but witnessed horrific sights on the track.
Breeds, Gay and Judith. The sisters died in the Hither Green derailment of November 5 1967.
Bridle, Denise. She lost her life at St John’s.
Brown, Irene. Her father found the station that evening so packed that he couldn’t board the train that met with disaster at St John’s.
Brown, PC “Topper”. He saw a photographer attempting to take a photo of a trapped girl crushed when the wreckage shifted. He grabbed the camera and destroyed it.
Buck, Mr. This orthopaedic surgeon operated on some of the badly injured St John’s casualties.
Budd, P.F. He was in the Ramsgate train’s buffet car when the collision occurred.
Bullock, Sir Steve, Mayor of Lewisham. He attended the 50th anniversary memorial service at St John’s Church.
Burch, Geoff. This retired railwayman interviewed Ramsgate train survivor Julie Sellars.
Burch, Mr and Mrs, this couple sent a warm letter of congratulations to Matron Marjorie Bell, upon the award of her MBE.
Burge, Patricia. Her father, Fred Websell, and cousin Renee Newble (then Renee Smith) decided not to board the Hayes train as the platform was so crowded. They walked most of the way home.
Burnett, Jim. He was an off-duty driver travelling on the Ramsgate train. He was badly injured at St John’s.
Cannon, Dorothy. The cousin of Graham Ashdown, she was killed in the Hither Green derailment of November 5 1967.
Cantrell, Alfred H. Assistant Chief Civil Engineer of Southern Region, British Railways.
Carmichael, Ian. He took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Carnell, Patricia. Her father lost two girls working in his office in the St John’s accident.
Carter, Dave. He was eight-years-old at the time of the St John’s crash. He and his brothers were told to take the blankets from their beds, for use at the crash scene.
Carter, Kathleen and Cyril, were Dave Carter’s parents.
Castle, Barbara. Minister of Transport.
Chadwick, Harry. The window-cleaner who crawled deep into the wreckage to help over 30 trapped passengers.
Chapman, Graham. He was 12-years-old and in St Alfege’s Hospital, too sick to move when his ward was emptied, to receive casualties from the St John’s disaster.
Chatfield, Barbara. She remembers the smartly-dressed woman who lived nearby and commuted to London. After St John’s she was never seen again.
Chilton, Toni. Her father, Mike Anderson (then Michael Webb) got in the last carriage of the Hayes train. He got out of the wreckage, left the scene and walked home. Later, he developed symptoms of trauma.
Christie, Ian. He was just six-months-old when his appointment at Lewisham Hospital was cancelled, due to the rail crash emergency.
Clark, Petula, took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Clews, Stephen. Signal Lad at St John’s at the time of a fatal collision on March 21 1898.
Clift, Private Kenneth (“Kenny”), was killed in the St John’s rail crash.
Coe, Pat, was hospitalised with hip and leg injuries following the St John’s crash.
Coker, Detective Inspector. He attended the Inquest on the St John’s victims.
Cook, Bob. London Ambulanceman. He responded to the St John’s disaster. Bob found his own sister in the wreckage, shaken but unhurt.
Cook, William Henry, Stephen Mansbridge’s maternal grandfather. He and his wife Elizabeth, had three daughters: Marie, Christine and Edna, together with a son who died in infancy. Marie died in the St John’s accident, leaving her husband, Harry Rumsby, and son David.
Coombs, Maurice. His father, Thomas Coombs, died at St John’s. Tommy was one of the card-players in the Ramsgate train’s buffet car.
Corke, Donald, driver (Motorman) of an eight-coach electric train from Holborn Viaduct to Dartford (via Nunhead). He stopped just in time to avoid falling onto the wreckage at St John’s.
Crane, J.A., a driver who had finished duty and was travelling in the Hayes train’s front brake compartment.
Cushen, Maureen. Her grandfather, George Double, was a railway carpenter. He was called in to help at St John’s.
Daly, Maurice. He was injured in the St John’s disaster. Some months afterwards he wrote to Lewisham Hospital’s Matron Marjorie Bell, congratulating her on the award of her MBE and describing her “kindness and inspiration”.
Danvers-Walker, Bob, veteran narrator for Pathé News. He voiced footage of the rail crash scene.
Devito, Louis. A resident of Elswick Road, living in a corner house backing onto the railway. This house became a First Aid Post.
Dickens, Charles. The author suffered symptoms of trauma following his experiences in the train crash at Staplehurst, Kent, in June 1865.
Dickinson, Charles, an off-duty engine driver, was travelling on the Ramsgate train. He was trapped in the wreckage at St John’s, surrounded by the dead and injured.
Dowding, Hugh, Baron of Bentley Priory, was O/C RAF Fighter Command during The Battle of Britain. His neighbour was killed at St John’s.
Drake, John. He was on the Ramsgate train and suffered a head injury. His carriage came apart around him.
Dryer, Moy, 15, remembers her Aunt Topsy (Mrs Edith Groves), who was severely injured in the St John’s collision. She was sitting opposite Graham Freeman, the youngest to die at St John’s.
Duckett, Margaret. Her father, Sid, just missed the Hayes train. He caught a bus instead.
Dutton, Yvonne. Her grandfather was in Lewisham Hospital when the St John’s accident happened. So many casualties were brought in from the rail crash that some had to be laid on the floor of his ward.
Ellen, Raymond, father of Chris Ellen and one of the young police officers on scene at St John’s. He chased a man he saw robbing the dead.
Emery, A.J., was the fireman of the 5.05pm steam train to Hastings on December 4 1957, which preceded the Ramsgate train. He put visibility in the smog as low as five yards. His driver, Frederick Frewin, said he had to rely on Emery to look out for the signals in the adverse conditions that night.
Evans, Marilyn. Her mother, Mrs Connie White, was badly injured at St John’s.
Freeman, Graham. He was three-years-old and the youngest to die at St John’s. He had been to London to see Santa.
Freeman, June, was in Ward A.1 at Lewisham Hospital.
Freeman, Reginald, Graham’s father, was the longest in-patient casualty from St John’s at Lewisham Hospital.
Ferguson, Jean, was knocked out in the St John’s collision. She was rescued, taken into a nearby house and then told to make her own way home as best she could.
Fitch, S.A., Chief Operating Superintendent, Southern Region. Fitch later claimed that a “Fog Service”, if activated, would not have prevented the accident.
Garrett, Audrey, caught an earlier train home that day, because of the fog.
Gibb, Robin, of the Bee Gees, was on the Hastings to London train, together with his girlfriend Molly, when it derailed near Hither Green on November 5 1967.
Gray, J. He was the Guard on the 19.43pm Hastings to Charing Cross train when it derailed near Hither Green on November 5 1967.
Green, Gary. His father left Whitefriars Fire Station to attend St John’s.
Gregory, George, was a survivor who became a rescuer at St John’s. He helped free 20 or more passengers during the initial rescue work.
Groves, Mrs Edith (“Topsy”), suffered severe leg injuries in the St John’s crash. After many months, she had to return to Lewisham Hospital for further treatment.
Hale, Mr and Mrs, helped Connie White’s family during her long stay in Lewisham Hospital.
Harding, Harry, one of the many London Ambulancemen who responded to the St John’s crash. His sister was on the following Hayes train.
Hardwick, Julia and Marion. The sisters died in the Hither Green derailment of November 5 1967.
Haycraft, Charles, a 23-year-old medical researcher, was killed in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Henderson, Ken. He was in the second coach of the Ramsgate train, playing cards when the crash happened. He was trapped by his legs. One of his friends was pinned under him and died.
Hibbs, Carl. His family responded to the St John’s disaster. His grandfather, Jack Broadway, was told to open Ladywell Baths as a temporary mortuary. His great aunt Gladys helped with the WVS response. His great grandmother, Winnifred, helped the walking wounded at a friend’s house and his father’s sister, Frances Hibbs, opened her house to injured. Survivors used her telephone to contact their families.
Hickman, Jennie. When she was old enough, she was told how family members were worried that her mother, Betty Worden, had caught the 5.18pm Hayes train that evening. They set out to search for her, but she arrived home safe and sound, having travelled by bus.
Hill, Carole Isabel. She remembers Graham Freeman, just three when he died at St John’s.
Hillman, Dorothy, Mother of Sue Nea and Jeffrey, six months at the time of the St John’s accident. Dorothy went to the West family, to help with the injured.
Hills, Tony. He and his brother couldn’t change trains at New Cross as the 5.18 Hayes service was too packed.
Hoare, Cyril. He was fireman on the locomotive Spitfire when it collided with the rear of the stationary Hayes train at St John’s on Wednesday December 4 1957.
Hobbs, PC Roy, joined the rescue work at St John’s, but was unable to save a badly-injured girl when wreckage shifted.
Hogben, Doug and Cis, were Moy Dryer’s parents.
Honey, William. He was Signalman at St John’s when a fatal collision occurred on March 21 1898.
Horn, Freddie. He was playing cards in the Ramsgate train’s buffet car when the St John’s collision occurred. He lost his life.
Horsewell, Jack. His father worked that night at Lewisham Hospital, sharpening syringe needles.
Horsey, Fred and Ellen (“Nelly”), were Moy Dryer’s grandparents.
Hough, Reg and Sybil. It was Sybil who made the first 999 call on December 4 1957, received by London Ambulance Service at 6.22pm. Subsequently, Reg helped Cyril Hoare, Spitfire’s fireman.
Howard, F.L., District Motive Power Superintendent, Ashford. He interviewed Driver Trew at his bedside.
Howerd, Frankie, took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Hughes, Carol. Her mother was on the Hayes train and suffered back injuries.
Humphries, Christmas, QC, Prosecuting Counsel at Driver Trew’s trial.
Humphries, E.W., the Ramsgate train’s Guard.
Hutchinson, Sir Lewis, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Supply. He suffered a broken leg in the St John’s accident.
Huxstable, George, was killed at St John’s, leaving a widow and two teenage sons.
Ireland, PC Billy. He was one of the late turn crew of Blackheath Road police car “Romeo One”, the first to arrive at St John’s after the collision.
Iyengar, Dr. P., leader of a St Alfege’s Hospital Mobile Medical Team sent to St John’s.
Jackman, Michael, author of “Thirty years at Bricklayers Arms: Southern steam from the footplate.”
Jackson, Alan, after an evening meeting, reached Charing Cross at 9.45pm. It took him to just past midnight to get to London Bridge. He reached Charlton at 1.30pm.
James, Colin, of Folkestone, was killed at St John’s.
Jeffereys, Sue, was a schoolgirl at the time of the Hither Green derailment. She heard the emergency vehicles responding and, in the morning, joined in prayers for the victims at School Assembly.
Jones, Frederick, was a passenger on the Ramsgate express. He tried to help a small girl who was crushed.
Jones, Mr Justice, was the Judge at Driver Trew’s trial, on the charge of manslaughter.
Jones, Tony, His father decided not to rush for his usual train, the 5.18pm Hayes service from Charing Cross.
Jordan, Jean (then Jean Morrison), hitched a ride on a flat-bed truck. It took her as far as St John’s. She walked past the scene of the crash.
Kedward, Philip. He was in the Ramsgate train’s buffet car. The impact threw him to the floor.
Keevil, Charles, helped man the London Ambulance Service Control Room during the evening of the St John’s disaster.
King, Valerie (then Dagwell), escaped from her Hayes train carriage by climbing out of a window.
Knee-Robinson, Keith, just missed getting the Hayes train at Waterloo.
Ladd, Kathleen. She had an alarming dream a few weeks before the St John’s disaster, in which she was involved in a rail accident. On Wednesday December 4 she spent the evening in London, missed the accident and had to travel home via Victoria to Bromley South.
Lake, Fred and Sophie, Deptford Salvation Army members attending the St John’s crash site. Fred and Sophie were Howard Lake’s grandparents.
Langley, Brigadier C.A., Chief Inspector of Railways. He led the inquiry into the 1957 St John’s rail disaster.
Lawrence, William, the Guard on the 5.22pm electric train from Holborn Viaduct to Dartford, via Nunhead.
Lawton, F.H., QC, represented Driver Trew at his Old Bailey trial.
Leake, Sue (then Sue Hale). Her aunt normally caught the Hayes train involved in the accident, but her boss closed early due to the fog and she was already home when the crash happened. Sue’s father walked home from central London.
Lee, Rev. William, Vicar of St John’s Church at the time of the rail disaster. He led a memorial service on the evening of December 12 1957.
Lowe, Jacqueline. Her father missed his train, which met with disaster at St John’s.
Lynn, Vera, took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Mansbridge, Stephen. The St John’s disaster had a profound impact on the future of his family.
Margaret, H.R.H. Princess, visited Lewisham Hospital on December 12 1957, to offer encouragement to the victims of the St John’s crash.
Marsh, Jonathan, remembers his grandfather, Thomas William Marsh, who died at St John’s, and his father, Keith Marsh, who lost his dad that night.
Marsh, T.W. He was killed at St John’s.
Matthews, Anthony, died in hospital a few days after the St John’s crash.
Matus, Jill L., author of the paper “Trauma, memory and railway disaster: the Dickensian connection.”
McGregor, Ronald Douglas, died at St John’s, leaving his wife, Joan, and three children, including Susan, at 13 the eldest.
McMullen, Colonel Denis, H.M. Chief Inspector of Railways. He headed the Hither Green derailment inquiry.
McPherson-Heard, Juliet, a 20-year-old student nurse, was killed in the Hither Green derailment.
Mellish, Barry, remembers his uncle, Jimmy Davis, who was injured at St John’s.
Melville, Mervyn, from Catford, was travelling in the rear carriage of the Hayes train. He was uninjured.
Merritt, Clive, lived in Elswick Road. He could hear people crying inside the carriages.
Messer, T.E., was an up line Signalman at Parks Bridge Junction on the evening of December 4 1957.
Millard, Thomas, was the Mortuary Attendant at the Miller Hospital.
Mills, Freddie, boxer, took part in the St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Milne, Graham, was an 11-year-old schoolboy travelling in the Hayes train’s centre Guard’s Van. After the impact, he climbed down and gave First-Aid to the injured, a number with broken legs.
Milne, Dr R. Ian, H.M. Coroner for London Southern District.
Monkhouse, Bob. The comedian had a cousin in Lewisham Hospital following the St John’s crash.
Moore, N.P.W., Imperial College. He helped disperse fog around the St John’s crash site.
Moore, Ray, survived the Hither Green derailment.
Moore, Shed Foreman, based at Ramsgate Depot.
Nash, Donald T., an off-duty fireman who was travelling in the Hayes train’s front brake compartment.
Nea, Sue (then Sue Hillman) was three-years-old at the time of the St John’s disaster. She and her family lived in a flat overlooking the crash site. The shock of the impact threw young Sue off her chair, onto the floor.
Neal, Special Police Sergeant, was sent to open up Ladywell as the Mortuary Keeper was ill.
Newell, Melvyn. His father tried to board the 5.18pm Hayes train but failed. He took the next train and walked home to Catford from St John’s.
Niker, Albert, of Southborough, was reported dead but, in fact, was alive and in Lewisham Hospital.
Norman, Albert, Signalman, saw the Hastings to London train derail near Hither Green on November 5 1967.
Nye, Philip, was an 11-year-old St John Ambulance Cadet in December 1957. He helped serve tea and refreshments to rescue workers.
Parker, J., a resident of Elswick Road. His sister was on the Hayes train and survived.
“Pauline”, was told not to go to work as she had flu. She stayed back and avoided the accident at St John’s.
Pike, G., was a Hayes train passenger who became a rescuer, later describing the crash site as “a nightmare”.
Pittman, Ian. His father missed the 5.18pm Hayes train that evening.
Planas, Nick. His father, a musician, remembered a colleague so badly injured at St John’s that he could never play again.
Porritt, Inspector Frank F., took a statement from Driver Trew.
Presslee, L.R.V., down line Signalman at St John’s. He heard the collision.
Priddis, Mrs J., a resident at Thurston Road. Her home became an emergency ambulance post.
Priestley, Harold, a barrister who died in the St John’s disaster. His widow sued the British Transport Commission for damages and won her case.
Prior, Frank, District Engineer (London East), organised clearance work at the crash site.
Raymond, Sir Stanley, Chairman, British Railways Board, visited the accident scene at Hither Green.
Redding, Jack, Southern Region track welder (and the author’s father). He used cutting equipment to free the injured and recover the dead, at both St John’s and Hither Green.
Reeves, Herbie and Johnny, father and brother of Andrea Adams. They were amongst residents who came onto the tracks to help in the St John’s rescue.
Reid, Dianne (nee Williams) had just married. She died in the Hither Green derailment on November 5 1967.
Remnant, Joan, was in the rear carriage of the Hayes train. Somehow, she survived and walked home to the Downham Estate.
Reynolds, Robert William, the Hayes train Guard killed in the collision. His death was taken as representative of all who died at St John’s and Driver Trew was charged with his unlawful killing.
Rich, Mrs, Dorothy Hillman’s landlady. Mrs Rich opened her front room and offered tea to shocked survivors of the St John’s disaster.
Riordan, Yvonne. She tried but failed to catch her train, took another, but only got as far as New Cross.
Roberts, Carol. Her aunt got a lift and made a fast getaway from the St John’s crash scene.
Robertson, General Sir Brian, Chairman, British Transport Commission. He visited the St John’s crash site the following morning.
Robison, Peter, was one of the Police Officers recovering casualties at the St John’s crash scene.
Roots, Hugh, 21, was killed in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Rowlands, Detective Sergeant, helped Detective Inspector Coker identify the last of the fatalities.
Royle, Tom, was killed at St John’s, leaving a wife and 13-year-old son.
Sanderson, Anthony. A schoolboy, he thought he’d lost his dad in the 1967 Hither Green accident.
Sellars, Julie, of Tonbridge, was a survivor on the Ramsgate train. She escaped from her wrecked carriage and walked away from the scene.
Shelton, Ann, took part in a St John’s accident benefit show at the Lewisham Gaumont.
Sheppard, Sylvia, had a schoolfriend who lost her aunt in the St John’s disaster.
Shotton, John, died in the St John’s accident, leaving a wife and 11-year-old twins.
Skilton, Motorman John B., was the driver of the Hayes train.
Simpson, Sue. Her mother-in-law was a nurse at Lewisham Hospital and went straight there when news of the St John’s disaster broke.
Smith, Michael, was just two-years-old when he was killed in the 1967 Hither Green derailment. Wendy Smith, 38, also died.
Snooks, D.C. Freddie, joined in a failed attempt to rescue a trapped and badly injured girl in the wreckage.
Spencer, Ricky. This 21-year-old was killed when the Hastings to London train derailed near Hither Green on November 5 1967.
Steer, Daphne, a nurse, was at St John’s when the crash occurred and she immediately set to work helping the injured.
Steven, Anne (then Lynch), remembers her father cycling to work under the St John’s rail flyover. His return was delayed on the night of the crash.
Stevens, John, Baron, Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Street, Mrs Ellen, of Woodpecker Road, New Cross and Head of Deptford Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS).
Sutherland, Joyce, decided not to rush and caught the Hayes service after the 5.18pm. Her desperate mother searched for her at Lewisham Hospital and then the temporary mortuary at Ladywell Baths.
Tapley, Alison, was too young to have memories of Colin James, her uncle, who died at St John’s.
Tatlow, Peter, railway historian and author of “St John’s Lewisham 50 years on: restoring the traffic.”
Taylor, Josie, was trapped in the wreckage, with a broken pelvis.
Taylor, Roy, was killed at St John’s. His father was also on the Ramsgate train but survived unhurt.
Ternan, Ellen, and her mother, Frances, were travelling with Charles Dickens when their train was involved in a major accident at Staplehurt, Kent, in June 1865.
Tingley, Iris. Her uncle was one of the ambulance drivers responding at St John’s.
Tomas, Elizabeth, remembers Colin James – her father’s best friend, who died at St John’s.
Town, Peter, one of the late turn crew of Blackheath Road police car “Romeo One”, the first to arrive at St John’s after the collision.
Trew, William John, driver of the locomotive Spitfire when it collided with the stationary Hayes train at St John’s on Wednesday December 4 1957. Trew was held to be “solely responsible”.
Trouse, Valerie, was in Lewisham Hospital, recovering from leg and hip injuries suffered in the St John’s disaster.
Turner, James Gordon Melville, GC, died in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment. In September 1939 he was Radio Officer on the cargo vessel Manaar when it was attacked by U-38 off Cape St Vincent. He was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, the Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea and a gold medal by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for his efforts to save two fellow crew members.
Turner, Richard. His mother was late home that night. She had missed the Hayes train as she had left work a few minutes late.
Vale, Georgette. Her father, Bill Bulline, avoided the accident – he had flu and didn’t go to work that day.
Wade, Bill, took his converted Dormobile St John Ambulance to the crash at St John’s station.
Wade, Dave, Bill’s son was 15 at the time of the St John’s disaster. He responded as a St John Ambulance First-Aider.
Ward, Shirley, survived the Hither Green derailment.
Waterer, Valerie, was at the front of the Hayes train and felt only a shudder when the collision occurred.
Watkinson, Harold, Minister of Transport, praised those who responded at St John’s.
Watt, Norman, lived nearby and heard the collision and bridge collapse.
Weeden, George A., Acting Assistant Divisional Motive Power Superintendent, Stewart’s Lane. He interviewed Driver Trew’s fireman, Cyril Hoare.
West, Mrs, lived in Elswick Road. Her house was in a small cul-de-sac area used initially to lay out and cover the dead. Those taking refuge at Mrs West home included Driver Trew and Fireman Hoare.
White, Mrs Connie, was severely injured in the St John’s crash. Her husband, Fred, daughter Marilyn (now Marilyn Evans) and son Graham contributed to her long recovery.
White, Harold Arthur, 75, was the oldest passenger to die in the 1967 Hither Green derailment. His sister, Kathleen Charlton, 73, also died.
Whiting, Mark. His dad-to-be caught the Hayes service before the train involved in the St John’s accident.
Whittard, Hugh, of the tea and coffee company, died in the November 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Williams, A.P., Stationmaster at St John’s.
Williams, Kevin, brother of Dianne, who died in the Hither Green accident at the age of 19.
Williams, Ronald, died in the rear coach of the Hayes train. He was about to marry.
Willoughby, Janice, a schoolfriend of Linda Ali. Janice developed a dislike of train travel after St John’s.
Wilson, Dr, Leader of a Lewisham Hospital Mobile Medical Team at St John’s.
Wilson, Lt. Col., G.R.S., opened the St John’s rail disaster inquiry. He was succeeded on his death by Brigadier C.A. Langley.
Wingham, Alison. Her parents had to leave their train at New Cross. Walking home, they encountered a confused man who may have been a survivor of the crash.
Wise, John, saw the walking wounded from Hither Green pass by the family home.
Wood, Harold, was playing cards in the Ramsgate train’s buffet car. He was seriously injured in the crash but survived.
Wood, John D. His father was Station Officer at New Cross Fire Station. He attended St John’s and Hither Green 10 years later.
Woodcock, David, had a schoolfriend with a father saved by the barrier. He missed the 5.18pm Hayes train and caught another from Blackfriars.
Wright, Colin. His mum avoided the accident, involving her usual train. She stayed home to look after him as he was poorly.
Wright, Rosemary. Her friend’s father died in the St John’s accident.
Yaseen, Patricia, had an extraordinarily lucky escape. She was due to travel home with her blind father in the 5.18pm Hayes train’s Guard’s Van, but her dad missed it and she was told she couldn’t travel in the Guard’s Van without him. The Guard was killed instantly in the collision.
Yeo, Catherine, 20, was killed in the November 5 1967 Hither Green derailment.
Yeo, Suzanne. Her soldier brother, Terry, was serving in Germany and worried that his fiancée may have been on the Hayes train. In fact, she had taken another train. Twenty years later, Terry Scott became Mayor of Lewisham.
Young, Linda. Her engine driver brother was called in to help at Hither Green.