First world war-gretna rail crash

[cabbageandribs1875]

noticed this interesting piece, a new memorial to honour the dead in the rail crash, with the vast majority of them being from the royal scots guards 7th company(leith) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-11404043


http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leith/33a.htm

[hibbybrian]

more details here

http://www.forrestdale.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Gretna.html

[New Corrie]

There is a lovely memorial at Rosebank Cemetry in Pilrig Street and also a plaque at Larbert Station where the train left from. I've visited the scene at Quintinshill, and also a nearby pub which has a rifle on display (which was recovered from the scene) horrific accident, and unbelievably tragic.

[--------]

There is a lovely memorial at Rosebank Cemetry in Pilrig Street and also a plaque at Larbert Station where the train left from. I've visited the scene at Quintinshill, and also a nearby pub which has a rifle on display (which was recovered from the scene) horrific accident, and unbelievably tragic.


That rifle was probably looted.

By the afternoon most of Carlisle had turned out to look on, and police and survivors had to waste time chasing souvenir hunters away from the wreckage. An armed guard had to be set over the dead to prevent looky-loos from stealing cap-badges and other accoutrements and even personal belongings from the bodies.

The sight of looters running away from the police and soldiers gave rise to false reports in the press that survivors had taken the opportunity afforded by the crash to desert the colours.

[Peevemor]

That rifle was probably looted.

By the afternoon most of Carlisle had turned out to look on, and police and survivors had to waste time chasing souvenir hunters away from the wreckage. An armed guard had to be set over the dead to prevent looky-loos from stealing cap-badges and other accoutrements and even personal belongings from the bodies.

The sight of looters running away from the police and soldiers gave rise to false reports in the press that survivors had taken the opportunity afforded by the crash to desert the colours.

Looting, which was a capital offence, was rife during the blitz but was played down in the media so as not to damage morale.

[barcahibs]

Looting, which was a capital offence, was rife during the blitz but was played down in the media so as not to damage morale.

I remember my grandad telling me about that, generally the first people to get to any bombed out building in London (and I imagine elsewhere) were not rescue parties or police/fire/arp but looters.

Apparently another real problem was burglary during air raid alerts. The alerts were often false alarms and the houses of those sitting them out in air raid shelters were frequently robbed.
Another little known fact is that during the Battle of Britain as the country all pulled together to face down the Nazi's and the RAF were desperate for aircraft, many of the workers in aircraft factories in the midlands spent a great deal of their time on strike for higher bonuses.

Doesn't make for quite as good a national myth though :greengrin
People will be people.

end hijack :greengrin

Thanks for the articles cabbageandribs and hibbybrian its not an event I'd really heard much of but its very interesting to read up on. Its a tragic story and certainly deserves to be remembered.

[Hibs Class]

Thanks for the articles cabbageandribs and hibbybrian its not an event I'd really heard much of but its very interesting to read up on. Its a tragic story and certainly deserves to be remembered.

I had heard of this story. It always puts me in mind of another equally tragic incident, the sinking of the Iolaire, and makes me wonder about what other tragedies occurred but which are now largely forgotten

http://heritage.scotsman.com/disasterstrikes/The-Iolaire-disaster-where-200.2597697.jp

[--------]

I had heard of this story. It always puts me in mind of another equally tragic incident, the sinking of the Iolaire, and makes me wonder about what other tragedies occurred but which are now largely forgotten

http://heritage.scotsman.com/disasterstrikes/The-Iolaire-disaster-where-200.2597697.jp



Heard of this one?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/56/a4103056.shtml

Or this?

http://www.wilhelmgustloff.com/sinking.htm