30 MARCH 1902 - BARBERTON (RAILWAY ACCIDENT)

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Extract from page 408 of the Regimental History of the Hampshire Regiment.

 

“At the end of March, the battalion at last got away from Barberton, moving to Johannesburg on relief by the 1st Welch.

 

The move was marked by a bad railway accident, 42 men being killed and 38 more injured when a driver lost control of his engine on a steep incline near Barberton, the train running off the line at a sharp curve. 

 

The men behaved admirably; no panic ensued, and all worked splendidly to rescue the wounded and clear the line, Sergeant Drover’s coolness and good example being conspicuous. E Company was hardest hit losing 24 killed, but the Volunteer Company with 10 killed and 25 wounded had the most casualties.

 

This company was at the time under orders to return home, being replaced by a third Volunteer Company, or rather half-company, which had left England in March and joined the battalion soon after its arrival at Johannesburg.