This week we’re delighted to welcome a guest post to the Railway Work, Life & Death project blog. Shaun Brooke got in touch with us last year when he found out about the project, but before he’d found that his Great Great Grandfather, Adam Cawood, was in the project database. With the additional information from the project, we wondered if Shaun would be willing to tell his family’s story – and this blog is the result! Our thanks to Shaun for getting in touch and for writing the blog.
We’re always keen to hear from people who find someone or something of interest in the Railway Work, Life & Death project – and to share those lives and stories with our audience. It shows how the project helps people now understand the past better – and it helps us see more of the people behind the accident. Feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like to share a blog.
Family tree research uncovers unfortunate accident.
It is 1911. 28th August. An express train from Ilkley approaches Armley Bridge, Yorkshire, where two platelayers are working. Suddenly from around the curve, the train hits one of those workers. The other manages to avoid it. That worker who met his unfortunate demise was my 2x Great Grandfather, Adam Cawood.
Courtesy Shaun Brooke and family.
When stepping away from one service, he stepped right in front of the oncoming passenger train. The reporting makes for grizzly reading. This information recently became known when I began researching my family tree. I paid particular interest to the maternal line, continuing work my Great Uncle Pete had started.
Adam was born on 30 November 1855, in Kirkstall, Leeds, to parents Adam and Hannah. Adam married on 13 November 1884, to Anne Marie Turner. They had 6 children: 3 boys, 3 girls.
Sadly, Adam lost his life on 28 August 1911. It was (according to one newspaper) at 2:55pm, when “in stepping out of the way of one train, he got in front of the express.” Not the most pleasant of ways to go. The impact was surely devastating for everyone, leaving behind a wife and 5 children, their ages being 23, 19, 17, 15 and 6. He and Anne Marie had already lost a son in infancy.
Not too much of Adam is known, with his children being of a youthful age and before grandkids were born to continue his story, but what is known, and still told amongst family, is his grizzly death.
The papers at the time were straight to the point in reporting the situation. The Leeds Mercury reported on 29 August 1911 “Cut to pieces on the line”. It went on further to state “When, in stepping out the way of one train, he got in front of the express and was cut to pieces.”
Another article I have read on the incident went into more detail. Saying “the man’s body was terribly mutilated, the head, both legs and left arm being severed”. (Newspaper as of yet currently unknown). This doesn’t make for light reading, but due to Adam’s unfortunate end, it has made for an everlasting and stand out story.
An investigation into the incident was held on 13 September. Adam and a colleague, John W. Borman, were ‘cutting the burr off a wing rail on the crossing of the up main line’ and owing to the curvature of the track ‘could only see up to 100yards’. I’m not too familiar with train stopping distances, especially from the 1910s, but 100 yards doesn’t seem very far for an accident to be prevented.
The investigation agreed, writing that “Neither of the men noticed the approach of the 2:16pm express passenger train from Ilkley to Leeds”. Borman managed to jump clear. This prevented a greater tragedy on the tracks that day.
It’s particularly damning as the investigation goes on to state that neither men should have been working without a special look out. To make matters worse, it was Adam Cawood at fault. Laying the responsibility with him “for the absence of such protection”. Further “Cawood had not been in the habit of observing rule 273 (f)”. Now, I’m sure we’ve all broken some little rules here and there, but this rule concerning the health and safety of not just yourself, but others was probably one that should have been adhered to. Adam was not the only victim of that incident: the driver of the train, his workmate (Borman) and the family left behind.
Anne Marie Cawood (Turner) remained a widow, passing away 26 years later in 1937. I can only imagine the devastating news of the manner of her husband’s death stayed with her right until the end. Likewise for their children Ernest (my Great Grandfather), Hetty, Arthur, Eva and Elsie. It must have really stuck with them to lose a loved one in such a shocking way.
Anne was eventually buried alongside her husband at Armley Hill Top Cemetery, Leeds. With their daughter Eva finding her final resting place there too (3 May 1949).
Researching my family tree led me to the Railway Work, Life & Death project database. I found Adam Cawood was in there! As well as the accident investigation, the project had some more information. Adam joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants trade union in 1885. When he died, they paid Anne Marie £5. They also made sure the North Eastern Railway, who Adam worked for, paid compensation. That was £217.5.1. Adam had joined the Orphan Fund too. This meant the Union paid 3 shillings a week until Elsie, who was just 6 when her Dad died, turned 14.
Also, research uncovered some eerie similarities to myself. I’m currently employed on the railways, likewise was Adam. My birthday, 28th August: Adam’s death 28th August and (if my dad had his way) I would have been called Adam. Which is now my middle name. I moved to Leeds in 2013 thinking my family was all East Yorkshire based and that was that. Only discovering that I have possibly now walked, where they walked. Possibly worked (albeit on board) the same tracks where he worked. The ghosts of Family past! This particular one, still haunting us now. It is certainly a great story to tell and one that will never be forgotten. Just unfortunately for Adam, his legacy is his shocking and (according to the articles) messy end.
If only he became an Innkeeper like his grandfather (my 4th great) Charles Cawood!!
Thank you for allowing me to share this story. It certainly won’t be shared for the last time!
Shaun Brooke
I am currently employed by LNER. I’m currently researching my family tree and any tales that this will uncover.