Hi my name is Mick Unwin and I'm raising funds with the Beighton History Group (Beighton Lifestyle Centre) towards a dedicated memorial for the Beighton Rail Disaster. Any funds received over the required amount will be donated to an associated Military Charity.

The disaster happened late at night on February 11, 1942, near Beighton Station in South Yorkshire, when a passing troop train struck a heavy steel plate projecting from a stationary wagon.

The northbound wartime troop train (traveling at roughly 35 mph with around 400 military and naval personnel onboard) struck a stationary plate-wagon in the siding.

As the troop train sped past Beighton the protruding metal sliced deep into several passenger carriages like a giant blade.

14 soldiers were killed and 35 to 36 others were severely injured; all naval personnel on the train escaped uninjured. The train was travelling from Woolwich to the Clyde.

Due to strict World War II morale and security policies, the disaster was heavily suppressed and kept out of the national press at the time.

The disaster was attended by local colliery rescue teams, nearby doctors and villagers who gave assistance and shelter to the injured.

There has to date never been any official memorial in the village to this tragedy and we hope that this will go some way to commemorate the victims and injured as well as honour those villagers who gave assistance.

The memorial will be located in the School Rd Cemetery, Beighton.

All donations will be gratefully received.

Mick Unwin

Beighton History Group

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