26 May 1900 – William Hale

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From the Wiltshire Times on Saturday the 26th of May 1900

An inquest was held on Monday, before Mr. Sylvester Browne, touching the death of William Hale, a navvy, who died in the hospital on Saturday morning from injuries received on the new line of railway at Alderton, on Friday afternoon.

A tree-lined, gravel pathway with wooden posts and wire fencing on both sides, formerly the Somerford branch line from Malmesbury train station.
Formerly the Somerford branch from Malmesbury’s train station, on Friday the 16th of August 2024.

Charles Stiles, engine driver of the steam navvy, working at Alderton, said that about 3.30 on Friday afternoon, whilst deceased was engaged in pulling muck off the batter for the steam navvy to pick up with the bucket, the chain suddenly snapped. One of the large links flew off in two and hit him, and the bucket dropped. Frederick Faulks, wheelman of the steam navvy, said the chain broke and flew, hitting deceased in the abdomen; he was standing some distance away. Dr. C. W. Pitt of Malmesbury, said the immediate cause of death was shock and severe haemorrhage. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

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