Shocking Railway Accident

The Gorey family grave in Epsom Cemetery (Plot C251)
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert ©2023

William James Gorey was killed in a railway accident on 29 July 1882. The following transcription is from the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle, dated 2 August 1882:

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—-On Saturday afternoon a shocking fatal accident occurred at the Epsom junction where the lines of the South Coast and South-Western Companies converge. William Gorey, a man of 41 years of age, who has been for twelve years head porter at the South-Western Company’s Epsom Station, was on the line near the junction, and stepped from the up to the down line, in order to avoid the 1.40 express Portsmouth to London Bridge and Victoria, not noticing that the four o’clock down express from London Bridge was approaching. The engine of the latter train caught the poor fellow with such violence that he was killed instantaneously. Gorey leaves a wife and four children, and we are pleased to hear that Mr. Moncton and Mr. Lawes, the stationmasters at the South Coast and South-Western Epsom stations, have initiated a fund for their relief.

Epsom Cemetery records show that William James Gorey, a porter who died at South Western Station, was buried in grave C251 in Epsom Cemetery on 2 August 1882.

Cemetery records also show that Eliza Gorey (William James’ widow) of 34 Adelphi Road, Epsom purchased a lease for grave C251 on 21 December 1892, over 10 years after William died.

William James and Eliza had four sons, all born in Epsom: William James born 1874, George born 14 July 1876, Henry born 1878 and Fred born 1880. Eliza outlived three of her sons, only George, who died in 1959, was alive when Eliza died in 1933.

Their oldest son, also William James, married Frances Rose Browning in 1924. They had no children. William James died in St. Thomas’ Hospital on 13 October 1928 aged 54. He was buried in grave F205a which is unmarked. His widow was granted probate in the sum of £2,025 15s.

George married Daisy Mary Mills in 1907. Their only child, George William born 1911, died aged 20 on 1 February 1932 and is buried in grave F367a. Daisy Mary aged 78 died on 4 May 1958 and George aged 83 died on 14 April 1959. They were both buried with their son in grave F367a.

Two of Eliza’s four sons, Henry and Fred died in the Great War. They were both serving in the Labour Corps and on 14 May 1918 they were building roads in France. On that date German artillery gas shells exploded nearby. Henry died from gas poisoning five days later on 19 May aged 39 and was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. His brother Fred who lived a little longer, was brought back to the UK and spent almost four months in Ninian Park hospital, Cardiff until he died on 5 September, aged 38. He was buried with his father in grave C251.

William James’ widow Eliza died, aged 89, in 1933 ‘Middle House’ Dorking Road, Epsom. On 24 March 1933 she was buried with her husband and son in grave C251.

Clive Gilbert 2023

In 1893, the year after William Gorey died, another railway man, Charles Edward, was killed in a similar incident at Epsom – see Double Tragedy on the Railway.

You may also be interested in our Rail Accidents page.