This compilation contains the names of more than 300 railwaymen (ie employees, not public passengers) who were killed or died while on duty between 1879 and today. Many workers have also suffered injuries, some life-threatening, which it has not been possible to include.
392 records found. Showing 226–250.
| Date | Surname | Given names | Designation | Location | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894-06-02 | McMAHON | Patrick | Guard | Greenough River Crossing | Patrick McMahon was 25 years of age at the time he died after falling from a train in motion and being run over. Patrick lived in Geraldton with his wife and young child. He was interred at Geraldton Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1917-06-07 | McNESS | William | Fireman | Jarrahdale, Millars T & T | William McNess was 41 years of age when he fatally injured in a locomotive rollover. The locomotive and tender derailed and rolled over at points that had been tampered with. An eleven year old boy, who admitted changing the points, was later charged with manslaughter. William lived at Jarrahdale with his wife Rose and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (WESLEYAN/DA/0003). | Open PDF |
| 1921-07-14 | McPHERSON | Neil | Guard | North Fremantle | Neil McPherson was 56 years of age when he was fatally knocked from his train into the Swan River after being struck by a timber stantion on the fremantle railway bridge. Neil's body was not recovered until the following morning. Neil lived at Subiaco with his wife Amelia (They had four grown up children.) and he is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (PRESBYTERIAN/EA/0109). | Open PDF |
| 1954-05-26 | McQUADE | William "Bill" Thomas | Porter | Harvey | William McQuade was 59 Years of age when he was fatally injured after slipping and falling under moving wagons at Harvey during shunting operations. William was a returned serviceman having served during the first world war (2742 Private 51st Battalion). William lived at Harvey with his wife, Constance, and they had a grown family and grand children. Constance survived William by 38 years and passed away at the age of 92 in 1990. William was interred at the Harvey (Old) Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1955-07-11 | MEAD | Herbert William | Fitters Assistant | Kalgoorlie | Herbert Mead was 46 years of age when he was struck by a locomotive and fatally injured. | Open PDF |
| 1970-08-20 | MEADE | David William | Shunter | Leighton | David Meade was 20 years of age when he was fatally injured during shunting operations at Leighton Yard. | Open PDF |
| 1897-10-06 | MELLO | Bernetto | Navvy | Mullalyup | Bernetto Mello was 30 years of age when he died after being crushed against a wagon in a sand fall during the excavation of cutting near Donnybrook. Bernetto's family were living in Italy at that time. | Open PDF |
| 1921-07-15 | MERREY | Robert | Shunter | Perth | Robert Merrey was 31 years of age when he was fatally injured by being run over by a goods van and two trucks while engaged in shunting operations at Perth shunting yard. He died in Perth Public Hospital the following day. Robert was single and lived at East Perth, he is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/DB/0516). | Open PDF |
| 1953-12-10 | MERRICK | Eric Joseph | Length Runner | York | Eric Merrick was 53 years of age when he was involved in a collision between two per way trolleys. Apparently uninjured he and the driver of the other trolley, Les Cant, then rode one of the trolleys toward York, Eric fell from this second trolley and was later pronouced dead on arrival at York District Hospital. He left behind his wife Mabel and three daughters, aged 18, 16 and 9. Eric lived in York with his family and is interred at York Cemetery, as is his wife. Information provided by his grandson Shayne Hooper on behalf of his mother, Eric's daughter, Shirley Hooper (80). | Open PDF |
| 1943-04-02 | MILLS | John Arthur | Repairer | Mullewa | John Mills was 58 years of age when he was fatally injured after falling from a Per Way truck near Mullewa. John lived in Mullewa with his wife Nora and he is interred at the Mullewa Pioneers Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1968-05-08 | MIRCO | Giuseppe | Labourer | Parkeston, CR | Giuseppe Mirco was 34 years of age when he was fatally injured in a shunting accident at Parkeston. Giuseppe lived at Kalgoorlie with his wife Filomana and he is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/LAWN 7/0474). | Open PDF |
| 1963-06-04 | MITCHELL | Alexander | Head Shunter | Perth | Alexander Mitchell was 37 years of age when he was fatally injured while engaged in shunting operations at Perth. Alexander lived in Victoria Park and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (WESLEYAN/FA/0522). | Open PDF |
| 1936-11-06 | MITCHELL | Benjamin Edward | Foreman | Fernbrook | Benjamin Mitchell was 57 years of age when he was struck by a passing train and fatally injured while attempting to move his PW tricycle from its path. The accident occurred at Fernbrook not far from Alanson in the Southwest of WA. Benjamin lived at Bunbury and is interred at Bunbury Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1996-01-14 | MONCK | Wayne Mark Anthony | Driver | Hines Hill | Wayne Monck was 31 years of age when he died in a collision between his train (5SP5) and a fuel train at Hines Hill. Wayne and a teenage guest died in the ensuing derailment and fire. Wayne lived at Boulder and is memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1911-12-15 | MORGAN | Thomas James | Guard | Marrinup, M K & J co. | Thomas Morgan was 27 years of age when he was fatally struck by projecting logs while coupling wagons at the bush landing in Marrinup. Thomas lived in Pinjarra and is interred at the Pinjarra Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1954-03-26 | MORRIS | Alfred James "Sonny" | Head Shunter | Geraldton | Alfred Morris was 36 years of age when he died as the result of an accident involving a loose shunted wagon while on shunting duties at Geraldton Yard. The accident ocurred on 24 March 1954 and Alfred passed away two days later on the 26th. He left his wife Joyce and four young children Graham, Janet, Kerry and Colin. Alfred lived with his family in Geraldton and is interred at Geraldton Cemetery. Information provided by his son Graham and Daughter in law Ros. (MP3) Additional information provided by his Cousin, Hugh Ash. March 2016. | Open PDF |
| 1913-03-06 | MORRISON | John Alexander | Porter | Kalgoorlie | John Morrison was 23 years of age when he was fatally injured while engaged in shunting duties at Kalgoorlie. John was single and lived with his mother in Kalgoorlie, He was interred in the Presbyterian section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1909-12-20 | MOXON | Archibald | Shunter | West Perth | Archibald Moxon was 23 years of age when he was fatally injured by being caught between a wagon and overhanging timber on another while carrying out his duties as a shunter. He was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards. Archibald was single, lived in Perth and is interred at the Karrakatta Cemetery (ANGLICAN/FC/0293). | Open PDF |
| 1963-05-29 | MOYLE | Arthur Edwin | Assistant CTM | Merredin | Arthur Moyle was 63 years of age when he collapsed and died while on duty at Marredin. Arthur lived with his family at Mount Hawthorn and he is memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery in the CREMATORIUM ROSE GARDEN/GARDEN 3B/0063. | Open PDF |
| 1906-11-07 | MURPHY | Patrick Joseph | Shunter | Perth | Patrick Murphy was 29 years of age when he was fatally injured while engaged in shunting duties at West Perth. Patrick was run over after getting his foot caught in a check rail while attempting uncouple wagons. Patrick lived in Perth and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/CA/0298). | Open PDF |
| 1918-11-09 | MURPHY | Patrick Joseph | Checker | Perth | Patrick Murphy was 49 years of age when he was fatally injured while engaged in his duties at Perth. Patrick was crushed between the buffers of wagons and died later at Perth Hospital. Patrick lived in Perth and is interred at Karrakatta Cemetery (ROMAN CATHOLIC/BC/0235A). The Daily News at that time incorrectly reported his name as Patrick James Murphy. | Open PDF |
| 1897-02-18 | MURPHY | William | Guard | Stephenson’s Siding, ER | William Murphy was 30 years of age when he died as the result of being run over by fly shunted wagons. William was a single man. He was interred at Fremantle Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1939-08-30 | MURRAY | Clarence William (See Flitcroft, Hodges) | Ganger | Wannamal, MRWA | Clarence Murray was 43 years of age when he died as the result of a collision between a PW trolley and a trian on the MRWA line at Wannamal. Clarence lived at Wannamal with his family and is interred in the Church of England section of the Moora Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1964-11-27 | MURRAY | Robert Watson | Head Shunter | North Fremantle | Robert Murray was 49 years of age when he suffered fatal injuries while engaged in shunting duties at North Fremantle. Robert lived in North Fremantle with his wife Jean and he is interred at Fremantle Cemetery (ANGLICAN/MON/A8/0498). Jean survived Robert by 22 years, dying at the age of 65 in 1986, she was interred with Robert at Fremantle Cemetery. | Open PDF |
| 1891-03-13 | MURTHA | John | Navvy | Midland Junction,MRWA | John Murtha was 57 years of age when he died as the result of an accident at Midland Junction. As he stepped from the platform onto a moving wagon, his foot slipped and he fell onto the track and received fatal injuries. He died at the scene. | Open PDF |
Death or serious injury, in the days before compulsory workers’ compensation insurance, could, and often did, result in the victim’s family being left destitute. The families often had to rely, at least in the short term, on the charity of their community and the generosity of the injured or deceased worker’s colleagues.
Many men, stationed at outlying depots, were faced with such rudimentary medical facilities that an injury which may have been survivable in a large town or city could and often did prove fatal.
Contemporary newspaper reports and edited transcripts of coronial inquiries have been included where they are available. Some photographs of these railwaymen have been made available by descendants and other family members. Other information welcome and can be sent to archivist@railheritagewa.org.au
Caution: Contemporary newspaper reports, particularly those prior to 1920, sometimes contain explicit descriptions of the injuries sustained by the deceased person. Some readers may find these descriptions offensive and in bad taste by today’s standards. However, they reflect the norms of the times and are reproduced as found.