Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

WOODBRIDGE LEONARD WATSON (1886 - 1903)


 

Woodbridge Leonard Watson had a tragically short life as he was killed by a railway locomotive at Grantham, Lincolnshire when he was only 18-years-old.

 

He was born in 1886 in Wigan, Lancashire. His father was John Henry Woodbridge Watson (born 1838 at Radford, Nottinghamshire), (whose mother's maiden name was Woodbridge), and his mother was Sarah (nee Tyers) Watson (born 1848 at Upping-ham, Leicestershire). They were married on 17th August 1893 at St Peter's Anglican Church, Nottingham. The only census return available was for 1891 at New Junction Inn, 63 Victoria Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, where father John Henry was a Beer House Keeper aged 53, mother Sarah was aged 43 and young Woodbridge was aged 5.

 

Woodbridge Leonard Watson died on 2nd March 1903. The Horncastle News of 7th March 1903 reported "Man Killed on the Railway at Grantham. A sad accident occurred on the Great Northern Railway at Grantham on Monday afternoon, whereby Leonard Woodbridge Watson, age 18, of 14 Romford Street, Upper Jackson Street, Manchester, lost his life. The deceased was employed by Messrs J H and W Bell Limited of Liverpool, and was engaged, along with his father, in erecting a bridge over Springfield Road, Grantham, when he was knocked down by a "special" passenger train which passed through Grantham at 2.57 pm. The poor fellow's head was badly smashed, his left hand was cut off, and the left thigh fractured. His body was removed to the Grantham railway station to await the Coroner's Inquiry.

 

An Inquest was held on Tuesday before Mr A H Malin, the Borough Coroner. John Henry Watson, a Timekeeper in the employ of Messrs Bell identified the body of the deceased as that of his son, who was a Bridge Erector. On Monday they were finishing a steel bridge over Springfield Road. At about 3 pm the deceased left the bridge to fetch a particular tool from his toolbox. Witness had his back turned, but then saw his son lying on the line with several men 'round him. No one was employed to warn the men of approaching trains. The men had to look out for themselves. Dr R Wilson of Grantham reported that he made an external examination of the deceased. Mr Tom Tinkler, a Foreman Shunter on the Great Northern Railway said that at 2.57 pm he was near Springfield Road bridge, when he turned to look at an approaching train. He saw the deceased crossing the up slow line in front of a standing engine. Witness called out to the deceased to mind the up train, but to no avail, and was struck by the right buffer of the engine and knocked down. The cinder box caught the deceased and dragged him for about 18 yards. He placed the deceased into the six-foot and informed the station. William Burkinshaw, engine driver of Doncaster said he was driving the engine which killed the deceased. They travelled through Grantham at about 20 miles per hour, but did not see the deceased. Mr Robert Bell, Contractor, said they only provided flagmen on the Main lines. Verdict, Accidental Death, but recommended the use of Flagmen."

 

The remains of Woodbridge Leonard Watson were buried at Weaste Cemetery, grave number L/CE/686 on 7th March 1903.