Witham Rail Crash Memorial

Witham Town Council is proud to announce the unveiling of a new information board to commemorate the extraordinary heroism of three local railway workers during the Witham Rail Crash of 1905, while paying tribute to the passengers and residents who tragically lost their lives. The information board, located on Armond Road, close to the crash site, serves as a lasting reminder of the courage shown on that day, as well as the deep impact the disaster had on the town and its people.

The Witham Rail Crash, which occurred on the morning of 1 September 1905, remains one of the darkest moments in the town’s history. The Cromer Express which had left London at 9.27, derailed at speed as it was about to pass through Witham station. Most of the 14 carriages came off the rails, with shattered carriages strewn across the platforms and both northbound and southbound tracks.

The tragedy injured more than 70 people and claimed 11 lives including a child and a local porter in his cabin, Jo Doole. Amid the devastation, three railway workers, Bemjamin Sainty, Fred Parish and Thomas Bannister, recognised that the danger was not over. The Cromer Express travelling in the opposite direction, fortunately running one minute late, was due imminently. The three signalmen’s calm quick thinking in changing the signal on the opposite track to danger, just as the train was about to pass, undoubtedly saved the lives of those on that train, including the Norwich football team.

The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday 1^st September, attended by members of the Council, local historian John Palombi, June Povey the Community Rail Partnership Officer, the Great Great Grandson of Ben Sainty, Mark Roberts, and local residents.  Following a few words from the Mayor, Councillor Paul Heath, and a beautiful poem read by John Palombi, a short service of remembrance was held by Rev Jonathan Pritchard followed by a minute’s silence at 10.29, the exact time the accident happened.  The information board was subsequently unveiled by Ben Sainty’s Great Great Grandson who said a few words to express how honoured by felt to represent Ben.

Witham’s mayor, said “It is right that we commemorate the heroism of the three local railway workers, whose quick thinking saved the lives of those travelling on the London bound Cromer Express 120 years ago. We hope that, by installing an information board, close to where the incident took place, the names of Benjamin Sainty, Fred Parish and Thomas Bannister and what they did, will be remembered by Witham residents long into the future”

The service was also covered by Look East who have run a story about the crash, which can be watched about three minutes into this link- https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002j0z2/look-east-lunchtime-news-01092025