Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 16 October 1928

No One to Blame.

Dying Guard’s Version of Rail Mishap at Mexborough.

“No one is in fault; I did not notice the waggons coming.” said Herbert Bowley (45), goods guard, of 29. Railway Cottages, Staveley, near Chesterfield, before he died at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, after being knocked down and terribly injured on the railway near Mexborough, on Friday last.

Bowley was in charge of a goods train from Brighouse to Annesley, which stopped at the Mexborough goods yard. He was examining the train when a pilot engine, on shunting work, came along and three waggons passed over him.

He was removed to the Montagu Hospital in conscious condition (which, the house surgeon said, was unusual in such circumstances) and his state necessitated the immediate amputation of his left leg. He died a few hours later.

After the inquest yesterday, the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”