The Cramlington Conspirators - The Flying Scotsman Derailed
On the 10th May, the strike was into its seventh day and a plot was afoot to strike a blow against blackleg workers. Eight angry young men were about to do something extraordinary!
STOP EVERYTHING ON WHEELS!
Fired up from the rhetoric of union speakers in their neighbourhoods, mainly young pitmen did what they could to bring about the total stopage of essential services such as transport. By the 10th May the coal strike had become a general strike, this included the transport workers. Volunteers, or blacklegs, were needed to keep the wheels of Britain turning.
On the 6th May the Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported;
"Two United motor busses plying between Whitley Bay and Newcastle were bombarded with stones thrown from a large crowd of pitmen at Bertram Place yesterday afternoon. A woman passenger was slightly injured about the face by flying glass. A number of private cars were also held up."
Trains also attracted the attentions of stone throwing strikers. The main line from London to Edinburgh passes through the Northumberland coal fields and up into Scotland, on the 7th May the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported;
"Stone throwing at passing trains has occured at Musselburgh on the East Lothian coast. A number of windows were broken and several passengers had their faces severely cut."
This behaviour was not exclusive to the north east, it was happening everywhere, a concerted effort to stop everything on wheels.
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| Students prepare the Flying Scotsman. Daily Mirror 11th May 1926 |
An Oncoming Train.
"In a review of the situation on Saturday, Mr R.L Wedgwood, General Manager of the L.N.E.R, states that on Saturday 757 passenger trains were run, equal to 12 per cent of the full normal service.
There has been a steady improvement day by day and we can confidently anticipate a further advance. The Flying Scotsman is again running and has been crowded." Hull Daily Mail 10th May 1926.
The Flying Scotsman was indeed running, and crewed by volunteers - or blacklegs as they were seen by the strikers.
"Dastardly Outrage On The Flying Scotsman"
The Sheffield Independent - 12th May 1926.
"Details are now to hand of the accident to the Flying Scotsman on the L.N.E.R railway at Cramlington, a mining district ten miles north of Newcastle. A serious outrage is suspected.
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| The missing piece of line - Illustrated London News - Saturday 22 May 1926 |
It was found soon after the disaster that a length of rail had been taken out of the permanent way, all the wooden chocks had been removed from the fish plates, and the bolts had been unscrewed. These were found in the adjoining field, together with a couple of large iron bars and a large sledge hammer.
The Flying Scotsman left Edinburgh for the South at 10am carrying 300 to 400 passengers. Just before the crash it stopped to take onboard an inspector of the railway company from Newcastle, who had been examining the line.
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| Illustrated London News - Saturday 22 May 1926 |
He had just passed over that section where the train came to grief, and had seen that the line was in order. The train then moved slowly away from the station, the inspector having given the volunteer driver instructions to proceed cautiously into Newcastle.
A distance of a quarter of a mile had been travelled, and the speed was raised to 6 miles per hour, when the driver noticed one of the rails on the near side out of place. He immediately shut off steam and applied his brakes, but his action - although promptly taken - was not sufficient to stop the train in time. The train ran off the permanent way, and following it four of the eleven coaches ran off also.
The engine ploughed up the ground breaking sleepers like matchwood, and eventually rolled over onto its side as it came in contact with a plate layer's cabin on the line side.
The first coach, which contained a few passenger compartments - as well as the luggage van, also turned on its side. The second turned across the line, the front portion being mounted on the top of the first coach, and the bogey wheels being torn away. The third coach was also on its side, and the fourth was derailed, the remainder keeping on the line.
A party of bluejackets from the Iron Duke was on board, and they were the first to get out of the train, and they turned their hands to assisting the others who had been pinned in the wreckage. Only one man was reported injured. He was Mr Arthur Hamilton who's address was given as 7, Whitehall Place, London.
Mr Hamilton, who is an official of the Board Of Agriculture, was travelling in the first coach and when the sailors went there they found that he was held firmly by the ankle which was trapped in the splintered wood. Crowbars were immediately procured and efforts were made to raise the wood and so free the leg.
He was then lifted through one of the windows. He was subsequently attended by a local doctor and then removed to Newcastle Infirmary.
Volunteers Stoned.
Subsequent inquiries I have made throw some light on events immediately preceding the disaster. It appears that some volunteers were working on the line near the spot when they were attacked by a number of men, who drove them towards Cramlington Station by hurling stones at them.
Some of the passengers stated that as they were proceeding they saw men running across the fields, and it is also stated that "one man saw the wreckers actually engaged in removing the bolts from the railway and was on his way to the police to report the matter when the train went over."
The Grantham Journal on the 15th May reported that "Robert Sheddan, who drove the train from Edinburgh to Berwick, stated that after the derailment he saw a crowd of men women in a field near the line laughing and gesticulating ."
You can't keep a good train down as The Scotsman - 20th May 1926 reports;
"L.N.E.R Services"
"The L.N.E.R state that, in addition to the train service which is now in operation, it is hoped to run certain additional trains during the holiday period for the convenience of weekend travellers. This particularly applies to short distance runs within a radius of 80 miles, but arrangements have already been made to run the Flying Scotsman each day in duplicate at 10 and 10.10am."
"Was It Due To Foul Play?"
Questions raised in the House Of Commons, Lancashire Evening Post - 3rd June 1926;
"In the House Of Commons this afternoon Mr Ramsden asked the Home Secretary whether any arrests have been made in connection with the derailment of the Flying Scotsman, and whether any reward was being offered for the discovery of the culprits.
Sir William Joyson-Hicks said the answer to both parts of the question, he was informed by the police, was in the negative.
Mr Connolly asked the Home Secretary if he thought the accident was really due to foul play.
Sir William Joyson-Hicks: I am like the parrot. I think a good deal, but I don't say much. (Laughter)
Mr Hardie said the photographs which had been published did not support the idea that there had been foul play."
"Unusual Charge Against A Cramlington Miner."
Newcastle Evening Chronicle - 5th June 1926.
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| The Moot Hall, Newcastle |
"There was a sequel at the Moot Hall (Newcastle) Police Court today to the wreck of the Flying Scotsman at Cramlington during the recent strike.
A charge of an unusual nature was brought against William E. Reddicliffe, miner, of Cramlington, the allegation against him being that he withheld information from the police.
One witness said he say a crowd on the railway, they were tampering with the main line, and he heard hammering. Soon afterwards the train came along.
A scene at Dudley, when it was alleged the rails were displaced and a store cabin set on fire, was described at the same court. Two miners, Albert Taylor and Christopher Ward, of Dudley, were remanded on bail on a charge of feloniously displacing a certain rail.
In the first case William E. Reddicliffe, 28, miner, of 10, Blagdon Terrace, Cramlington was charged that he 'did unlawfully and knowingly withhold information in his possession, which he was required to furnish, from police officers and other persons acting in accordance with their duty, contrary to section 28 of the Emergency Regulations, 1925, at Cramlington between May 10 and 4 June 1926."
Nine Men In Custody.
Leeds Mercury - 8th June 1926.
"A miner was the chief witness against nine other miners who were charged at Newcastle today with wrecking the Flying Scotsman when it was derailed at Cramlington on 10th May during the General Strike.
He was accused by one of the prisoners of urging the others to remove a rail, and of changing his clothes after the smash when he heard an inspector could recognise one of the men by the clothes he was wearing.
The men charged were William Gordon Stephenson (22), Robert Harbottle (21), Joseph Wallace (27), Oliver Sanderson (25), William Muckle (25), William Baker (28), James Ellison (27), Arthur Wilson (27) and Thomas Roberts (25).
The first witness was Lyle Sidney Waugh (26), miner, of West Cramlington. He said he saw a number of men tampering with the railway. They were stooping, and seemed as though they were trying to lift the rail. He also heard hammering.
Replying to Harbottle, he denied he was on the railway and lifted a plate. He said he was not sure about Wallace being there.
Ellison began his cross examination by asking: 'Is Lyle Waugh giving King's evidence?'
Superintendent Tough: 'Do you mean is he telling the truth?'
Ellison: 'Yes, there is a great deal in it, but as a culprit he is not telling the truth.'
Waugh said he had given the names of the men he knew were there, he did not know everyone who was there.
Did you run away? - Yes, of course I ran away. Why? - Because I didn't want to be in it.
They were remanded until Monday 14th."
Today's Proceedings.
Blyth News - 14th June 1926.
"At the outset the prosecution intimated that the charge against Wallace would be withdrawn, and he was accordingly discharged.
Waugh repeated his evidence and identified all the accused, with the exception of Reddicliffe, being among those he saw tampering with the rail. Being cross examined Waugh said he saw around 20 men interfering with the rail."
Reddicliffe, who was charged with aiding and abetting was also discharged, the remaining eight miners were committed to trial at Newcastle, bail was refused.
Miners Sentenced - Penal Servitude.
The Scotsman - 2nd July 1926.
"Sentences of penal servitude, ranging from four to eight years, were passed at Newcastle Assizes yesterday, on eight Cramlington miners, convicted of displacing a rail with the intent to overthrow a train and endanger the safety of the passengers.
The jury, after thirty minutes absence, found them all guilty as libelled. Mr Archibald Wilson, defending, said they were all young men of excellent character, and suggested that the effect of mass suggestion on them might have been very great, and they might not have thoroughly appreciated the consequences of their act.
Mr Justice Wright, passing sentence, said to the accused;
'The crime of which the jury, after a very careful and painful hearing, have found you guilty, is one of the most serious crimes that I can imagine, short of the crime of actual murder.
If this express, the Flying Scotsman, had been going at a greater speed, having 270 passengers upon it, there must have been, in all human probability, several fatal accidents, many serious maimings and disabilities, and disablements.
Even with the train going at the reduced pace at which it was, it was only by great good fortune that there was no loss of human life, or, at least, no serious physical injury.'
The judge added that how young men like the accused, apparently well behaved and respectable, could have conceived and put into execution so nefarious a scheme, was entirely beyond his comprehension."
Arthur Wilson - eight years
Robert Harbottle - eight years
Thomas Roberts - eight years
William Gordon Stephenson - six years
James Ellison - six years
Oliver Sanderson - four years
William Muckle - four years
William Baker - four years
Two years later the anger and animosity of the General Strike had subsided, and the case of the Cramlington conspirators was once again in the news.
Royal Clemency.
Daily Mirror - 25th August 1928.
"Reduction of the sentences passed on eight miners for attempted train wrecking during the General Strike of 1926 was announced last night.
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| The 3 released miners with their families |
'Having regard to all the circumstances and to the previous good character of the prisoners, the Home Secretary, with the concurrence of the learned Judge, has now felt able to recommend to His Majesty a reduction of the sentence in each case as an act of pure clemency', says the official statement.
William Muckle, William Baker and Oliver Sanderson, who were sentenced to four years penal servitude, will be accordingly released on licence on the 1st September.
The sentences of James Ellison and William Gordon Stephenson will be reduced from six years to four years and the sentences of Arthur Wilson, Thomas Roberts and Robert Harbottle from eight years to five years".
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| HMP Maidstone |
Amnesty Effort For Cramlington Men.
Morpeth Herald - 28th June 1929.
"Mr G. Shield, MP for Wansbeck, is to take up with the Home Secretary the case of the Cramlington miners who were sentenced for wrecking an express train at Cramlington during the General Strike.
Three of the eight men sentenced have already been released, two others who were sentenced to six years imprisonment, and whose sentences were reduced to four years, are expected to be released on 12th July.
The three remaining, who were sentenced to eight years imprisonment, and whose sentences were reduced to five years. It is expected that efforts will be made to secure their release at the same time as the other two, as an act of clemency.
Mr William Straker, secretary of the Northumberland Miners Association said;
'The executive committee of our association has never lost sight of the possibility of an amnesty. They have done what they could, but their efforts have been sometimes somewhat hindered by certain people seeking to make popularity out of the matter.
No Government or any Home Secretary is likely to allow his hand to be forced by public demonstrations. A much better way is to approach privately and I think there is a possibility of the present Government reviewing the matter favourably.'
Mr William Golightly said; 'I think the men have suffered enough now."
Ellison and Stephenson were released on the 12th July, but the appeal failed and the last three miners remained in Maidstone Jail.
Cramlington Men Home.
Shields Daily News - 24th December 1929.
"Already three men who are looking in the best of health and are in the best of spirits are settling down to the home life to which they were accustomed before the trial.
The release of the men was a complete surprise to the villagers, many of whom are making calls upon them at their homes. Their relatives yesterday morning had no idea that the men would be released so soon and today are naturally overjoyed and are preparing for Christmas parties.
Harbottle was not at home this afternoon when our reporter called but was fulfilling an important mission at Dudley. Robert was seeing his sweetheart at Dudley, after which he was seeing friends in the district, then completing the day by visiting Newcastle, his brother says he's in the best of health.
It was with an outstretched hand that our reporter was greeted by Roberts at his home in Lane Row. He was naturally glad to be back home again from Maidstone Prison. He paid high tribute to the prison Governor for dispatching telegrams at his own cost to his relatives at Cramlington.
Asked if he had any prospects of work he said so far he had not, declaring that he did not want to go into the pits. For 18 months of his term of imprisonment he had served in the printing department and then changed over into the boiler making department. There was nobody in charge of him, he added, they are all about education at Maidstone.
Wilson he said was unfortunately suffering from trouble to one of his eyes caused through a flying chip from one of the boilers when he was working with him. With the exception of a troublesome eye Wilson is understood to be in the best of health.
In 1969 a documentary called "Yesterday's Witness" was filmed about the Cramlington eight which included the four remaining men William Muckle, Arthur Wilson, Thomas Roberts and Robert Harbottle.
