King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Private John Robert Singleton

Private John Robert Singleton, number 1573, 4th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died 19th November 1914 on railway near Slough.  Age 20.
Born Belfast; Enlisted Barrow in Furness.  Buried in Barrow in Furness Cemetery.

North Lancashire Territorial Killed
The death of another Territorial, who was killed on the line at the end of a viaduct near Hanwell Station, on the Great Western Railway, was inquired into at a Paddington inquest on Saturday. The deceased was Private John Robert Singleton, aged 20, of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (Territorials), and a native of Barrow in Furness. It was stated that he went on duty at nine o’clock on Thursday morning as sentry, and ten minutes later, after an express train to Reading had passed, another sentry saw him lying in the middle of the line. He was conveyed to Bishops Road Station in another train, but was dead on arrival. Captain Pearson said the work was very dangerous unless the men exercised very great care. To carry out his duties properly it might have been necessary for Singleton to cross the lines. The driver of the express train said Singleton was walking on the opposite line to that along which the train was travelling, and suddenly crossed the six foot way and stepped in front of the engine. Witness had been sounding his whistle for some distance – A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Lancaster Guardian 28th November 1914

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.