50 years on - Severn Bridge Disaster - five men lost (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Monday, October 25, 2010, 07:01 (4935 days ago)

Tuesday 25th October 1960

This was an incident which would be always be remembered as The Severn Bridge Disaster in which two tanker barges and five men were lost.

The tankers concerned were the ARKENDALE H, loaded with 300 tons of black oil, bound from Swansea to Worcester and the WASTDALE H, loaded with 350 tons of petroleum spirit, bound from Avonmouth to Worcester, both operated by John Harker Limited. Several craft had left Avonmouth that evening including the WYESDALE H, tug ADDIE and tug ROBERT A bound for Lydney with three lighters loaded with logs. There was no sign of fog on leaving Avonmouth and the craft proceeded steadily upstream towards Sharpness accompanied by vessels from Swansea.

But despite the dangers, on each bank there were brave men who launched small rowing boats in search of survivors.

On the Forest side, father and son Walter and Mike Cadogan from Awre, and Brian Price and Lemuel Gardiner, from Lydney, searched in vain. But Tommy Carter and Charles Henderson, setting off from the eastern bank, rowed right across the river to a point below the bridge where they heard the cries of Jack Cooper, the engineer on the Arkendale, whom they rescued and carried safely to Lydney harbour.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9111000...

Lost in the tragedy were Hubert Dudfield, 46, known as Jack, from Corse, Alex Bullock, 40, Malcolm Hart, 17, and Percy Simonds, 35, all from Gloucester, and Robert Niblett, 23, from Hardwicke.

Name: Hubert J Dudfield
Death Registration Month/Year: 1961
Age at death (estimated): 45
Registration district: Thornbury
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 475

Name: Alexander A Bullock
Death Registration Month/Year: 1961
Age at death (estimated): 40
Registration district: Thornbury
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 588

Name: Malcolm C R Hart
Death Registration Month/Year: 1961
Age at death (estimated): 16
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 316

Name: Percy A Simmonds
Death Registration Month/Year: 1961
Age at death (estimated): 34
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 328
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/cinderford_2/pages/page_4.html

Name: Robert J Niblett
Death Registration Month/Year: 1961
Age at death (estimated): 25
Registration district: Chepstow
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 8c
Page: 128

<><><> their births

Name: Hubert J Dudfield
Year of Registration: 1915
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Mother's Maiden Name: Didcote
District: Tewkesbury
County: Gloucestershire, Worcestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 725

Name: Alexander A Bullock
Mother's Maiden Surname: James
Date of Registration: Oct Nov Dec 1920
Registration district: Gloucester
Registration county: Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 579

Name: Malcolm C R Hart
Mother's Maiden Surname: Wellington
Date of Registration: Oct Nov Dec 1943
Registration district: Gloucester C
Registration county: Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 589

Name: Percy A Simmonds
Mother's Maiden Surname: Popson [HOPSON?]
Date of Registration: Oct Nov Dec 1926
Registration district: Westbury S.
Registration county: Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 400

Name: Robert J Niblett
Mother's Maiden Surname: Goss
Date of Registration: Jul Aug Sep 1935
Registration district: Wheatenhurst
Registration county: Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 477

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>