Rail Crossing Crash Involving 10 PARA, Germany, 19 Oct 1968

On 19 October 1968 a 3 ton lorry carrying 10 PARA and attached personnel was hit by a train on a level crossing in Germany.  Four soldiers were killed: Pte Sunday Normor, 10 PARA; Pte Christopher Fryer, 10 PARA; L/Cpl J D Turney, 1 Para Provo Sect 44 Bde; and Dvr D L Plowman, 12 Sqn 1 Div RCT.  All four names are to be found listed together chronologically on the main Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, but with no indication that they were killed in the same incident, so this is a belated attempt to complete the record, prompted by the unveiling in September 2021 of the Memorial at Somerby to the ten members of the post War 10 PARA who died on duty 1947-1999, including the two above.  

As a young soldier on that Exercise, I recall the incident, but I am indebted to then Capt John McGrath and Sgt Len Berry who were in the vehicles immediately behind and first on the scene for their more detailed recollections some 53 years on.  Indeed, I cannot do better than John’s following words that he has been good enough to record for posterity.

I was the Convoy Commander and I believe one of only two who saw the actual incident, myself and a German civilian driver.  I did submit a report at the time but heard nothing further.  It was a fairly misty night/morning and the convoy was carrying the remaining personnel from Sennelager to Gutersloh after that year’s major NATO Ex Eternal Triangle, based in a muddy tented camp at Bucke. It consisted of five Bedford 3 Tonners, mixed army and civilian drivers, mixed left/right drive. I saw some lights moving in a field to the right and then realised that it was a train and tried to attract the lead truck’s attention, to no avail. The truck was hit, pushing it down the line. It was left hand drive with RSM Bing in front – I had swapped with the RSM - in the back a mixed bunch of MPs, Sappers, RN/Marines (helicopter maintenance) and some recruits. 

Four people died: Pte Fryer 24154044 and Pte Normor 24146640,10 PARA Recruits: Dvr Plowman the RCT driver, and MP Cpl Turney 23864775.  There was nearly another MP fatality, Cpl Martley 23542567. When removed from wreckage on initial examination I and a medic thought that he was dead, but the doctor said he was alive, only just.  Some years after the accident I came across someone who worked with Cpl Martley (I hope I spelt his name correctly) who said that he was badly disabled.  There were many other injuries which we set about triaging.  Special mention in my report was made of Roy Rickie of 3 Coy who climbed into the wreckage and stayed with Dvr Plowman, with firemen cutting going on, until he died. I organised parties to stop any trains, and noticed a great glow in the sky in the direction that I had sent Sgt Jim Teighe, where he had set an enormous fire. Being TA, I enquired if there was a train driver available, either to move the train or to turn off the diesel engine as the German driver had cleared off. Burkenshaw of 3 Coy stepped forward. He was a great help, said it was too dangerous to move but he turned off the engine.

As an aside, I noticed someone cleaning all the warnings signage on the crossing and clearing some of the under-growth. One of the other drivers said they had been driving for 18 hrs and that the movement instructions had been somewhat confusing.

Len Berry was in the vehicle behind and has similar memories, recalling it as a terrible night that he will never forget.  He was a Sgt on Training Wing at the time and had come to know the two recruits as promising lads.

For the record, there are two Memorials at Somerby in Leicestershire, where the Second World War 10th Bn was based for a year or so before Arnhem.  582 departed in September 1944 and 37 returned two weeks later, creating a lasting bond. The Main Memorial was unveiled in 2019 to the wartime 10th Bn.  The second smaller Memorial was unveiled in 2021 to those who died on duty in the post war 10 PARA 1947-1999 and has the following ten names.

1965    C/Sgt Thomas Alderson       Hastings crash 6 July                                  

1965    C/Sgt Bernard Hougham     Hastings crash 6 July                      

1967    Maj Douglas Gunn                Parachuting accident 10 July                      

1968    Pte Chris Fryer                       RTA German level crossing 19 October     

1968    Pte Sunday Normor             RTA Germany level crossing 19 October    

1982    Pte Derek O’Callaghan        RTA Germany, farm vehicle 24 October     

1979    Sgt D Garside GM                 Grenade range saving recruit 11 July         

1984    Pte Joe Lakatos                     Drowned Hawley Lakes 21 July                  

1984    Pte Raymond Atkinson        RTA Germany suicidal driver 26 September

1996    Capt mike (Joe) Irwin            Hypothermia Brecon 24 November