James Munro – Swindon Town football legend

*Swindon Town 1898-1899 – James Munro is pictured 5th from right in the back row*

As England football fans celebrate the national team’s impressive UEFA Euro 2020 win over old adversary Germany. I visit the grave of a Swindon Town F.C. legend.

James Munro was born on January 23, 1870 in Dundee, the youngest of Betsy and James Munro’s five children. He began his football career at Dundee Our Boys team, joining Swindon Town F.C. in 1895 after playing for Bolton and Burton Swifts. A good allrounder, captain Munro played as inside forward, half back, centre half, full back and even in goal.

On New Year’s Eve Munro led his team out onto a rain sodden County Ground pitch to play Tottenham Hotspur in a Southern League Division One match. Swindon Town picked up a 4-3 win in a hard fought game in difficult conditions. It is thought Munro caught a cold during this match, although he was seen out and about in town later that day. Sadly, he died a few days later, the cause of death being spinal meningitis.

Many thousands of people attended the commital of the young footballer into plot E7375 on January 7, 1899. A magnificent memorial was later erected on the grave but in recent years this itself has become weather damaged and in March 2021 Swindon fan James Turner and members of the Swindon Town’s Official Supporter’s Club raised £1,505 to restore the Munro memorial.

*The James Munro memorial before restoration*

On a day when England fans dare to dream that football could indeed be coming home, let’s remember James Munro.

Death of a Footballer

James Munro, captain of the Swindon Town Football Club, died rather suddenly on Wednesday. He played against Tottenham Hotspur in the Southern League last Saturday, and contracted a chill. The deceased, who had captained the Swindon Club for the past four seasons, was 29 years old, and had only been married five months. He came from Dundee, and first played for the Bolton Wanderers and afterwards for the Burton Swifts, from which team he came to Swindon.

The Derby Daily Telegraph, Thursday, January 5, 1899.

The Late Mr James Munro

In Memoriam – The Last Goal

A goal! Ah, now the cheers burst forth

When through our Captain’s play,

Another goal was gained for us,

And we had won the day.

A goal! Ah, yes, another goal,

A goal, for him to-day,

And Swindon mourns their Captain brave,

Whom death has called away.

L Maberly, Lambourn, Jan 16

The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, January 20, 1899.

The Funeral of Mr James Munro

The funeral of the late Mr James Munro for the past four seasons captain of the Swindon Town Football Club, who died almost suddenly last Wednesday, took place on Saturday afternoon amidst every token of respect for the deceased and sympathy for the family. In dismal weather the funeral cortege left deceased’s late residence in Kent Road, Swindon, at three o’clock, and proceeded to the Trinity Presbyterian Church, where the first portion of the service was conducted by the pastor, the Rev. J.H. Gavin. The Rev. W. Llewelyn Williams (Baptist) gave a short address. The former gentleman conducted the service at the graveside in the Cemetery, where several thousand people had assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to the ever popular “Jimmy.” The solemn procession was headed by the New Swindon Town Military Band (without instruments), and the coffin, on a hand bier, was covered with beautiful wreaths, besides which a carriage was laden with floral tributes. The members of the team acted as bearers, and amongst those present were the directors of the Swindon Town Football Co. (Limited), with the secretary and treasurer, and representatives from the Reading Football Club, the Tottenham Hotspur club, the Western League, the Southern League, etc. Amongst the floral tributes was an everlasting one from deceased’s comrades of the Swindon Town team, which bore the inscription, “Manfully he did his duty,” and the verse, “A star from out our tanks is gone; a light which shone the best; no more will he play the manly game, for Jimmy has gone to rest.” There were also wreaths from St. Mark’s F.C., Tottenham Hotspur players, directors of the Reading F.C., Swindon Amateur Swimming Club, Bedminster F.C., the directors, treasurer, and secretary of the Swindon Town F.C., and the Southern League.

The Western Daily Press, Bristol, Monday, January 9, 1899.

With thanks to James Turner, Paul Plowman and Dick Mattick.

*The newly restored James Munro memorial*

Frederick Gee – platelayer

The re-imagined story …

‘Mother always said there was nothing I could have done to help, but I never believed her. Today I can still hear the cries of the men, although mother said that wasn’t possible, they were too deep in the tunnel and I was too far away.
But I wasn’t.

What she didn’t know was that I was there, by the mouth of the tunnel as the ballast train screeched through. I was the first person on the scene, a 10-year-old boy walking home from school across the railway line.

platelayers

A gang of platelayers image published courtesy of Newton Abbot Railway Studies.

I knew the platelayers were at work in the Sapperton tunnel that day in April 1896. I had seen them arrive with their truck and their tools while I was about my early morning tasks on the farm. A section of the tunnel was under repair and I wished I could see inside.

The tunnel was a feat of engineering carved beneath the Cotswold escarpment and a source of wonderment to this 10-year-old boy. By the end of that day in April 1896 the Sapperton tunnel would be the stuff of nightmares, a scene that would haunt me for years.

For weeks afterwards it was all anyone talked about in the village. How the gang of five men had been warned of the approach of a down train and had stepped out of the way on to the other set of metals. They did not notice that an up ballast train had entered the tunnel. Two men were killed instantly, their bodies mutilated in a shocking manner.

And I saw it all. At first I thought all were dead, but then came the moaning and the cries as the two who were less severely injured began to move.
I crept closer. In the light of their lantern I could see a man still lying on the track, his arm wrenched from his body, blood seeping from his head.

Sapperton

Sapperton Railway Tunnel

Help was slow in coming. The three surviving men were eventually picked up by a passenger train passing through the tunnel half an hour after the accident. At Stroud they were taken from the railway station to the hospital, causing a painful sensation in the town.

The men who died were named as H. Ballard and E. Greenaway. Another, J. Hillsley sustained concussion of the brain, scalp wounds and bruised limbs while W. Pointer was sent home from hospital during the course of that evening. The man with the severed arm died on the way to hospital. His name was Frederick Gee.

Mother said there was nothing I could have done to help, but I never believed her.’

The facts …

Platelayer – a man employed in laying and maintaining the railway track. The poorest of any railway employee with little or no opportunity for promotion or advancement. ‘The most neglected man in the service.’ (Will Thorne, Victorian platelayer).

Ganger Frederick Gee 47 was married to Mary Ann nee Willis and left seven children, five under the age of 10 years including a baby son just a few months old, when he died working in the Sapperton tunnel in April 1896.
Frederick was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery where in 1900 the couple’s sixteen-year-old daughter Rosa Ethel was buried alongside him and four years later their son Harry Howard, aged 21.

In just a few short years Mary Ann lost her husband and two of her children, but she was made of stern stuff.

On March 14, 1907 Mary Ann set sail from Liverpool on board the SS Cymric with her four youngest sons Sidney 17, Ernest 15, Frank 13 and eleven-year-old Wilfred, to begin a new life in the United States of America.

The family arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on March 25 and in the 1910 US census they can be found living in Forest Dale, Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 1917 Mary Ann, then aged 62, married William A. Tolman. William Augustus Tolman was 69, a widower and a member of a prominent pioneering family in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). William’s father Cyrus had arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1848 with Brigham Young’s second company.

Theirs was a brief marriage. William died from smallpox in 1920. He was buried in the family plot at Oakley Cemetery, Cassia County, Idaho with his first wife Marintha.

Mary Ann died in 1929 aged 71. She had survived the death of two husbands, two sons and a daughter.

Summer Solstice Musings

Today let’s celebrate the summer loveliness of the cemetery where swathes of daisies and long legged buttercups and clouds of lacey cow parsley float among the gravestones.

Radnor Street Cemetery closed to new burials in the 1970s and after that interments could only take place where there was space in an existing family grave. This still applies today where burials are most usually those of cremated remains.

In 2005 the cemetery was designated a local nature reserve and the value of this area was widely promoted. Bird and bat boxes were erected and areas of grass were left to grow long to provide habitat for insects. Led by Swindon Ranger’s team and members of a community gardening group called LEAVES a pond was created in what was to be a wildlife memorial garden. It was hoped that the installation of a water feature would encourage dragonflies, newts and frogs and would enhance the biodiversity of the cemetery site.

Sadly, local government cutbacks and the diminishing number of Rangers saw these plans falter, but a growing team of new volunteers is now at work in the cemetery on a regular basis. Their initial interest was to keep the area around the Commonwealth War Graves clear and accessible but in recent months they have extended their work to other graves, revealing yet more fascinating Radnor Street Cemetery stories.

Frank Crossley – a safe pair of hands

The re-imagined story…

Swindon Town Football Club had been founded less than ten years when Frank joined the team. This was before the team turned professional in 1894, when they played at the Croft and changed into their kit at The Fountain public house. Football was a different game in 1887.

The players may have been amateurs but there was nothing amateurish about their game. Take Frank Crossley for example, a fitter in the Works who played in the late 1880s.

Frank Crossley was an intelligent player and a safe pair of hands. Fans wondered why he didn’t play more regularly for the Town. Frank played just seven games in a career that spanned five seasons from 1887 to 1892.

He then went on to referee matches and he didn’t mince his words.

I suppose the war will change football in the same way it has changed everything else. So many good players lost. Our own Freddie Wheatcroft lost, killed in action in 1917. Freddie notched up more than 90 goals in six seasons at Swindon. We won’t see the likes of him again.

And what about Frank? Will he be forgotten too?

The facts …

This headstone marks the burial place of William and Elizabeth Crossley and their son William. The kerbstone surround has sunk into the ground and it is no longer possible to see an inscription, if there is one. It is likely the names of two further sons both buried here, Frank and George, are mentioned.

William senior was a steam engine maker and fitter. He was born in Yorkshire in about 1827. By 1860 he and Elizabeth had moved to Stratton St Margaret and later a home in the railway village where they raised their five children, William, Frank, Emma, Sarah and George. All three sons followed William into the Works and jobs as fitters.

As the headstone reveals William died in 1895, Elizabeth in 1910 and their son William in 1899. William and Elizabeth are buried in plot A990, their son William is actually in the neighbouring plot A991. There is no obvious mention of the two sons who share the grave with their parents.

After William senior died, Elizabeth, Frank and George left their long-time family home at 15 Oxford Street and moved to 126 Broad Street. Following Elizabeth’s death Frank and George continued to live together.

Research has revealed that Frank played for Swindon Town Football Club from 1887 to 1892 and later went on to be a football referee.

In the last months of the Great War George was called up; he was 44 years old. As a skilled man he enlisted with the Royal Engineers, serving as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and the Inland Waterways and Dock Companies. He served his time in Britain, returning to his job in the Works at the end of the war.

Frank died in 1947 aged 82 and George died in 1959 aged 85. Neither men married and left no descendants. Their lives forgotten, their amazing stories untold.

Frank Crossley of 126 Broad Street Swindon, died aged 82 years old. Burial took place in plot A990 on February 24, 1947.

Some sporting stories

Frank also played for the county team.

Football Gloucestershire v. Wiltshire

The most important match on Saturday in and about Bristol was the one between the representatives of the above counties, which was played on the St George’s ground, in the presence of about 2000 spectators. Although the Wiltshire men had to travel some distances, they were the first to take possession of the battlefield, but they had not to wait long before the home defenders jumped over the roses and took up their different positions ready for the attack.

From the throw in a combined rush was made by the visitors, who worked the leather in close proximity to the home territory, but Percy Newnham was not found wanting, and, with the help of Russell, stopped the attacking party, and the former player, with a clever kick, placed the globe half way down the ground, where, unfortunately, the ball was handled, and on the appeal being made a free kick was awarded the visitors…

From the kick off, Francis and Perrin sent in a stinger which puzzled Crossley, and matters were made equal admist the vociferous cheering of the spectators. The ball was kicked from the centre, and the home men, encouraged by their success, made another heavy attack upon the visitors’ territory, Noble, Taylor, and Francis sending in shot after shot, which were all well stopped by Crossley…

Poole next had a try with the leather, got from Francis; he sent in a clinking shot to Crossley, who saved in splendid style by falling with the ball and putting it behind…

Some very pretty passing play was witnessed between Perrin and Francis, who were loudly cheered by the spectators; the former headed the ball in front of the goal, but Crossley saved. The home forwards pressed the game, and Thompson getting the leather from C. Newnham had a chance of scoring, but he misjudged his shot and the ball went behind.

For five or ten minutes the visitors were penned in, Francis, Poole, and Perrin sending in some sharp shots, but Crossley was equal to the work, and his fisting out was remarkably clever.

Eventually the scene of action changed, and the visitors working together the ball was driven up the field and was placed between the sticks for the third time.

Up to half time the play was of a give and take nature, neither side being able to notch any further point. Immediately after the change of ends an appeal for hands was allowed the visitors, the leather being near the back division of the home quarters, but from the free kick the ball was sent out of play.

Directly after the ball was restarted it was kicked into touch, and from the throw in Taylor got it, and passing it to Poole, that player put in a shot, but Crossley cleared the goal.

Stancomb drove the leather down the ground, and Thomas tried a shot which Phipps hit over the crossbar, thus giving a corner, from which nothing resulted. Shortly afterwards W.H. Williams scored another goal for the visitors by heading the leather between the uprights. Up to the call of time no further point was scored. The game stood Wiltshire, five goals; Gloucestershire, two.

Extracts from The Wiltshire Times, published Saturday December 7, 1889

Football: Prospects of the Coming Season

“Can you manage to write something for us about the coming football season, and what we may expect to see the Town Club doing?” queried our Editor the other day.” What, football already? Why its only a few weeks since when we took up the willow for the first time this year! You might at least wait until the first-class cricket teams have made up their averages.”

It was not to be, however, for the “season” is already upon us, and almost before we could get a talk with some of the knowing ones of the local teams Swindon Town are hard at it – and at first-class matches, too.

Our first wail must be over the retirement of the popular captain of the past few years, for who can doubt that during the time Frank Crossley has held the exalted, but not at all time enviable, position of captain, Swindon has, under his care, and by plucky challenges well sustained, worked its way to a prominent position amongst southern teams. Le roi est mort; vive le roi! Frank Crossley retires, but Gordon Wainwright takes his stead, and in their new captain the Swindon eleven have not only a most firm commander, but also a thorough-going athlete. So after all, Crossley’s “stiffness” did not develop at a most critical time in the club’s history; he has assisted mightily his team’s accession to an exalted place in the football world, and does but leave other hands (and feet) to continue the work.

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser published Saturday September 10, 1892

Swindon Tram Disaster

The re-imagined story …

We could all see that the tram was travelling too fast and people on the street began to move, clearing a path. When the accident happened, it was as if in slow motion; until the screech of metal on metal and the screams of the passengers plunged the scene into sharp and noisy relief.

As the tram swerved and toppled over some of those travelling on the open top were thrown to the ground. Surely, they could not hope to survive.

The visitors to the Bath and West Show who thronged down Victoria Road stood in shocked disbelief. For a split second there was a silence, a nothingness and then onlookers surged forward to help.

I was just returning to the studio from an assignment and had my camera with me. I briefly considered taking photographs of the scene, but just as quickly decided against it. I left my equipment in the foyer at the Empire Theatre and joined those helping to rescue the trapped and injured passengers.

Local photographer William Hooper published a postcard photograph of the crash scene that same day. I knew then that I didn’t have what it took to be a commercial photographer and I resigned from my position before my employer had an opportunity to dismiss me.

I took up a clerical job in the Works soon after. When I retired forty years later my colleagues presented me with a camera!

cemetery views (26)

The facts …

Runaway Tram Car

Dashes Down a Swindon Hill and Overturns

Four Passengers Killed and 30 injured

Somerset Farmer loses his life

Dorchester People Injured

A serious tram accident occurred at Swindon on Thursday evening. In consequence of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Show, the electric cars, which are Corporation property, were very heavily laden, and No 11 car, which is registered to carry 56 passengers, was descending Victoria road, a steep decline connecting the old and new parts of Swindon, with a load of between seventy and eighty people. Midway down the hill, the car got beyond control and at the foot of the hill ran on to the uprails at a crossing, and overturned.

The passengers on the top were precipitated into the road like stones out of a catapult, some being thrown a considerable distance. There were a great many people about at the time, and for some moments the greatest consternation prevailed. A few cool heads were soon on the spot to render assistance. The shrieks and groans of the injured filled the air, and one spectator says that blood ran into the gutter in streams. Scarcely a single passenger escaped without injury, although one or two who saw their danger had jumped off before it was too late.

Dr. Lavery, who lives close by, came on the scene, and was soon followed by Drs. Waiters. Dalea Gordon, Ducane, and the officials from the Great Western Surgery. Dazed and unconscious, the victims lay strewn about the roadway for many yards. The doctors and ambulance men rendered first aid to the more serious cases, and conveyances were summoned and the victims conveyed to the Victoria Hospital.

All the injured were transferred to the Victoria Hospital where they were given further treatment. Unhappily, the injuries in two cases proved fatal. Mr Edwin H. Croad, proprietor of the Railway Hotel, Swindon died on the way to the hospital while Mr Harry Dyke, brewer’s agent, of Swindon succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. Two other victims died later. The roll of injured contains the names of about 30 persons, and others who were merely bruised or shaken went direct to their homes.

William Hooper photograph published courtesy of P.A. Williams and Local Studies, Swindon Central Library

The Dead

Harry Dyke, brewer’s agent, Goddard-avenue, Swindon.

E.H. Croad, Railway Inn, Newport Street, Swindon.

Rowland J. Dunford, Nables’ Farm, Draycot Cerne, Chippenham.

Charles Phippen, farmer, Weston Bampfylde, Sparkford Bath.

The two first names died soon after admission. In all cases death is supposed to be due to fracture of the skull.

How the Accident happened

General comment is that the car was carrying far too many passengers; indeed, eye witnesses and many of the passengers declare that it was grossly overcrowded. In descending Victoria road, the brakes either did not act, or were overpowered, and the momentum acquired in descending this steep thoroughfare hurried it along at a pace which convinced passing pedestrians, and even the passengers themselves, that an accident was inevitable. Whatever the feelings of the passengers were, no panic was displayed.

There was an absence of screaming, one and all awaiting with a grim quietness the denouement which all felt was bound to come. The car kept to the rails going down the hill. At the bottom is a sharp curve into Regent circus. On reaching the bend, it ran on to the up line, rocked heavily, and then fell over on its side with great force. It was exceedingly fortunate that there was no car on the up line or the loss of life must have been much great.

Lyons, the driver, stuck to his car to the last. He is said to have been an experienced motor man. He received some slight injuries to his side, but soon recovered. The conductor, who was on top of the car, was picked up in a dazed condition, but he pulled himself together in a few minutes. Lyons declares that he put on his brakes on reaching the hill, and applied them as hard as he could. He never let go of these until the car toppled over, and did all that he could to avert the disaster.

The trams belong to the Corporation of Swindon, and there is no doubt that the matter of compensation will have to be faced by the town authorities. The overcrowding allegations give a further serious aspect to the matters. Passengers are booked on a way bill, similar to the system followed in Bristol, the deviation being that the bill, instead of being placed in a prominent position within the car, is kept in portfolio form, and checked by the inspector whenever he mounts the platform. This way bill doubtless will be produced when required at the official enquiries which will be held, and, if accurately entered up, should show the exact number of persons who were riding. This can be further checked by the number of punched tickets issued.

This is not the first mishap which has occurred at the foot of Victoria road, although, fortunately, the previous accident was not attended with serious consequences. Warnings have more than once been uttered emphasising the necessity for special care being exercised in the descent of the hill, and at the annual dinner of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr A.E. Withey, a prominent local solicitor, expressed strong views on the question.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 6^th June 1906 (extracts)

Edwin Herbert Croad, the 60-year-old proprietor at the Railway Hotel, Newport Street, Swindon was buried in plot E8374 in Radnor Street Cemetery on June 6. William Hooper got a photo of the funeral as well.

Swindon Corporation was found liable for more than £7,000 compensation and costs and was forced to increase the rates for three years to pay the bill.

5492314454_778d094bbc_b — William Hooper photograph published courtesy of P.A. Williams and Local StudiesSwindon Central Library.