David son of Thomas Cole of this parish, labourer, and Betty (baptismal record)
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In 1841 David Cole, aged 21, was with his parents in Collingbourne Kingston.
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"FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—An inquest was held at Bristol, on Friday last, on the body of Samuel Warren, who was killed by an accident at the great Western Railway Station in that city, where he was employed as a supernumerary porter.
David Cole, a porter in the employ of the Company, deposed that on Wednesday morning, at seven o'clock, there was a train leaving for London, and at the same time there was a goods train standing at the Exeter department. Each train had an engine attached. The deceased was standing at the end of the goods train. That end was backed and got clear of the London train till the third carriage had passed, when a collision took place. The deceased...was caught between the back of the goods train and the steps of the London train..."
Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 30 November 1848.
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In 1851 David Cole, aged 31, born in Collingbourne Wilts., railway porter, and wife Sarah, aged 31, born in Collingbourne Wilts, were living at 16 Somerset St., Bedminster Somerset. Present was daughter Mary (2) of Bedminster Somerset.
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"ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
"...David Cole deposed: I am foreman porter at the Salisbury station. I was on the platform awaiting the arrival of the cattle train on Monday night. I heard a break whistle before the train reached the station; I cannot say whether one or both were sounded, it was making such a noise. There was a continual whistling until the smash. It was about half a minute or a minute before the arrival of the train that I heard the break whistle—it was but a very short time. I didn't see the train until afterwards. The train can't be seen from the station, when at the upper signal post. That is owing to a curve on the line. When I saw the train coming at such a rapid rate, I ran out of the station, and saw the outer wall fall. I ran in again directly; and I believe the first man I saw was Mays. I went up and felt the hand of one of the men who was crushed, and said 'Poor fellow, he is dead.' 'Yes,' Mays replied, 'he is, poor fellow: it is a bad job.' Mays was on the platform, but I can't say where he came from. He was quite sober. I did not see Symonds. The whistle by some means got shut after the accident. Mays was close to the engine; he might have gone through the aperture, and returned by the time I saw him. I can't say whether the gas was out before I returned...."
Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 11 October 1856
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David Cole of this parish died aged 39 years (burial record).
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