Neil Linklater McNabb
Special to The Star-Oct 2, 1945
“Sergeant Neil McNabb, 28 of Acton, returning from leave prior to sailing for Canada was killed with three other Canadians in the English train wreck which took at least 41 lives at Bourne End, 30 miles north of London on Sunday. His parents learned of the accident yesterday when Mrs. McNabb heard a news broadcast. They immediately telephoned to Ottawa for confirmation. Sergent McNabb was on a draft to come home on the Ille de France, which arrived in Halifax yesterday, but on September 23 he was taken off the draft and given leave until September 30, his father told The Star. In his last letter home, he said he was expecting to leave between Oct 2 and 6.
Neil McNabb joined the Lorne Scots at Acton in April 1941, going overseas in June that year. He was promoted overseas to the rank of Staff Sergeant with the No 1 General Reinforcement Unit of the Canadian administrative wing. He was born in Acton and attended the public and continuation schools here. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed at the Storey Gove Factory.
He was keenly interested in archaeology. It was a hobby with him at home and after his arrival overseas he continued studying this with professors in both England and Scotland at every opportunity, planning to take up this work on his return to civilian life. He is survived by his parents, one brother Colin and a sister Reita at home”.
Born on November 7, 1916, Neil was the son of Neil Livingstone McNabb and Julia Maude McNabb of 16 Park Ave. Acton.
Sgt. Neil McNabb was killed on September 30,1945, after suffering multiple injuries when the train in which he was travelling left the rails and went over an embankment. Neil was 35 years of age.
The Jurors at the inquest into the accident found “that the cause of the train leaving the rails was the speed at which it was travelling when passing over the points from the up fast to the up slow lines.”
Neil’s poor family back home must have been heartbroken to receive confirmation of the news of Neil’s tragic death…all too avoidable in a time of unavoidable death.
Neil was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Woking, Surrey, England…Grave 10, Row D, Plot 61.
For his service he was awarded the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45 and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. Perhaps of some solace to his grieving parents.
Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.
*Information obtained from Newspapers.com, Ancestry.ca and personal interview with Rena Arbic
