Handcross Hill Disaster

This memento from the past was kindly handed on to us by the late Ernie Harman. It originally belonged to a supporter (name unknown) who had not only handwritten in the results but had also inscribed the card in the top left corner “First season at Ford Croft”.

The Wands moved from their old pitch at Derry Downs to play at Fordcroft on Cray Avenue in 1898-99. They won their first match at the new ground 14-1 versus 1st Army Remount.

Harry Hutchins was nearing the end of his playing career for Cray. He was a well known and popular player. In a letter to the Kentish Times published in 1932, an old Cray supporter said:

“I believe the team would have died for Harry. Apart from the fine game he played—crafty, bustling, sure and entirely unselfish—he had that great gift of inspiring in others the doggedness that knows not defeat till the whistle goes for ‘time’. Many an apparent lost game have I seen turned into victory by the superhuman efforts and unquenchable optimism of the Wanderers’ skipper. No wonder his team loved him! His smile disarmed them. Of all those who mourned his tragic and untimely death in the terrible disaster at Handcross, none could have been more sincere than his old colleagues at the Cray Wanderers football club.”

Return to Forever Amber

Disaster struck St Mary Cray on 12 July 1906, when a chartered double-deck Vanguard omnibus carrying a party of local tradesmen on an excursion to Brighton came to grief. It appears that the brakes failed as the vehicle careered out of control down Handcross Hill in Sussex. In spite of the valiant efforts of the driver, he could do nothing. As a result, many families were bereaved on that fateful day. Later, a mass funeral was held for the ten victims; ironically, one of them was a local undertaker, Henry ‘Harry’ Hutchins.

Henry ‘Harry’ Hutchins skippered the Cray Wanderers team during the 1890s and scored many goals from the centre forward position. He had virtually retired from playing by the year 1900, although he did turn out for a New Year fixture away to Maidstone United in the Kent League.

Harry was a very popular local man, adored by Wands supporters for his football skills and sharp tactical brain. As seen in the photo (left) of Harry and his wife on a Velocipede, beekeeping was one of his hobbies.

A MEMENTO OF THE HANDCROSS HILL MOTOR-BUS DISASTER

July 12th, 1906

By Edward Phillips

(Reproduced here for the benefit of this article)

A band of friendly tradesmen, on a recent fateful day,

From little town of Orpington, likewise St Mary Cray,

Were on their way to Brighton, being all out on pleasure bent,

And just by way of novelty, by motor-’bus they went.

Their hearts were light as children’s, they were full of life and fun;

They revelled in their pleasure ‘neath the July morning sun;

They chaffed pedestrians on the way, while swiftly they shot by;

They’d planned a day’s enjoyment, and to have it they did try.

All petty rivalry in trade was banished for the day,

They joined as friends and neighbours, and intended to be gay;

Well pleased with everything around, the road they dashed along,

Not even thinking of mishap, or anything going wrong.

They talked of nature’s beauties, as they journeyed on and on.

And, just to crown their happiness, the sun more brightly shone;

But, oh, alas! How soon a change came o’er this jovial crowd,

And those who did not lose their lives, with grief were sadly bowed.

Everything went smoothly till they came to Handcross Hill,

The driver seemed a careful man, possessed of needfl skill;

Yet, just as they had passed the brow, the car fast gained in speed,

And soon the pace it rushed along was terrible indeed.

The passengers were terrified, the ‘bus sped madly on,

The driver did his utmost, but, alas! Control had gone;

He tried to steer it down the hill—its pace he could not check;

But soon it dashed against a tree—became a total wreck.

And then those beings, who just before were full of fun and play,

A mass of human wreckage in the dusty roadway lay:

Some writhing in their agony, and praying release by death,

While others, more unfortunate, had ceased to draw their breath.

Oh! What a dreadful sight was here for human eyes to see—

Enough to move the stoutest heart, spectators all agree;

But help was needed quickly there, for those who still survived,

And, heaven be praised for mercy shown, good helpers soon arrived.

Kind doctors, nurses, soon were there, and working with a will,

All thoughts of sentiment being sunk, their missions to fulfil;

Poor injured souls were tended then, their sufferings to allay,

And all that human skill could do was done without delay.

The dead were lifted tenderly, and reverently conveyed

Away from idle, curious gaze, while friends looked on and prayed;

They could not realise the truth—a dream it seemed to be!

Oh! Would to God it were a dream, not stern reality.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to friends and victims too—

God strengthen them to bear their trial, and show them what to do:

Create new friends to take the place of dear ones called away;

Assist them to, if possible, to forget that awful day.

* * * * * * * * *

This sudden, sad calamity, we note with bated breath,

Impresses pious teaching: “Midst of life we are in death.”

We offer up our earnest prayers, with deep-set fervency,

That those called suddenly away are dwelling, Lord, with Thee.

• The above lines were written as a souvenir of the serious Motor-’Bus Accident, which happened while descending Handcross Hill, on the Brighton Road, on July 12th, 1906, and with a view to copies being sold, and the proceeds given to the Fund raised for the benefit of the relations of the victims.

This is the oldest Cray Wanderers FC team photograph that is known to exist. It is believed to be the team that reached the semi-final of the Kent Junior Cup, losing 1-0 to Royal Artillery at Sheerness. The club colours were chocolate (amber and black was introduced in 1895).

Henry ‘Harry’ Hutchins, centre forward and captain, is circled and sits in the centre of the front row with the ball at his feet. To his right is Herbert Berens. The committee men in the back row are believed to be Mr Ellis and Mr Greenslade.

We know nine of the players who were in the team. In addition to Hutchins and Berens there was Harry Dashwood, Tom Hancock, Jimmy Hutton, Nat Mercer, Bob Sharpe, H C Sharpe and George Smith.

Reproduction of the mourning card issued in 1906