b. 1869 Rotherhithe, Surrey. d. 30/10/1951 Croydon, Surrey.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 22/09/1917 Earlswood Station, near Redhill, Surrey.
Charles J Carne AM
Charles Carne was born in Rotherhithe, one of four children. In 1882, his mother died, and 13 year old Charles began work with the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. In 1888 he was appointed Porter att Thornton Heath before becoming Head Goods Guard in 1906. He was working at the company’s Head Office when the Albert Medal action occurred. He had married Lily May Rawson in Upper Norwood in 1891, and they had six children. In 1923, he was transferred to the Southern Railway, before becoming Station Master at Wimbledon Park. He retired from the railways in 1929. He moved to Kent on retirement. His wife died in 1942, and he outlived her by 9 years, dying in 1951. He was buried with her in St Mary’s Church, Bexley.
AM CITATION:
On the day in question a train loaded with ammunition was running to the coast when, on reaching a point near a town, a truck loaded with fuses was seen to be on fire. The train was stopped and the burning truck was detached, but in the meantime two other trucks containing large loaded shells became ignited. Carne, who had been summoned to the spot when the trucks had been burning for a considerable time, and had ‘been warned of the great danger of an explosion, mounted one of the trucks and then took steps to put out the fire with the help of the engine-driver, fireman and guard. In spite of difficulties in getting water the fire was ultimately extinguished. Had it not been for the courage and resourcefulness of Inspector C’arne a destructive explosion would probably have occurred, with loss of life and valuable material.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST MARY’S CHURCHYARD, BEXLEY, KENT. GRAVE D120.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
