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Daniel Pemberton (1833 - 1903) gave his life to save the life of a work colleague.
His meorial plaque records, briefly, the events leading up to his death, and is almost matter-of-fact, in its description.
It reads, "Daniel Pemberton, Aged 61, Foreman LSWR, Surprised By A Train When Guaging The Line, Hurled His Mate Out Of The Track Saving His Life At The Cost Of His Own,Jan 17 1903."
Daniel Pemberton's act of heroic self-sacrifice, did not receive as much press ocverage as some of the acts commememorated on the memorial.
The Reading Mercury afforded his death a mention in its edition of 31st January 1903:-
"Daniel Pemberton has been killed while working on the railway at Twickenham.
Thomas Harwood, who was working with him, said at the inquest that he himself would have been killed by a train had not Pemberton pushed him out of the way.
In doing so he was caught by the engine and was killed.
The jury, in returning a verdict of "Accidental death," added that they thought Pemberton's conduct worthy of the highest appreciation."
It transpired that the train driver, had not seen the two men working on the track, and was not even aware that he had hit Daniel Pemberton until he was told of the accident his train had arrived at Waterloo Station.
He maintained that he had, in line with railway regulations, blown his whistle as he passed Twickenham signal box.
He also stated that there had been a great deal of smoke and steam around at the time, which was probably why he had been unaware that the men were working on the track.
Even the man whose life Pemberton had saved, Thomas Harwood, testified to the overall noise and confusion in the area at the time of the tragedy.
Indeed, he told the inquest that the first he knew of the appraoching train was when Daniel Pemberton had pushed him out of its path.
Danile Pemberton was buried in Twickenham Cemetery on the 24th of January 1903.
He was survived by his second wife, Alice Pemberton, and their two young children.