Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British train operating company, which was in existence from 1835 to 1948, and entered liquidation on 23 December 1949. Several members of the Williams family were employed by the company, including Samuel Williams, Frederick Williams and Robert Williams, all of whom worked as platelayers, and William Williams and Gerald Williams, who worked as shunters at the Stoke Gifford sidings.

In 1934, when Gerald Williams, who was fourteen at the time, was performing shunting operations, he failed to see or hear three wagons rolling towards him, which crushed him to death. He was subsequently found by his father, after seeing a torch on the ground, where it shouldn't have been. An inquest into his death was held, and an accidental verdict was given. According to some, the lighting in the yard had been bad and there was no communication between staff.