Benjamin Arthur Moll (1874-1948)
Killed in train accident
Benjamin was killed in January 1948 when he was hit by a train whilst walking his dog along the railway line just to the east of Martham Station. He was 73 and a retired deep sea fisherman of 5 Council Houses, Hemsby Road, Martham. At an inquest into his death his wife said that ten years earlier he had broken both his ear drums and as a result was profoundly deaf. The inquest heard from the train driver who said that he first saw Mr Moll walking with his back to the train, when he was about 40 yards away and had repeatedly sounded the train’s whistle but could not avoid Mr Moll who did not appear the hear the engine. The inquest was held at the King’s Arms PH and the Coroner returned a verdict that Mr Moll had died of injuries caused by accidently being hit by a railway engine while he was walking on the line towards Martham Station.
Mr Moll was born on 24th March 1874 at West Somerton. When he was 26, he married Ann Elizabeth Grimmer at Great Yarmouth and they had the following children who were all born at Martham and baptised at St Mary’s:
- George Benjamin Arthur Moll was born on 19th April 1903. He drowned during the war on 17th December 1940 when his ship sank after hitting a mine. He is commemorated on Martham War Memorial and you can read more about him HERE.
- Edith Elizabeth Moll was born on 21st November 1904.
- Elsie Irene Moll was born on 9th September 1906.
- Henry Charles Moll was born on 30th October 1911.
- Emily Lily Moll was born in 8th December 1912.
- Laura Jane Moll was born on 18th February 1917.
Mr Moll was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Martham on 28th January 1948.
