Wallace Oakes
Encyclopedia
Wallace Arnold Oakes GC was a train driver with British Railways who was born in Barbridge
, Cheshire and lived at Wheelock Heath, Sandbach
, Cheshire.
On 5 June 1965 he was the driver in charge of a relief train when at about seven miles from Crewe
the fire suddenly blew back from the firebox of his steam locomotive
, filling the cab with smoke and flames. Fireman Gwilym Roberts managed to climb out of the cab window and extinguish his clothing by rubbing against the plating, but Oakes stayed at his post to close the regulator
, open the blower, and apply the brake.
Roberts found his mate lying on the embankment next to the train, badly burned, but evidently having remained in the cab until the train stopped.
Oakes suffered burns
to approximately 80% of his body. The pain was such that he had to be suspended above his hospital bed and given large doses of morphine
. A week after the accident, he died from his injuries.
For his gallantry in ensuring the safety of his passengers, Oakes was posthumously awarded the George Cross
on 19 October 1965.
On 19 February 1981, Class 86
electric locomotive
no. 86260 was named Driver Wallace Oakes GC.
Stoke, Crewe and Nantwich
Stoke is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish is predominantly rural with a total population of around 200. The largest settlement is Barbridge , which lies 3½ miles to the north west of Nantwich. The parish also...
, Cheshire and lived at Wheelock Heath, Sandbach
Sandbach
Sandbach is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements; Sandbach itself, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock....
, Cheshire.
On 5 June 1965 he was the driver in charge of a relief train when at about seven miles from Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
the fire suddenly blew back from the firebox of his steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
, filling the cab with smoke and flames. Fireman Gwilym Roberts managed to climb out of the cab window and extinguish his clothing by rubbing against the plating, but Oakes stayed at his post to close the regulator
Throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which the flow of a fluid is managed by constriction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases , but usually decreased. The term throttle has come to refer, informally and incorrectly, to any mechanism by which...
, open the blower, and apply the brake.
Roberts found his mate lying on the embankment next to the train, badly burned, but evidently having remained in the cab until the train stopped.
Oakes suffered burns
Burn (injury)
A burn is a type of injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Most burns affect only the skin . Rarely, deeper tissues, such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can also be injured...
to approximately 80% of his body. The pain was such that he had to be suspended above his hospital bed and given large doses of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
. A week after the accident, he died from his injuries.
For his gallantry in ensuring the safety of his passengers, Oakes was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
on 19 October 1965.
On 19 February 1981, Class 86
British Rail Class 86
The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or...
electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
no. 86260 was named Driver Wallace Oakes GC.