Dundee Courier, 2nd October 1945

“PERTH A.T.S. VICTIM"

“Cpl. Helen Grassie, A.T.S. (23), daughter of Capt. J. T. Grassie, Atholl Bank Cottage, Perth, sportsmaster of Perth Academy, and of Mrs Grassie, succumbed to her head injuries. She was returning from leave to rejoin her unit at Benson, Oxfordshire. Well known in Midland hockey circles, she was a member of Perth Academy F.P.s. She joined the service three years ago.”

Perthshire Advertiser, 3rd October 1945 

“INTIMATIONS - DEATHS"

“GRASSIE-On 30th September, the result of an accident, Helen (Corporal A.T.S.), aged 24 years, dearly loved third daughter of Captain and Mrs J. T. Grassie, Atholl Bank Cottage, Viewlands, Perth. Sadly missed. Funeral on Saturday, 6th October, to Welshill Cemetery, Perth. Friends wishing to attend please meet cortege, arriving main gate at 2.5 p.m."

“EXPRESS TRAIN DISASTER"

“TWO WOMEN AMONG VICTIMS" 

“A Perth man, a passenger on Saturday’s 8.20 p.m. express train from Perth to Euston, which crashed at Bourne End, Herts, on Sunday, returned to the city on Monday morning. He told a graphic story of the disaster."

“The train was proceeding normally, he said, when without warning, a ‘terrific noise of cracking wood’ gave the first indication that something was amiss. He was in the rear part of the train, and the occupants of the coach were flung about, as the train lurched forward before coming to a sudden stop."

“With others, he was knocked unconscious for a moment or two, and when he regained his senses, and looked along the line, he found that the front coaches were piled up high above the engine."

“He told of how dozens of people scrambled out of the wrecked coaches, and of the heroic rescue of many unfortunate passengers who were unable to escape unaided. He paid particularly high tribute to the untiring efforts of members of the women’s Services who were aboard the train to minister to the injured. Police were quickly on the scene, and soon doctors and nurses from a wide area rushed to the embankment to render first aid. Passengers who were able to proceed on their journey were taken by car and motor coach to the next station, where a relief train was waiting to take them into London."

“PERTH VICTIMS"

“The casualty list includes eight people from Perth and Perthshire - all members of the services - who were killed, and 20 injured.”

"In all 43 people lost their lives in this disaster."

Helen Grassie is also commemorated on the St. Leonard’s U.F. Church War Memorial.

Nicky Grassie’s father, James Taylor Grassie, served in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) with the Black Watch in the Great War. Having disembarked at Basrah in February 1916 he was wounded in action on 6th April during an attack on Sannaiyat when the Highland Battalion lost 11 officers and 187 other ranks.

Second Lieutenant Grassie received the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry in controlling one of the leading platoons when severely wounded. He was invalided to India and eventually returned home. James Grassie was a Second Lieutenant at the time and we are told that it is very unusual for a someone of that rank to be awarded the D.S.O. His must have been an act of exceptional courage.

Captain Grassie was appointed Games Master at Perth Academy in 1926 and would have been at the school at the same time as his daughter. Nicky inherited his sporting abilities and was a talented hockey player.