George William Addison

Addison played football for Cheltenham College and RMA, Woolwich before joining the Royal Engineers. He generally played as a full back and made up a "formidable" defensive partnership firstly with A. G. Goodwyn and then with G. C. Onslow during the Engineers' peak years, being described as "a very sound back" and "playing beautifully at (the) back". In November 1871, the Royal Engineers were among fifteen teams who entered the inaugural FA Cup competition; after victories over Hitchin (5–0), Hampstead Heathens (3–0) and Crystal Palace (3–0 after a replay), the Engineers met Wanderers, the top amateur club of the day, in the first FA Cup Final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, which the Engineers lost 1–0, to a goal from Morton Betts. In the following year, the Royal Engineers were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round following a 1–0 defeat by Oxford University, but in 1874 they easily reached the final, with victories in the early rounds of 5–0 over Brondesbury (when Addison scored one of the five goals) and 7–0 over Maidenhead. In the final, played at Kennington Oval on 14 March 1874, the Engineers faced Oxford University. The university won the match 2–0 with early goals from Charles Mackarness and Frederick Patton. Addison was also a keen cricketer, playing for the Royal Engineers between 1870 and 1879.

Addison graduated from RMA, Woolwich and joined the Royal Engineers as a Lieutenant on 7 July 1869. He was based at Chatham until January 1872, before spending a year at Brighton, returning to Chatham in April 1873. While at Brighton, he was engaged on the construction of the grand magazines at Newhaven Fort. Between November 1875 and August 1877, he was engaged in the torpedo service in Malta, commanding the 3rd Section of the 33rd Company, Royal Engineers, before being appointed aide-de-camp to Major-General Thomas Gallwey, the Inspector General of Fortifications in August 1880. Promoted to Captain on 7 July 1881, he remained with the Inspector General, becoming Aide-de-Camp to Gallwey's successor, Major-General Sir Andrew Clarke until December 1882. In December 1882, he was appointed as secretary to the Royal Engineers Committee, before becoming assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, W. H. Smith in August 1885 until the appointment of Viscount Cranbrook to replace Smith in January 1886. Between 1886 and 1894, Addison worked with the Royal Engineers on telegraphs, joining the 2nd Telegraph Battalion in September 1889, having been promoted to Major on 1 April 1888. Addison was assigned to the Board of Trade in July 1894, working on telegraph and general electrical development until his retirement on 4 October 1899, having received his final promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 March 1895.

Railway accident investigations

While with the…

Addison was born at Chestnut Cottage, Manningham, near Bradford, Yorkshire on 18 September 1849, the first son of George Addison (1816–1874) and his wife, Jane née Orr (1824–1916). His father was described on the 1851 Census as a "worsted spinner". George junior was baptised at the Cathedral Church of St Peter in Bradford on 15 December 1849. Addison was educated at Cheltenham College between January 1863 and December 1866, followed by the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from 1867 to 1869.