Roll of Honor
Charles Frederick Silversides
Incident
Railroad Detective Charles Silversides was killed after accidentally falling between two train cars near Holmesville, Indiana.
He was guarding freight train No. B.A.4, which was transporting a load of copper from Chicago, Illinois. A group of tramps had boarded the train at Chicago and had given Detective Silversides trouble as he attempted to eject them from the train several times. As the train pulled away from the Otis, Indiana, railroad yards, Detective Silversides advised the conductor he was going to get the group and bring them back to the caboose.
As he attempted to make his way to the tramps, he fell from the train and was run over. The train crew discovered he was missing when they arrived at South Bend, Indiana. Another train crew was notified and located his body in Holmesville.
He was survived by his mother and siblings.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-2C2E2A79- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Railroad Detective Silversides served with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Railroad Detective Silversides.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Railroad Detective Charles Frederick Silversides is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Frederick Silversides's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Frederick Silversides Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Frederick Silversides is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
