World War One memorial plaque unveiled at Wolverhampton station

A World War One memorial plaque commemorating rail workers who lost their lives has been restored at Wolverhampton train station by West Midlands Railway (WMR).

The mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, unveiled the memorial tablet on Friday 2nd May, which lists employees who worked in the goods department of the London & Northwestern Railway (LNWR) in the Wolverhampton district and who died in the conflict.

Members of the Royal British Legion were in attendance alongside WMR representatives and led a minute’s silence to remember the lives lost.

The plaque lists over 60 members of staff who carried out a range of roles, including goods porters, clerks, stablemen, loaders and guards.

Places of birth for those remembered include Walsall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton, Pedmore, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Redditch, Brownhills and further afield. Some are buried in local cemeteries, while others are also commemorated at memorial sites in France and Belgium.

WMR worked with the Railway Heritage Trust to commission specialist restoration company, Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving, to bring the inscription back to pristine condition and create a bespoke hardwood frame as a backing. The original 20th century engraving was carried out by RG Cowern of Aberystwyth.

The memorial was originally erected at Wolverhampton station and is thought to have been later moved to the passenger footbridge in the 1950s or 1960s. The plaque has now been reinstalled in a more prominent location on the concourse, where over 6.5 million people pass through each year.

Robert Goode, head of property at West Midlands Railway, said: “We hope that by giving this memorial a new lease of life, it will help to keep the memories alive of all those listed. Thank you to Paul Edmunds in my team who identified the opportunity to restore the plaque and made it happen.

“It’s possible that relations of these LNWR staff members are still living in Wolverhampton today. To any who want to reach out to us, we’d be happy to host you at the station to see the plaque in person.”

Councillor Linda Leach, the mayor of Wolverhampton, said: “Those remembered on this tablet were local people, who served in World War One for their country and for us all. I’m pleased to unveil it following this restoration project, and hope to see it remain in the station for years to come, so all passers through can see it and remember their sacrifice.”

Tim Hedley-Jones, Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “We are very pleased to have worked with West Midlands Railway to provide a grant to support restoration of this war memorial. It is a fitting reminder of the sacrifice local people and railway workers made in World War One.”