Storyboards about the part played by railway staff in World War 1 have been put up again on Platform 1 at Beeston Station.
Friends of Beeston Station (FOBS) have collaborated with East Midlands Railway’s ‘Routes of Remembrance’ project to mark Armistice Day.
This year three new boards tell the stories of five young men who lived in Beeston and fought in the World War 1: Reginald Lee Hand who worked as a railway booking clerk, Frank Wolfe, a member of the platform staff, and three brothers, John, William and George Brackner whose father worked as a bricklayer for the Midland Railway.
Members of FOBS are grateful to the families of these young men who came forward after last year’s display to share photographs and memories of their relatives. One of last year’s boards refers to Fred Wolfe but contact with his family has confirmed that this was Frank.
Sarah Hampton, Secretary of FOBS, said, “It is important to remember that these young men were not just soldiers. They live on in the memories of their families; the grand-daughters of Frank and John and the great-nephew of Reginald still live locally. We hope our display contributes to an understanding of how the war affected local communities”.
FOBS members would be interested to hear from any other local families who have relatives associated with Beeston Railway Station and who have stories to share.
These might be stories of women who replaced the railway workers who went to war, stories of men who fought in either World War 1 or World War 2, and stories of people who worked at the station in peacetime. FOBS would like to remember as many railway staff as possible.
If you have an information or stories that you would like to share, please email: [email protected]