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War memorial plaques returned to Euston station

Ruth Comerford
Network Rail A man and a woman look at a war memorial fixed to a wall, with their backs to the camera. Network Rail
The two returned World War memorials commemorate 24 railway workers connected with Euston

Two memorial plaques honouring railway workers who served during the World Wars have been returned to Euston station in time for Armistice Day.

The plaques have been installed on Euston's main concourse, ahead of an annual Armistice service at the station later on Wednesday.

They honour 24 railway workers connected with the station and railway network - 19 people from World War One and five from World War Two. Station manager Tom Barry said it was "incredibly special" to display the plaques publicly.

"They commemorate people from our railway who served their country, so it feels absolutely right that their stories and service should be remembered here," he added.

Network Rail A light brown wooden memorial lists the names of 19 soldiers killed during World War One, next to a darker metal plaque commemorating 5 former railway workers killed in World War Two. Network Rail
The memorials have been installed side by side along the main concourse

The plaques had been stored at the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens for more than 20 years.

Teams at Avanti West Coast, Network Rail and the Remembrance Gardens were involved in returning them to the station.

"This has been a real team effort, and I'm grateful to everyone who has helped us bring the plaques home in time for Armistice Day," Barry said.

"Behind every name on these plaques is a person, a family and a story.

"Thousands of people travel through Euston every day, and I hope the memorials encourage people to stop for a moment, learn something about the railway colleagues they commemorate and ensure their stories continue to be remembered."

Network Rail A war memorial with the name R.J Woodgate highlighted stands next to a family photograph of Richard Jonathan 'Dick' Woodgate. Network Rail
Former railway clerk Richard Jonathan "Dick" Woodgate died in a prisoner-of-war camp, aged 22

Among those remembered is Richard Jonathan "Dick" Woodgate, who worked as a railway clerk before serving as a driver with 133 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Service Corps during World War Two.

He was captured near Dunkirk and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, where it is understood he died from tuberculosis on 22 May 1941, aged just 22.

Other soldiers listed on the memorials were clerks, apprentices and ticket printers. Their wartime service took them to countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Armistice Day marks the day World War One ended, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918.

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