Alstom is marking Remembrance Day today, 11th November, with a special tribute to local railway workers who made the ultimate sacrifice in both world wars.

As part of the tribute, Colin Haynes, Alstom’s Environment, Health and Safety Director, has produced a publication More than just their names: The War Memorials of Crewe Works that shines new light on the men from the works who died during the wars.

These memorials comprise five wooden plaques and three bronze tablets that record the names of 52 of the 152 men lost in the First World War (1914-1919) and a further nine men lost in the Second World War (1939-1945).

To mark the publication of his work, a special event was held at Crewe Works last Tuesday, 5th November, when 350 Alstom colleagues joined representatives from Crewe Town Council, Crewe Heritage Centre, and the Family History Society of Cheshire.

During his research into the hidden histories of those featured on the war memorials at the company’s Crewe Works, Colin visited archives across the country to discover the personal histories of many of those heroes.

One of those mentioned in Colin’s book is Private Jeremiah Wilkinson, a reservist who was mobilised immediately after the war was declared on 4th August 1914 and was among the first to lose his life in the conflict.

Colin also tells of twins John and Henri Villiers Russell who had been inseparable since birth and served on HMS Formidable, which was sunk in the English Channel on New Year’s Day 1915.

Their bodies were discovered locked in each other’s arms, and local grief was so great that their deaths became a national issue which many believed resulted in the law being changed to ensure that no brothers should serve on the same Royal Navy vessel unless they applied to.

However, Colin agrees with Crewe historian Mark Potts that there is no conclusive evidence for this belief.

Another soldier is trooper Charles Ball, who lost his life in London in 1915 whilst training as a member of the Household Cavalry after he fell from his horse.

Other servicemen mentioned include Aircraftsman Arthur Condliffe, who died during the fall of Singapore in 1942, and Private Alfred Palin of the Cheshire Regiment, who survived the horrors of Dunkirk but was killed whilst on home defence in Kent.

The public will be able to view the results of Colin’s research at the Crewe Heritage Centre and the Cheshire Archives and Local Studies Centres in Chester and Crewe, and it will be used to update the Cheshire Roll of Honour.

Alstom’s Crewe Works is currently in the middle of a major project to refurbish all bogies on Avanti West Coast‘s Pendolino fleet and will be one of the factories involved in the design and construction of new trains for HS2.

“I have spent the last year researching the Crewe Works war memorials in my spare time and I remain in awe of the ordinary people who left the factory gates – and their loved ones – to do extraordinary things in terrible conditions,” said Colin Haynes, Director of Environment, Health and Safety UK and Ireland at Alstom. I hope this collected research serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by brave individuals from our community during two world wars and reinforces the sector’s dedication to honouring their memory, while continuing to contribute to the UK’s railway heritage.”

Colin Haynes, Alstom’s Environment, Health and Safety Director