Locomotive Works Memorials Service

Platform One of the  Railway Station, Derby may seem to be an odd place to hold a Remembrance Service. But every year at the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month (Armistice Day)  a gathering takes place at the North end of the platform to remember employees of the former Locomotive Works who served and died in WWI .


The service takes place around eighteen Memorial plaques that are situated on the boundary wall.  Originally situated in the various workshops of the former Locomotive Works they were removed before the works was demolished and repositioned in their present location in 2004.  A moving service of rededication then took place on 22nd December 2004.



Eighteen Memorial Plaques from the former Locomotive Works

 Locomotive Works Rolls of Honour Plaques
Shop No.   Shop Description (*) Names on each Plaque Died in Service
 1   Millwrights 29 10
 -  Electrical Maintenance 23 2
 4   Electrical 29 3
 6   Brass Foundry 28 5
 7 & 7A   Iron Foundry 67 11
 8   Erecting 166 15
 9   Machine and Fitting 219 19
10   Paint 46 3
11   Bogie and Cabs 50 6
14   Pattern Making and Joinery 11 1
16   Wheel 20 3
18   Boiler 182 30
18B   Boiler Mounting 53 6
18A & 19   Smiths 41 6
19A   Forging 40 3
20   Stores 18 4
21   Yard 15 3
22   Tube 32 5

(*) Shop Descriptions prior to 1952.

The Memorial plaques were situated in their respective shops in prominent positions and they were well maintained.  Every year up to its closure, the works came to a standstill on Armistice Day at 11.00am and originally a One Minutes Silence was observed, this changed to Two Minutes in later years.  Wreaths were then laid at the Memorials.


The removal and repositioning of the plaques became the responsibility of Michael Fox a former employee in the Locomotive Works and it was he who organised their rededication.  After the rededication it was not possible to hold any further services, even at Remembrance, due to the upgrading work on the station.  During that work on Platform 1, East Midland Trains carefully protected the War Memorials so they were not damaged.  When the work was completed it was agreed to hold the initial Remembrance Service at the War Memorials on Tuesday 11th November 2008.  This was again organised by Michael Fox and was held with the  full support of East Midland Trains.


Now every year again at the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month  the Two Minutes Silence is observed at the Memorial plaques. Former employees of the Works, present railway staff and Members of The Royal British Legion attend this service.  The service is lead by the Station Chaplain a member of the National Rail Chaplaincy Service.  During the service eleven names that are selected from the plaques are recited as representative of  over 1,000 names that appear on them, these are then followed by the Act of Homage and Kohima Epitaph.  A wreath is then laid on behalf of the workers of the former Locomotive Works.
 

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