- Hidden histories of Cheshire’s fallen railway workers uncovered from both world wars
- New research conducted by Colin Haynes, Alstom’s Environment, Health and Safety Director
11 November 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is marking the 110th anniversary since the outbreak of the Great War with a special publication that shines new light on local heroes who fought in both world wars.
Colin Haynes, Alstom’s Environment, Health and Safety Director for the UK and Ireland, has spent his spare time scouring archives across the country to meticulously research the hidden histories of those featured on the war memorials located in the company’s Crewe Works.
Colin has now published his findings in ‘More than just their names: The War Memorials of Crewe Works’. The research delves into the personal histories of many individuals from the railway town, such as Private Jeremiah Wilkinson, a reservist who – after being mobilised immediately after war was declared on the 4 August 1914 – was among the first to lose his life in the conflict.
The Cheshire engineering facility houses five wooden plaques and three bronze tablets, which 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).
Colin, aged 62, also highlights twins John and Henri Villiers Russell – ‘inseparable since birth’ – who served on HMS Formidable. The ship was sunk in the English Channel on New Year’s Day in 1915 and their bodies were founded locked in each other’s arms. Local grief was so deep that their deaths became a national issue. In fact, it was believed by many at the time that the law was subsequently changed to ensure that no brothers should be abroad the same Royal Navy vessel unless they applied to – although Colin concurs with Crewe historian Mark Potts, who also has yet to find conclusive evidence to back this up.
Meanwhile, Colin’s research mentions trooper Charles Ball, who lost his life in London in 1915 whilst training as a member of the Household Cavalry following a fall from his horse, and Private Thomas Fennah, a celebrated local athlete who was killed whilst fighting with the Scots Guards.
In the Second World War, Aircraftsman Arthur Condliffe died during the fall of Singapore in 1942, and Private Alfred Palin of the Cheshire Regiment, who survived the horrors of Dunkirk, was killed whilst on home defence near Thanet in Kent. During the Second World War, Crewe Works produced over 150 Covenanter tanks for the army.
“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.
He added: “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.”
Originally opened by the Grand Junction Railway in 1843 to manufacture steam locomotives, Crewe Works was instrumental in the development of the town, with its population growing from 500 in 1841 to more than 40,000 by 1900.
Today, Crewe Works is home to Alstom’s UK Centre of Excellence for Bogie and Traction Motor Overhaul, overhauling over 20,000 bogies during the past ten years for the UK rail market. Looking ahead, the bogies – which house a train’s wheel sets – for the High Speed Two (HS2) rolling stock will be made by Alstom at their Crewe facility. This marks the first time in almost two decades that these have been manufactured in the UK.
A special event to mark Colin’s publication was held at Crewe Works ahead of Remembrance Day on Tuesday 5 November, with representatives from Crewe Town Council, Crewe Heritage Centre and the Family History Society of Cheshire present. They were joined by historian Mark Potts, alongside some of the 350 Alstom colleagues based at the site.
“Alstom’s commitment to acknowledge, preserve and share the Crewe heritage it cares for is commendable. This booklet is an important record of the memorials within the factory. By producing the stories of those who gave their lives during conflicts, Alstom has ensured that although the memorials are not publicly accessible, the men are not forgotten,” said Gordon Heddon, Honorary Chairman at Crewe Heritage Centre.
Colin was also able to show those gathered other historical artefacts from the site, including an accident book from 1917. Many of the people documented were young women, encouraged into the factory to work on munitions during the First World War. During this period, they were assembling fuses, cleaning up fired artillery shell cases and producing artificial limbs, among other work.
Remembrance – or Armistice – Day takes place annually on 11 November, marking the cessation of hostilities in 1918 between the Allies and Germany at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. At that time, staff at Crewe Works will gather by the war memorials to observe a two-minute silence to acknowledge the lives lost – both civilian and military – and the gravity of the cessation. Similar commemorations take place at many other of Alstom’s 37 sites in UK and Ireland.
Meanwhile, staff from Alstom’s depots, including Crofton, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxley and Soho, joined the Alstom Armed Forces Network on Thursday 31 October to support London Poppy Day. The annual event aims to raise £1 million for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Copies of Colin’s research will be made available for public reference at the Crewe Heritage Centre and the Cheshire Archives and Local Studies in both Chester and Crewe. It will also be used to update the Cheshire Roll of Honour. Although the publication is being made available at no charge, readers are invited to make a contribution to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, in memory of those who left Crewe Works and failed to return.
