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Somerset procession honouring Great Western Railway staff who died in war

BBC Roll of Honour. It says Great Western Railway and the names of all the veterans who died are printed on it.BBC
The Roll of Honour was printed more than 100 years ago

A procession has been held in memory of railway workers who joined the military and later died in war.

Royal Marines from 40 Commando honoured the veterans in Bishops Lydeard railway station in Somerset on Saturday.

They delivered the Roll of Honour, which bears the names of the former Great Western Railway staff who died.

Laurie Hockley, who lost his great uncle in the war, said: "It's quite harrowing, the number of people that are on there." 

Mr Hockley's relative, John Yockney Burchell, was a teenager when he died.

Laurie Hockley. He is wearing glasses and looking directly at the camera. He has very short grey hair and some facial hair. He is wearing a white shirt, red tie and a neutral coloured jacket. There is a poppy pinned on his chest.
Laurie Hockley's great uncle is listed on the Roll of Honour

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour, which has recorded the names of the veterans for more than 100 years.

When World War One began in 1914, about 25,000 Great Western Railway employees left their careers on the railway to fight for their country.

Over the course of the war, 2,500 of those lost their lives.

Allan Stanistreet. He has glasses and a moustache. He is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
Allan Stanistreet attended the Remembrance event

Allan Stanistreet, who works as a researcher, said: "The First World War now has faded into oblivion because there are no survivors and there are fewer and fewer survivors from the Second World War.

"We have to remember them because without them we wouldn't have the freedom to enjoy today."

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