SandraGittins
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sandragittins.bsky.social
SandraGittins
@sandragittins.bsky.social
76 followers 56 following 67 posts
Passionate about WW1 Railways on the Western Front @Ypreswoman Located South Devon
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Great Western Railwaymen who lost their lives in the First World War #WW1 #FWW #GWR

William Wyley Rankin - Horsekeeper Goods Dept Hockley
Driver 3rd Brigade Royal Horse Artillery
Killed in action 27/9/1914 aged 27
Buried Vendresse British Cemetery
Farewell Ypres until the next time ❤️
Solferino Farm Cemetery today
Lovely day in Ypres
Looked around a certain well known book shop and came out with a Belgium railway lamp and chemin der fare watch - photo taken by a convenient WW1 railway sleeper!
December 1916 when the Railway Operating Division was working the limited light railways before the directorate came about. The 16-17 winter was bitterly cold and any water pipes laid near the surface didn’t stand a chance as well as water tanks on the surface.
They were great. Don’t worry I say what I think too and to hell with it. We are ‘mad’ about our particular war specialities
Went looking for the locations of the light railways in Trônes Wood
#WW1 #Railway
Beaucourt Hamel station then and now
Took a copy - thank you very much.
Your friends there wanted to know what we had in common - I said we’re mad 🥴
Visited Delsaux and Bac-du-Sud cemeteries yesterday looking for 4 men of the 54th Light Rly Co RE’s
I am piecing together the company history as there is no diary or other archives, except for data I have found, and their story deserves telling
Will have a look tomorrow
Will pop in and have a look
To be honest not sure there was that much ‘legal’ scrap. The salvage corps did great work throughout the war, and any railway track etc was put up for tender/auction in 1919 (if I remember right). But you know what they used to day - ‘ if it ain’t screwed down it’s fair game’
Most of the urgent work on the railways started as soon as there was a retreat.
Rebuilding in other areas was greatly governed by recycling what was left, and transportation of new building materials was difficult hence the use temporary shelters.
Authuille Bridge - one of many bridges on the Albert to Arras line demolished in March 1918 as the Germans advance.
The red building seems to have survived the bridge demolition - looking at the date on the wall it was only built the year before!
Map @GreatWarDigital
Albert Station today, complete with aeroplane hanging from the ticket hall ceiling - and why not!
Grandcourt Level Crossing on the Albert to Arras line today. Note the two buildings by the crossing were rebuilt in 1919 and different design to the originals (see old postcard)
Heilly Station
Well known for the Casualty Clearing Station in WW1 where trains arrived and departed with the wounded. Those who sadly didn’t journey onwards can be found in the cemetery in the distance
#ww1 #Railway #Somme
While amending my GWR WW1 book I was reminded of a story I found for the GWR remembrance train
I don’t think there will be room in the book reprint for this, & for those who haven’t seen it on the train I thought I would share this unfortunate story
2nd Lieut T E Simpson RAF
Finally got the opportunity to pay my respects today to GWR employee Thomas Edmund Simpson at Vignacourt Cemetery.
The circumstances of his death illustrates how, as on many occasions, luck and fate can deal an appalling hand
(See below)
#GWR #Railway #WW1
Rather a nice pad - plus the sound of the nearby trains on the Albert to Arras line
Beautiful day for the start of our trip to get fully engrossed in all things WW1 Railways
#WW1🛤️🚂#Somme #Ypres
😂 Cheers Allen 🥂
New card:
Level crossing at Grandcourt - Somme

Will be looking at this for real in a couple of days time 😉