Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · 16d

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · 28d

Farewell Ypres until the next time ❤️

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · 29d

Solferino Farm Cemetery today

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · 29d

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!

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

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.

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

Went looking for the locations of the light railways in Trônes Wood
#WW1 #Railway

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

Beaucourt Hamel station then and now

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

😉

SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

Took a copy - thank you very much.
Your friends there wanted to know what we had in common - I said we’re mad 🥴

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 20

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 19

Will have a look tomorrow

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 19

Will pop in and have a look

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 19

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’

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 18

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.

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 18

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 18

Albert Station today, complete with aeroplane hanging from the ticket hall ceiling - and why not!

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 18

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)

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 17

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 17

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 17

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

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 16

Rather a nice pad - plus the sound of the nearby trains on the Albert to Arras line

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 16

Beautiful day for the start of our trip to get fully engrossed in all things WW1 Railways
#WW1🛤️🚂#Somme #Ypres

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SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 15

😂 Cheers Allen 🥂

SandraGittins @sandragittins.bsky.social · Sep 14

New card:
Level crossing at Grandcourt - Somme

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

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