LNER WW2 memorial?

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Lynehaman
NER Y7 0-4-0T
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:09 pm

LNER WW2 memorial?

Post by Lynehaman »

Is there a memorial which records the names of LNER men who died during WW2?

I am trying to determine how a Norman John Clifford, a meteorologist who died on the RMS Lancastria in June 1940 whilst being evacuated from St Nazaire, came to know Donald Lewis Champion, a LNER draughtsman/engineer specialising in signalling equipment.

Champion was born in 1903, some 10 years before Clifford; without going into details it is just possible he taught the younger man mechanics in the late 1920s, but I'm not convinced that is the link. A 15 years old Clifford left school in 1929 to become a Boy Mechanic in the RAF, but by 1934 was living back home in Edmonton with his parents.

I don't know how he was employed between 1934 and 1939, when he enlisted in the RAF as a meteorologist. Champion at this time was living in Goffs Oak where he maintained a private meteorological station and rendered returns to the Met Office.

On 3 July 1940 Champion, not knowing that Clifford had died three weeks previously, had written to him about the met station and various experiments they had been engaged on. He also wrote about the LNER:

I've also received a further small promotion on the LNER which makes me one of the special staff detailed to sit by the 'phone at awkward hours to receive reports of Air Raid damage to our apparatus, and be responsible for detailing the various gangs of linesmen and fitters to rush to the spot and install hasty repairs to maintain communications. A 'cushy' job until bombs start falling in about three areas at once - when it becomes quite interesting!

The general tone of the letter is one of close friendship, and it crosses my mind they may have become acquainted through both working for the LNER - hence my query about the existence of a memorial, or list, of LNER men who died during the war.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lynehaman
NER Y7 0-4-0T
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:09 pm

Re: LNER WW2 memorial?

Post by Lynehaman »

Perhaps I should have added there is a pamphlet by Champion for sale from a couple of sources on the Internet - Mechanical Signalling Equipment (British Practice); Lecture No 10. Published by the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers. One of the sellers advertises at https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/catalog/p ... ftffe1fl04
Mickey

Re: LNER WW2 memorial?

Post by Mickey »

I don't know if the link below is any use to you?.

http://www.londonremembers.com/memorial ... enovations
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