West Midlands Railway (WMR) has restored a World War One memorial at Wolverhampton.

The plaque commemorated the rail workers who lost their life during the war.

On the 2nd May, the mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, revealed the memorial that shows a list of employees who worked in the Wolverhampton district of the goods department of the London and Northwestern Railway.

Attendees included WMR representatives and members of the Royal British Legion, where a minute of silence took place to remember the workers who died in the conflict.

Over 60 employees who worked as clerks, guards, goods porters, loaders and stablemen, were included on the plaque.

The places where the employees were born were also remembered; some of them were from Wolverhampton and Walsall, and others were further afield.

Some members are buried in local cemeteries, and others have been commemorated in Belgium and France.

WMR and The Railway Heritage Trust commissioned a restoration company, Lewis Howes Signs and Engraving, to bring the plaque back to its original state and create a hardwood backing. RG Cowern of Aberystwyth carried out the original 20th-century engraving.

The memorial has moved over the years, originally placed at Wolverhampton station, and was later moved to the footbridge in the 50s or 60s. The plaque now hangs in the concourse where millions of people pass through yearly.

“We hope that by giving this memorial a new lease of life, it will help to keep the memories alive of all those listed. Thank you to Paul Edmunds in my team who identified the opportunity to restore the plaque and made it happen.

“It’s possible that relations of these LNWR staff members are still living in Wolverhampton today. To any who want to reach out to us, we’d be happy to host you at the station to see the plaque in person.”

Robert Goode, head of property at West Midlands Railway