Transport staff war heroes in memorial

Edmund Leach, Transport Driver

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TRAVEL for Greater Manchester is remembering its staff who served in the First World War ahead of the Somme 100 Memorial in Manchester tomorrow.

With help from the Museum of Transport, TfGM looked back on some of the experiences of the 2,900 tramway employees who served in the First World War.

The Battle of the Somme - Britain's bloodiest battle - saw 19 of Manchester's tramway employees killed during the first day of fighting on July 1, 1916.

One employee who survived was Oldham's Edmund Leach, a transport driver in the 24th Battalion Manchester Regiment who fought in the Somme.

Edmund battled in grisly conditions as he carried vital supplies to soldiers and wounded men to medics whilst under fire from machine guns and artillery.

Despite the British suffering 60,000 casualties Edmund's battalion were able to proceed.

After returning home Edmund and his wife went on to have three children - a son who sadly died at birth and two daughters - and he was awarded three medals for his service in France and Italy.

John Fryer, TfGM's event manager who is coordinating the transport operation of the events in Manchester, said: "It is extremely important that we remember the sacrifice made by so many and, with the help of the transport museum, we have been looking back to see how the war impacted on those working in the transport industry at the time.

"Most of what we have learnt is terribly sad: young men who left their family and friends behind and never returned - and the devastation that caused to loved ones here.

"But we've learnt of men who went on to live rich and fulfilling lives after the war - such as Edmund Leach - and of women who stepped in to roles predominantly held by men to keep Manchester moving during the war."

The Tramways Department commissioned war memorial plaques to commemorate the 310 staff who lost their lives throughout the First World War, including the 19 who died at the Somme.

These plaques remain in place at the current Hyde Road, Queens Road and Sharston depots of Stagecoach and First.

The Tramways Department also published a role of honour in 1918 which listed employees who joined the services and those who died separately.

George Turnbull, head of collections management at the Museum of Transport, said: "We have a substantial archive of local transport history, including artefacts relating to the First World War.

"One particularly important artefact is a roll of honour published by the Manchester Corporation Tramways Department in 1918, which lists all the men who joined the Army or Navy and separately those who died.

"It gives details of their employment, their military unit, rank and number.

"We are also honoured that one of the memorial plaques to commemorate the Manchester Corporation Tramways staff is now housed in this museum so people can visit and pay their respects."

For travel advice for the Somme 100 centenary events on July 1 visit tfgm.com/somme100/Pages/index.html.