From Didsbury to Ypres by Train:
Remembering the Employees of Manchester Corporation Tramways who Died in the Great War.
On Monday 3rd April Martin Logan, WFA member and his wife Winifrid travelled by train from Didsbury, Manchester to Ypres, Belgium. They did so to remember the Manchester Corporation Transport (MCT) Employees who died in the Ypres Salient 1914-1918.
On Tuesday evening, during the Last Post Ceremony, they laid a wreath at the Menin Gate Memorial on behalf of the Museum of Transport Manchester. There are nineteen MCT employees representing eight regiments recorded on The Memorial and Martin located and photographed each one and then laid a Remembrance Cross at each employee’s regimental panel.
During their stay in Ypres they visited Reservoir Cemetery were three employees are buried. Menin Road South Cemetery which has one employee’s grave and Potijze Chateau Grounds were two employees are buried. On the Wednesday they went by train to Poperinge and as well as visiting Talbot House, TocH, they paid a visit to Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery were one employee has his grave.
At each cemetery the employees were remembered by placing a Remembrance Cross on their respective graves. It was a personal pilgrimage for Martin who for many years has been researching the 310 names on the MCT WW1 Memorial Plaque.
Martin said “The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate is a very emotional and moving event and it was a privilege to take part. In making this trip I felt it was important that I try and visit as many of the MCT employees’ graves and memorials as I could in order to pay my respects for their bravery, courage and sacrifice”.
Photos below of Martin and Winfrid in Ypres
