GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Lapworth Station: gwrl2502

Lapworth Station staff photographed on the forecourt in the year before the First World War. Seated at the front on the right is Station Master, Mr E Newton and on the left is Booking Office Clerk, Mr Finney, Standing behind on the left is the Junior Porter, Mr WA Edgington and beside him Porter, Mr G Edgington. According to staff movement information recorded in the Great Western Railway magazine, Mr CB Finney moved to Lapworth circa March 1914 replacing the existing Clerk Mr HJ Meigh who transferred to Southam Road station. Mr Meigh had arrived at Lapworth from Hockley station two years previously. Circa September 1915, Clerk Mr LE Morgan is identified as transferring to Lapworth from Hockley. There is no record of Mr Finney transferring elsewhere, but he may have voluntarily joined the colours prior to conscription being introduced. In early 1915 it was clear to the Government that voluntary recruitment was not keeping pace with the war casualties and the state controlled railways were required in September 1915 to identify all non-essential staff who were prepared to enlist. Six months later conscription was introduced (2nd March 1916) for all single men aged between 18 and 41 and this was extended to married men on 25th May 1916. By 11th October 1915 14,352 Great Western Railway staff had volunteered representing 18% of the entire workforce. Of these 354 had been killed or were missing while a further 598 were reported wounded, sick or captured.

In addition to the four Traffic Department staff, there were also several Signal Department Staff at Lapworth. These included Signalman; Mr C Falkner (who had transferred from Hall Green circa April 1913) and Mr WJ Barnes (who transferred to Bordesley circa September 1917) and Linemen; Mr W Walters (who had been a Gang Foreman at Tyseley circa February 1910) and Mr AH Minty (who transferred to Swansea circa November 1915).

Robert Ferris

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