TIn 1840, Swindon was chosen by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as the base the Great Western Railway Locomotive Repair Facility. This led to rapid population growth and the establishment of a town.

Part of the huge site now houses the museum of the Great Western Railway, while other buildings have been taken over by a shopping centre. This memorial forms a feature of the shopping centre and is set into one of the walkways, covered with a glass dome.

The white marble memorial records casualties among the 193 men from just one of the loco sheds on the site who served in the First World War.

It is extremely difficult to research people from a workplace. They may have come from any part of the country especially when involved on railway work. Consequently most of the casualties are unidentified, apart from those who have very unusual surnames or initials. The data here has been sorted into true alphabetical order to aid research.

From an old postcard

TO THE MEMORY OF

COVE	E	No further information available at present - can find no entry whatsoever for the railway for this man.
CURTIS	E	possibly Eric Calvin Curtis, GWR Clerk - Second Lieutenant, 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Killed in action 28th July 1918. Aged 26. Son of Calvin and Beatrice Edith Curtis, of Winkfield, Windsor; husband of Annie Curtis, of "Beech View," Little Hereford, Tenbury Wells. Buried in BUZANCY MILITARY CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 11.
DUCK	Frederick [Ernest]	GWR Apprentice - Private 13587, 2nd/4th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Killed in action 22nd August 1917. Aged 23. Born and enlisted Swindon. Son of Frederick John Duck, of 25, Shelley St., Swindon, and the late Mary Ann Duck. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 105 to 106 and 162.
EDGE	Charles	GWR Boilermaker - Private 12317, 7th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in action between 16th and 18th October 1918. Born, resident and enlisted Swindon. Buried in HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, Nord, France. Plot III. Row F. Grave 9.
EDWARDS	J [H]	GWR Boilermaker - Sapper 520309, 585th [SDGW states 565th] Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 19th September 1918. Enlisted Swindon. Buried in RUYAULCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Row M. Grave 6.
FRY	William [Herbert]	GWR Helper - Driver 94083 [SDGW states 9408], 84th Briagde Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 4th November 1917. Aged 20. Born and enlisted Swindon. Son of William and Annie Maria Fry, of 46, Exmouth St., Swindon, Wilts. Buried in WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row G. Grave 5A.
GILL	Giles	GWR Apprentice - Private 10531, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment). Killed in action 23rd January 1915. Born Rodbourne, enlisted and resident Swindon. Cemetery near Rossignol Estaminet, Kemmel, Mem. 4. WYTSCHAETE MILITARY CEMETERY, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
GOODMAN	Harold	Private 10507, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire regiment). Died of wounds 28th June 1915. Aged 18. Born, resident and enlisted Swindon. Son of Ernest Walter and Annie Goodman, of 5, Shelley St., Swindon, Wilts. Buried in BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row B. Grave 52. Note: There are two Goodmans listed as from the GWR that died Goodman AF, a Fitter and Goodman J, a Lineman, rank Pioneer. There was also a Goodwin H, Clerk, rank Private.
HAWKINS	T	GWR Helper - Corporal
HAYCOCK	F	No further information available at present - The only near entry is for Haylock F C, an Apprentice, rank Lance Corporal.
HOLLICK	P [W]	GWR Helper - Private.
HOWELL	G	No further information available at present - there are two Howell's, Howell G was an Apprentice, rank Private and Howell G F, a Springsmith, rank Private.
JOHNSON	A	GWR Boilermaker - Sapper
KEEGAN	T [H]	GWR Helper - Private
LINDSAY	E	No further information available at present - can find no entry whatsoever for the railway for this man.
MANNERS	W [F G]	GWR Helper - Private
MATTHEWS	P [C]	GWR Apprentice - Private
SHAKESPEARE	Walter [Frank]	GWR Apprentice - [Listed a Private in railway listing] Corporal 10553. 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. Died on 12th March 1915. Aged 20. Son of Mr. H. and Mrs. M. Shakespeare, of 11, Morris St., Swindon. Commemorated: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 53.
SMITH	R	No further information available at present - No R Smith listed but there is Smith S R, Boltmaker, rank Private
STRANGE	Zenas [George]	GWR Helper - Private 9217. 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. Died on 10th August 1915. Aged 18. Son of Lottie Matilda Strange, of Greatfield, Wootton Bassett, Wilts. Commemorated: Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 156 to 158.
TOWNSEND	R [G]	GWR Helper - Private
TRUEMAN	F	No further information available at present - No F Trueman listed but there is a Tupman F, Stower, rank Private
TURTON	H	No further information available at present - can find no entry whatsoever for the railway for this man.
VINER	F	No further information available at present
WHITE	W	GWR Fireman - Private
WILKINSON	G [H]	GWR Helper - Private
WOODMAN	[A F] J	GWR Apprentice - Private

OF THE LS SHOP LOCO DEPT
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918