Midland Railway War Memorial, War memorial at Midland Road, Derby, England
The Midland Railway War Memorial is a Portland stone monument on Midland Road in Derby standing 10 meters tall with a recumbent soldier figure beneath a carved greatcoat at the top. Bronze name plaques line the sides, listing all those commemorated.
The memorial was built to honor 2,833 Midland Railway employees who died in World War I, representing a third of the 23,000 workers who left to serve. It stands as testimony to the loss from a single working community.
The recumbent soldier figure at the top was designed by Edwin Lutyens to represent fallen workers rather than commemorating specific individuals. This approach shaped how people experienced remembrance at railway stations and in industrial towns.
The memorial sits near Derby Midland Hotel and is protected as a Grade II* listed structure, making it easy to locate in the city center. The bronze name plaques have been restored and remain clearly visible from ground level.
The Midland Railway created a remembrance book with photographs and employment records of each person listed, giving families a personal connection to those commemorated. This publication remains a valuable resource for understanding the individuals behind the names.
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