NEWS RELEASE - 17 November 2009

Kent & East Sussex Railway Launches Appeal To Save Historic Great War Exhibit

The Kent & East Sussex Railway announces the launch of an appeal to preserve an important railway legacy of the Great War era.

The heritage railway, staffed largely by volunteers, aims to raise £35,000 to restore South Eastern & Chatham Railway passenger luggage van No.132. Built in 1919, its historic significance originates from its role in conveying, from Dover to London, the remains of three war heroes repatriated from Europe. The first of these sombre journeys was made during May 1919 when No.132 carried the body of nurse Edith Cavell. Thereafter, it became known to railwaymen as the Cavell Van.

In her early career Edith Cavell served as a staff nurse at The London Hospital in Whitechapel, eventually moving to Belgium as director of a nurses' training school in Brussels. She remained there at the onset of the Great War, and was soon helping allied soldiers escape the Germans. It was only a matter of time before she was arrested; she confessed, was court-martialled and shot on October 12th 1915 for "assisting the enemy." She retained great dignity until the end - her final words ensuring her place as one of the war's foremost heroines:

Standing, as I do, in the view of God and eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone."

Two months after her repatriation, Van 132 carried the remains of merchant seaman Captain Charles Fryatt. As master of the Brussels, Fryatt attained popular acclaim in March 1915 when, heading for Rotterdam, his vessel attempted to ram U-boat U33 instead of stopping, as ordered. Forcing it to dive, Fryatt thus made good his escape. The following year, however, bound for Tilbury, his ship was surrounded by destroyers, and boarded. Fryatt was charged with attempting to ram U33; he was shot after a show trial.

Van No.132's most poignant duty, though, came in November 1920 when it conveyed the remains of the war's highest profile casualty – The Unknown Warrior. Since then, it has led a varied life, most recently arriving on the Kent & East Sussex Railway in 2004.

There, volunteers aim to have it restored by November 10th, 2010 – exactly ninety years after it carried the Unknown Warrior. Apart from mechanical restoration, its interior will be fitted with a catafalque draped with Union flag, and educational displays to demonstrate the historic journeys it made. Reflecting the project's importance, the appeal is supported by the Western Front Association, and will be officially launched by the president of the Royal London Hospital League of Nurses at Tenterden Town Station on Thursday 3rd December at 11.30.

Photo by Lewis J. Brockway

To find out more about the Kent & East Sussex Railway visit www.kesr.org.uk

To request images or to find out more about the launch event please contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647