Press Release
18 October 2011

Journey of Remembrance
for the Historic Cavell Van
at The Kent & East Sussex Railway

On Friday 11 November 2011, take part in a rare and exclusive opportunity and travel to Bodiam on the 11.30am steam departure from Tenterden Station. A Terrier locomotive will make this special journey with a train formed of the Cavell Van, Birdcage and other historic vintage stock. The departure from Tenterden Station will follow a Service of Remembrance at 10.45am and two minutes silence at 11.00am. The service will mark ninety one years since The Cavell Van carried the coffin of the unknown warrior.

The restored Cavell Van is an important railway legacy of the Great War era and for one special weekend the Cavell Van will be on view to the public at Tenterden Station on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November 2011, between 10am and 4pm. Inside, visitors can read about Nurse Edith Cavell; Captain Charles Fryatt and the Unknown Warrior as well as watch newsreels with footage from The British Pathé Film Archive showing scenes from 1919 and 1920 of the three burial processions, as well as scenes of the trenches.

Built in 1919, its historic significance originates from its role in conveying the remains of three war heroes repatriated from Europe. The first of these sombre journeys from Dover to London 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.

Van No.132's most poignant duty came in November 1920 when it conveyed the remains of the Unknown Warrior – the war's highest profile casualty.

To purchase tickets for the remembrance day journey please visit www.kesr.org.uk. The website also has details of when the Cavell Van will be open to visitors at Bodiam Station in 2012.

Notes to Editors:

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 SS 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 enemy destroyers, and boarded. Fryatt was charged with attempting to ram U33; he was shot after a show trial.