East Town railway workshops roll of honour board

East Town railway workshops roll of honour board

On Anzac Day 1918, workers at the East Town railway workshops in Whanganui unveiled a roll of honour board listing staff members who were on war service. Six of the 37 men named had been killed in action.

When in 1920 the Railways Department proposed erecting 15 boards around the country as part of plans to commemorate all railwaymen who had died on active service, it considered not replacing the ‘very fine’ East Town board. [1] It is not known what became of this board. The department erected a national roll of honour board at its head office in 1922.

[1] ‘Roll of Honour boards’, ADQD 17422 W2381 34/1915/3312/1, Archives New Zealand

Community contributions

2 comments have been posted about East Town railway workshops roll of honour board

What do you know?

Laraine Sole

Posted: 29 Jun 2022

The Eastown Roll of Honour ended up at the Wanganui RSA then when they were moving it was given to Steamrail Wanganui and is now in their premises at the Wanganui Railway yards.

Blair Jordan (President SteamRail Wanganui Inc.)

Posted: 02 Mar 2022

This East Town Railway Workshops Roll of Honour Board is now in the care of SteamRail Wanganui Inc. When the workshop closed, it was given to the local RSA. This was stored out of site there. When the RSA moved it was found again and they made the decision to pass it on to SteamRail. We now have this on display in our building. We also have a smaller one, which I think is ex Waverley. I can send pictures if needed.