Description
Object description
British and American service personnel returning to Britain on leave from the European theatre of war, pass through London's railway terminals. There is also a record of a Southern Railway "roof spotter" sounding an alarm bell and a 'Merchant Navy' class locomotive at Waterloo Station.
Content description
(20 February 1945) A Southern Railway employee on spotting duty, positioned on the roof of Waterloo Station, rings an alarm bell. SH394
Content description
(10 April 1945) A Southern 'Merchant Navy' class 4-6-2 locomotive (the UNITED STATES LINES No. 21C12) at Waterloo Station, hauling passenger carriages. (18-19 April 1945) American service personnel on leave from France board carriages at the station platform, all carry luggage. Further down the platform, black American service personnel board carriages, and troops stand outside of the carriages waving. SH396
Content description
(4 May 1945) American service personnel, on leave from France, line the platform waiting to board a train. Followed by, British service personnel (British Liberation Army) disembarking at Victoria Station. As they depart the platform, four notices give directions for other London stations; "BLA LEAVE – PERSONNEL FOR PADDINGTON, WATERLOO, CHARING +, LIVERPOOL ST. BY UNDERGROUND" "BLA LEAVE EMBUS FOR ESTON, ST.PANCRAS, KINGS CROSS" "BLA LEAVE - EMBUS HERE FOR EUSTON, ST.PANCRAS, KINGS CROSS" "BLA LEAVE – PERSONNEL FOR PADDINGTON, WATERLOO, CHARING +, LIVERPOOL ST." Another chalk written notice board provides a list of names for service personnel that have messages to retrieve. A Southern locomotive, with British service personnel aboard, arrives into the station platform. As they disembark, some go immediately to meet waiting family by the platform barriers. Another Southern locomotive (No. 523) arrives into Waterloo Station. American troops disembark in a variety of uniforms and an American Military Policeman (MP) delivers a message through a loudspeakers system on the main concourse. American service personnel fill the station concourse. (1 min 10 sec) SH397
Physical description
35mm