While walking Monsal Trail today we stopped off at Hassop Station which is now a cafe and bookshop. On the wall of the cafe is the above photograph showing soldiers leaving the station during the Great War.
Mine isn't a great photo but it would would have been necessary to stand on the table to take anything better. As I was wearing boots I decided against that. Even so, I think you may be able to see why I took it. The soldiers look so young - boys in uniform.
From Wikipedia
Hassop railway station was a station situated about two miles from the village of Hassop in the Peak District of Derbyshire. It was opened in 1862 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley.
It was built for the benefit of the Duke of Devonshire of Chatsworth House who, having previously refused it to pass over the easier terrain of his lands, belatedly saw its possible benefit. Indeed, for a while it was renamed "Hassop for Chatsworth". However, in this sparsely populated area, it saw little use, and closed in 1942.
6 comments:
What an absolutely brilliant opening:
While walking Monsal Trail today ...
Recall Rowsley Station and Locomotive Shed, once visited in the late 40's. Often travelled on St. Pancras to Manchester Central expresses getting on at Leicester. There was the odd time or two in the early 40's when they made unscheduled stops. Once it was said it was for Churchill but another time just some Yanks.
This is a very emotive picture, you even see hope in some of the faces...
James - thanks (:
Demetrius - steam engines run from Matlock to Rowsley on what is now a heritage line. Part of the old station is incorporated into a shopping centre.
Michael - you do see hope. Maybe they all made it.
I think the men were of the 16th (Service) Battalion, The Chatsworth Rifles, of The Sherwood Foresters. Given what we now know from surviving records it is likely that quite a number were under age. If there were from the early drafts to the battalion a high proportion would not have survived.
Demetrius - interesting. Some certainly look young enough to be under age.
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