There is to be an event at
Newcastle Central station on 14 October 2014 at 0920hrs to mark the centenary
of the outbreak of World War One and the raising of the Tyneside Scottish
Regiment. To mark these solemn anniversaries, East Coast is honoured to be
naming a locomotive ‘For the Fallen’ and wrapping it with images portraying the
lives of men from regiments across the East Coast route.
750,000 people volunteered for service in
Kitchener’s ‘New Army’. On 9 October 1914, the first Tyneside Scottish
Battalion was raised and little more than a month later over 5,500 men from
Tyneside volunteered for military service. Of these, many would pay the
ultimate price in the pursuit of world peace. 100 years later, along with our
stakeholders, East Coast is marking the sacrifice of these volunteers.
At the event on 14 October, we will be joined by
soldiers from 101 Regiment – Royal Artillery, a Battery of which retains the
name ‘Tyneside Scottish’ and other representatives of the military, civic,
business communities in Tyneside. We would be very pleased if you could join us
as we dedicate this train to The Fallen. I have been asked to go but cannot as I am in London in the Commons all next week.