From Braunton to Bideford: The railway's vital contribution to the war effort

This year will commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day – the largest invasion force that history has never seen the likes of.

What a logistical achievement it was to transport thousands of tonnes of equipment, armour, artillery, and the Allied forces.

How did the Allies move so rapidly to the British coast and without any secrets being uncovered by the German army?

The answer was – ‘The railway’.

ABOVE: GWR official letter to staff 10.3.1944

This column commemorates all the railwaymen who played a part in the war effort.

Operation ‘Pied Piper’ was Prime Minister Churchill’s heart breaking and successful evacuation of the children of London and other cities that were sent to more rural areas by railway while the German Luftwaffe continued to bomb the more-urban areas.

There is old stock footage of the children arriving at Crediton, Barnstaple and Bideford to await their carers who looked after them while their parents either remained in cities or were enlisted to the war effort.

I first knew of the local railway's involvement from my Grampy Bill Steer who was leading railwaymen in the parcels office at Barnstaple Junction (Now Barnstaple station). 

Bill and all the other railwaymen had such important roles to keep rolling stock moving and had to remain on duty as they were vital to the UK's defences and the continued supply for the war effort. 

The railway was how troops and military hardware would travel to stations around the Northern Devon coast to train up for the Normandy landings, freight wagons would supply the military and rations for all the nation. 

There was a massive artillery gun attached to a railway wagon which would normally be installed to a battleship that went around the coast from Braunton to Bideford to defend Northern Devon from attack. 

There was the true story of how Chivenor airfield control tower had talked down a Luftwaffe bomber and Bill Steer and station crew were under orders to get a train to Wrafton to pick up the German bomber crew to be taken to a POW camp. 

Some railway services were top secret and to this day, we only know that Sir Winston Churchill would go to Bideford by train: then step from the train and into the grand entrance of the Royal Hotel to speak with commanding generals in preparation to D-Day: yet no local railwayman would speak of this. 

In the Royal Hotel, there is a plaque and official letter which is very unique and honours the hotel for keeping war secrets.

ABOVE: Combined Operations Experimental Establishment, Bideford Royal Hotel plaque. Photo Mike Day

Bill Steer never spoke of how vital Barnstaple station was to the war effort however, the United States Naval Photographic Centre film number: #1549 uncovered video footage that shows Soviet, US and UK generals, officers and admirals departing at the station to discuss plans before going to Braunton Burrows to inspect the Allies’ latest artillery capabilities.

Barnstaple station also had three artillery guns emplaced on Sticklepath Hill to protect it from attack.

Great Western Railway ordered strict instructions to their employees; they must not discuss any official government transport movements before D-Day and their general manager made sure a circular was given to every railwayman.

The lead-up to D-Day saw continued movement of trains out of Northern Devon to the coast to supply and arm the invasion to Normandy.

Bill Steer may no longer be with us but, I have been handed down his Defence medal war medal that was given to all railwaymen who were under government orders to keep the UK moving throughout WW2.

This column was written with supportive thanks from Mike Western who runs the North Devon at War Facebook group and anyone who wishes to read more may want to visit the page.