A TRAIN has been named after Allan Lewis, Herefordshire's sole recipient of the Victoria Cross, in commemoration of the 2,545 Great Western Railway workers who died during the First World War.

The special Intercity Express Train was welcomed into London's Paddington station by relatives of the railway workers who gave their lives in the war, of which Allan Lewis was one.

Before joining the army in 1915, Allan Lewis worked for Great Western Railway as a conductor and then he drove a bus on the Pontardawe route.

He was killed in action on September 21 1918, after getting his men under cover from heavy machine-gun fire.

For reasons unknown, the Herefordshire hero was not remembered on the existing roll of honour for GWR workers.

Allan's great niece Dawn Lewis said: “Why Allan was never included on the GWR Roll of Honour is a mystery, but I am thrilled that his extraordinary valour is now commemorated in such an spectacular and moving way.”

The train has also been named after Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Day, DSC, the only railway man to become a flying ace and features the names of each of the 2,545 Great Western Railway workers who were killed, including detail of where they worked for the company, their rank, regiment, where they were killed and where they are either remembered or buried.

Great Western Railway Deputy Managing Director Matthew Golton said: “The role of the railway in helping mobilise the country and sustain the war effort was immense. Over 25,000 employees of GWR volunteered to serve, a third of the company at the time. It is therefore fitting that as we remember all those who took part in this terrible conflict, we honour those of the GWR who fell.”