When the staff at Littlehampton Station requested a Silent Soldier Silhouette, to display at the newly renovated station, members of the Sussex Coast Line Group were enlisted to help. Within a couple of weeks, East Preston Parish Council confirmed they had a silhouette in storage, which they’d be happy to donate to display at the station.

GTR Southern facilities team installed the silhouette in a safe area, by the trackside floral beds, which are maintained by the station staff. Visitors to the station can pass by the silhouette, which is a fitting tribute to those who served in the First World War.

Simon Cross, East Preston Parish Council clerk, said: “East Preston Parish Council was very happy to work with the SCRP and staff at Littlehampton Railway Station to give this Silent Soldier a new home. We still have some in the village for our own purposes and this was spare and in need of some additional love. When we saw the plea from Littlehampton for a spare Silent Soldier we were happy to oblige. East Preston residents will sometimes travel to, through or from Littlehampton station and they will be able to see a former East Preston Silent Soldier watching over them”.

Rowena Tyler, community development officer for Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (SCRP) said:  “The Sussex Coast Line Group is a forum for members to share information and help each other with Community Rail matters. This was a prime example of bringing communities together, which is part of the Department for Transport’s Community Rail Strategy Pillars and we were pleased to help with this request from the staff at Littlehampton, who work hard to make the station a welcoming place for customers and passengers”.

Howard Clear, Southern Rail station manager said: “We are very thankful to the East Preston Parish Council and our friends at the SCRP for organising the donation of a Silent Soldier Silhouette to Littlehampton station. We can now join neighbouring Ford and Angmering stations in honouring our fallen World War I heroes.”