The company that runs trains through Upminster and Rainham is appealing for information on railway workers on the London, Tilbury and Southend railway who were killed during the First and Second World Wars.

C2C hopes to create a memorial to all the local rail workers who died in the conflicts. In the 1940s, the LTS railway was part of the London Midland Scottish Railway and so all its dead workers are remembered on a single memorial in Derby, with no information about where the victims were based.

C2C communications manager Chris Atkinson said: “The current C2C route was of vital strategic importance during the wars, linking the Tilbury port and the artillery ranges at Shoeburyness with the City of London and London’s docklands area.

“We know the railway was bombed during both World Wars while many railwaymen would also have served in the armed forces. We want to create a lasting local memorial to the brave railway workers who were killed in these conflicts – but we need the expertise of local residents to help build our knowledge about the victims.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Chris Atkinson on chris.atkinson@nationalexpress.com.