Pupils celebrate WWI Jellicoe Express centenary in Flow Country
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Primary school pupils in the far north played their part in celebrations in the Flow Country to mark the centenary of the final World War I journey of the Royal Navy train commonly known as the Jellicoe Express.
The Flows to the Future (FTTF) project team and RSPB Scotland hosted a day of activities at the Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve while the nearby Forsinard railway station received a commemorative plaque.
The Jellicoe Express service was originally used in WWI to transport naval personnel from Euston to Thurso, from where they travelled on to Orkney's Scapa Flow naval base. Forsinard was the penultimate stop before Thurso and it was where the engines would take on additional water.
The centenary was marked by a busy programme organised by the FTTF project in conjunction with RSPB Scotland, funded by the Heritage Fund of the National Lottery.
It began with a morning event especially for schools. FTTF project and RSPB Scotland staff and volunteers – merrily dressed in World War I costume – welcomed just under 100 local children to the RSPB Scotland Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve.
Children learned about the Jellicoe Express in a range of activities. They made sphagnum wound dressings, heard stories from Orkney historian Robert Foden, went on the Dubh Lochan Trail (or "Sphagnum Safari") and much more.
Before they departed by train, the children of Halkirk, Reay, Melvich and Helmsdale gathered on the platform to honour the memory of the troops through singing a hauntingly beautiful song. Many were moved by the young voices joining together on the very platform where the last Jellicoe Express had stopped 100 years previously.
Moya Macdonald, of Another Orkney Production, has been involved in organising placing plaques along the route of the train. She said: “Thanks to the hard work of the Forsinard RSPB team, the final Jellicoe Express plaque unveiling was a fitting end to our two-year project.
"It was particularly special as so many local schoolchildren and some of the organisers of previous events came to Forsinard for this final event.”
Halkirk P6 teacher Carolyn Castle said: “Halkirk Primary School had a fantastic day out at Forsinard. The children learned lots about life in 1919. Thank you!”
The afternoon event was well attended by members of the local community and dignitaries including Chris Smith, Flag Officer of the Royal Navy; the Lord-Lieutenant of Sutherland, Dr Monica Main; and the Lord-Lieutenant for Ross and Cromarty, Janet Bowen.
We learnt a great deal about the Jellicoe Express. It was lovely to see so many children from local schools involved.
Everyone congregated on the platform for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by a cheery Johnny Jellicoe, the grandson of Admiral Jellicoe.
Afterwards visitors gathered in the marquee for tea and "trench cake" (old in style, not in age!) and to share memories and stories.
Morag Mitchell of Thurso said: “It was absolutely excellent and we learnt a great deal about the Jellicoe Express. It was lovely to see so many children from local schools involved.”
For those who missed the event, it will be broadcast on the BBC Radio Scotland programme Out of Doors this month.
It is possible to visit the Dubh Lochan Trail and the Flow Country lookout tower at any time. The visitor centre at Forsinard is open all week, from 9-5, April to October.
