A World War One flying ace who has family is Pewsey has been honoured by having a special GWR Remembrance train named after him.

The names of all the Great Western Railway workers who died during the First World War have been remembered on a train which went into service today (Friday).

Many of them lived and worked in Wiltshire, at the company's works in Swindon, at local stations or at major depot such as the one at Westbury.

The company marked 100 years since the end of the Great War by unveiling the train before holding a remembrance service for fallen railway workers at Paddington Station.

The Intercity Express features the names of all 2,545 men who worked for the GWR and died during the war, and was greeted at London Paddington by relatives of those killed.

The train has been named after Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Day, DSC, the only railway man to become a flying ace and Lance-Corporal Allan Leonard Lewis, VC, whose name has historically been omitted from the GWR Roll of Honour.

Many of the fallen servicemen lived and worked in Wiltshire, at the company's works in Swindon, at local stations or at major depot such as the one at Westbury.

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Day D.S.C was born in Abergavenny, and joined the GWR as a Premium Apprentice at the Swindon Works. In January 1917 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service, just before his 19th birthday. His ability as a fighter pilot was proved with his first victory in August that year and between December 1917 and his death in February 1918 his status as an Ace was guaranteed with a further 10 victories. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Immediately after his last victory on the 5 February 1918, his Sopwith Camel N6379 collapsed in the air while diving on enemy aircraft at excessive speed, and crashed at Harnes. He is buried at St Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes, France.

Some of his relatives, who now live in Pewsey, France and Spain, were at today's ceremony. His great nephew Nicholas Blake said: “Our memories of Harold are limited to the recollections of our grandparents, who spoke of him with fondness and sadness. His ability as a pilot is clear and he was daring and courageous without question. We are thrilled that his day will be associated with the company he worked for in this way.”

To recognise all of the lives lost the train is being given a distinctive design stretching over both sides of the nine carriages including the driving cabs at either end. The Roll of Honour features detail of where they worked for the company, their rank, regiment, where they were killed and where they are either remembered or buried. 100 also feature in more detail, including pictures and background stories.

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.”

Those being remembered worked in all areas of the company; engineers, labourers, solicitors, carriage cleaners and apprentices from across the GWR network. At the time the network stretched from Paddington to Penzance, and as far north as Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

After the ceremony, the train left for its first journey, taking passengers to Cheltenham Spa. it is then due to run on the Great Western mainline, which will take it through Chippenham, Swindon and Bath stations regularly.