Northern Rail is searching for the relatives of soldiers whose names appear on a long-lost war memorial which is soon to be re-housed at Newton Heath train maintenance depot.

More than 60 years after the memorial was moved from the site on Dean Lane, Manchester, it is set to be returned.

There will be a special unveiling ceremony at the depot on June 28 which will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles – which brought an end to the First World War.

At the outbreak of war the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company had a 37,000 strong workforce with more than 10,000 volunteering for the armed services.

1,422 people lost their lives.

After the war the Lancashire and Yorkshire’s carriage and wagon department created a war memorial, immortalising their 117 fallen comrades, as well as recording the names of all those in the department who served.

The memorial was moved from Newton Heath Carriage Works when it closed and was taken to Newton Heath Town Hall where it stayed until the building was demolished.

Years later parts of the memorial were found in the undercroft of Manchester Piccadilly and were subsequently held by East Lancashire Railway for safekeeping.

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said: “Now, as a mark of respect to those from the railway family who served in the Great War, the memorial is back where it belongs at Newton Heath.

“We would be delighted to welcome the families of those on the memorial to attend the special event at the end of June and are calling on anyone with information to get in touch.”

Get in touch by emailing press.office@northernrailway.co.uk, calling 0800 200 6060 or via social media.