Event Type: Branch

Takes Place: 7th October 2025

Time: 7.00 p.m.

Venue: Lecture Theatre, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA

Description: The Liberation Line tells the story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fuelled as they pushed on into Germany. As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells and booby traps. Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signalling systems.

How to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-liberation-line-the-last-untold-story-of-the-normandy-landings-tickets-1654557970429?aff=oddtdtcreator

Price: Free for all

Tel: 01752 843750

Email: a.cousins345@btinternet.com

Website: www.ha-plymouth.org.uk/

Organiser: Alan Cousins

Lecturer: Christian Wolmar, author & visiting Research Fellow University of Plymouth

Comments: Christian Wolmar is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in transport and is the author of a series of books on railway history. He divides his time between journalism, media appearances and writing books and political campaigning.

Region: South-West England

Branch: Plymouth