War memorial built with used Metro tracks is officially unveiled

The symbolic section of line at North Marine Park in South Shields commemorates British soldiers who served in the Far East during World War Two.

The memorial was officially unveiled at a ceremony marking Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) on Saturday 15 August.

It was created in memory of North East solider Len Gibson and his fellow prisoners who built the “Death Railway” between Thailand and Myanmar, formerly Burma, from 1942 to 1943.

The tracks form a poignant new feature with the statue, which was built in 2025 by local philanthropist Brian Burnie – a close friend of Mr Gibson – in memory of the World War Two veteran. Mr Gibson, from Sunderland, was among 60,000 Allied prisoners forced to build the “Death Railway”.

Around ten metres of used Metro track has been used to create the finished memorial.

It was installed by a team from Metro operator Nexus as part of a volunteer day, where staff support good causes and social value projects.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “This is a fantastic and particularly poignant social value project. We are honoured to be a part of it.

“The used Metro tracks have created a stunning new memorial for British troops who served in the Far East during World War Two, and it really complements the Len Gibson statue that Mr Burnie unveiled at North Marine Park last year.

“The use of the Metro rails and sleepers is especially moving, given that British prisoners of war, including Len Gibson, were forced to build the “Death Railway” between Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma), from 1942 to 1943.

“By re-using these items in this way, it supports our own commitment to work sustainably in everything that we do, while helping the voluntary sector where we can.

“Our Infrastructure Works Delivery Team have done an amazing job putting in the track during their volunteer day.”

Mr Burnie said: “I’m really grateful for the support we’ve had from Nexus on this project. I can’t thank them enough for the rails and their efforts to install them.

“The finished memorial looks amazing. It’s a poignant commemoration for all the British soldiers who served in the far east during the war. We will always remember them.

He said the track was 10m in length to signify that, on average, two men died for every 10m of railway built. “Over the last 80 years, I’ve been to war memorials all over the world, but this we’ve created today is real. You can see and touch it.”

Mr Burnie, who founded the cancer charity Daft as a Brush, commissioned the Len Gibson statue to pay tribute to his “wonderful” friend who died aged 101, in 2021.

Mr Burnie’s Daft as a Brush Patient Care specialises in transporting cancer patients to and from hospital for Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy treatment, free of charge.

It was selected by Nexus employees in 2024 as the organisation’s chosen charity and their collective fundraising efforts raised £10,000.