Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/218

 the next year, and so up the ladder to 60,000, and eventually and most successfully to 75,000. It was his hand pointed the way, and his example of hard work that inspired all the rest. Silver medals for securing 25 new members went out constantly, hundreds of them, Locomotivemen knew that in every sense their Society was firm as a rock, and general managers learned a deeper respect for the footplate fraternity.

It was singular that just as the Society launched away upon a new and really great era, its first member, William Ullyatt, of Sheffield, No. 1 on the register of branch No. 1, should pass away. Ullyott died on September 27th of 1914, aged 72 years, full of honour, and proud of the fame of the Society he nursed in its infancy. Its funds were a shade and protection to him during his declining years. Charles Perry, who had written him the historic letter which finds its place in this volume, had died some years earlier, leaving his son a full benefit member of Paddington branch. Ullyott had begun his railway life at York in 1853.

Now to pick up one or two pre-war matters of history, just trifles not connected with the bigger movements that continued through years. On Friday, July 14th of 1913, Mr. Moore and, interviewed , Chairman of Directors, and the General Manager of the L.B. & S.C. Railway, to demand the front end of the trains on the newly electrified system for locomotivemen exclusively. The men made a firm stand in support of the deputation named, and Lord Bessborough signed the agreement which gave to locomotivemen the exclusive option on the electric motorman's position. The company sought to get six men from the traffic department, who had been trained, accepted for the positions, but the delegates refused to do that. The position carried the steam drivers' rate of wages, and the agreement thus secured formed a precedent, followed later by the L. & N.W. and other electrified lines. On the L. & N.W., too, the agreement included high rent allowances, and a guaranteed week on the average basis of 240 hours for each four weeks.

was knighted on June 22nd of 1914, and 20,000