In our regular column on memorials around Newham, Juia Omari discovers the hero of West Ham station

Regular users of West Ham station were surprised to see the recent addition of a plaque on one of the posts between the District and Hammersmith & City platforms. Many know nothing of the horrific event that had taken place 46 years earlier which the plaque commemorates.

On 15th March 1976 Joseph Stephen – Julius to his family and friends – was driving the 4:34pm Metropolitan line train from Barking, when an explosion rocked the front carriage as the train started to pull out of West Ham station. Joseph quickly got out of his cabin to seek help from the driver of an oncoming train.

It was believed by police at the time that a man with a bomb was heading towards Liverpool Street Station to detonate the device during rush hour, when it unexpectedly started to smoke, creating panic in the bomber. He threw the bomb which exploded, injuring nine people. The terrorist, a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, then made his escape from the wrecked train but came face to face with its driver.

34 year old Joseph Stephen, who lived in Hammersmith with his wife Janet and four-year-old son Mark chased the bomber and a struggle ensued. The IRA member pulled out his gun and shot Mr Stephen before continuing to run out of the station. Joseph Stephen died almost immediately. The bomber went on to shoot Post Office engineer Peter Chalk, who survived his injuries, and threatened a number of civilians before being arrested, imprisoned and released 21 years later as part of Good Friday Agreement. He died in 2019 aged eighty.

An appeal to raise money was launched for the family of Joseph Stephen which reached £17,000.

The plaque reads:

IN REMEMBRANCE OF JOSEPH STEPHEN, DRIVER WHO DIED OF INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING A TERRORIST ATTACK AT THIS STATION 10 OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACK ON THE DAY OF 15 MARCH 1976

Hero Joseph was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal posthumously.

His wife and son both attended the Plaque unveiling.

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