Little 5322 had a story to tell right from its construction back in August of 1917 , being one of eleven of its class despatched immediately from new to France for use by the Army Railway Operating Division during the 1914 to 1918 war, remaining in France until May of 1919 when, upon its return to Britain and following wartime damage repairs together with undergoing a Heavy Overhaul at Swindon it was allocated to Wolverhampton in the August of 1919, its first Great Western home .
After service at a number of Motive Power Depots from 1919 to 1964 ranging from Weymouth in the far South to Pontypool Road, where this image shows 5322 in store from July of 1963, 5322 was shortly after the date of this photograph returned back into traffic before being condemned in April of 1964 and sold to Woodhams in Barry in the September of that same year.
Purchased privately from Woodhams in October of 1968 the engine was sent initially by its new owners to Caerphilly in March of 1969 where restoration began and lasted until May of 1971.
Now at Didcot, home of the Great Western Society, 5322 has been a regular performer in steam not only at Didcot but also on a number of Heritage lines over the past years, and is presently awaiting boiler repairs by the Society at Didcot.