Bradford Pals Clothing Contracts - part 2

Following on from last weeks blog further clothing contracts for the Bradford Pals Battalion were announced the following week.

"The whole of the serge for the jackets and trousers is Bradford made and the lustre lining and the other linings such as greatcoats linings etc are from Bradford houses. The puttees are made in Bradford. The Buttons - a very great source of difficulty, have been specially made to Government pattern by a Bradford firm. The Battalion has been specially measured, and an interesting feature is that on  a 5ft 6in standard only about 120 would be under height, the average height of the Battalion being 5ft 3 1/2in. It is expected to completely clothe the battalion in 10 to 14 days."

• Greatcoats - Messrs Wright, Burrows and Co Huddersfield
• Jackets and Trousers - 
• Mr David Murie, Bradford
• Mr R Mettrick , Guiseley
• Messrs Miller, Raynor and Hayson Ltd, London
• Messrs George Brown and Son, Bradford

• Puttees - Messrs Fox and Todd, Bradford
• Regulation Army caps - Messrs Brown, Muff and Co Ltd, Bradford

Bradford Pals Clothing Contracts - part 1

In October 1914 clothing and equipment contracts were placed by the Citizens' Army League for the Bradford Pals as follows:-

• Boots - Messrs B Bonner and Sons, Bradford
• Shirts - Bradford Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Messrs G Brown and Son, Bradford and Messrs R Whitehead and Co, Bradford
• Socks - Davidson's Stores, Bradford, Messrs A Gregson and Co, Bradford and Messrs Millar Raynor and Hayson Ltd, London
• Jerseys - Messes Lingards Ltd, Bradford
• Towels - Messrs Parkinson, Clark and Co Ltd, Bradford
• Kit Bags - Messrs Brown, Muff and Co Ltd, Bradford
• Braces - Sports and Pastimes Ltd, Bradford
• Hold-alls - Messrs Lingards Ltd, Bradford
• Hair brushes - Messrs Lingards Ltd, Bradford
• Shaving brushes - Messrs R Chadwick and Co, Bradford
• Toothbrushes - Messrs Brown, Muff and Co Ltd, Bradford
• Knives, forks and spoons - Messrs Rushworth Ltd, Bradford
• Combination knives - Messrs T Underwood and Co, Bradford

Mr J Dobson, Charles Street, Bradford to provide a comb to each member of the battalion free of charge
Regulation equipment for infantry has been applied for from the Government stores at Woolwich.

More contracts were issued the following week.

Naval Reservists first to be mobilised

The Naval Reservists were the first to be called to mobilise before Britain had actually declared war. On the 3 August 1914 eight men from Bradford were the first to be called. Find out who they were.

Bradford Lads in 10th (Service) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment

Comments containing the names of Bradford men who served with the 10th (Service) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment were kindly posted on this blog by Dave Stowe some time ago. I have edited the text and now made it available via the main BradfordWW1.co.uk website with permission from Dave.

If you have any Bradford connections in other regiments please let me know I would be happy to provide a link to the names or host the list with a link back to your site

Yorkshire soldiers – wounded

While going through one soldiers service record I came across a sheet detailing the names of other soldiers who had been wounded. As it included information which may not be available anywhere else I have transcribed it here. I hope it is of use to someone.

2^nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment

19226              Pte       Smith H           Injured             5.7.18

63431              Pte       Davidson J       Injured             6.7.18
                        Auth O.C.                   Bn 13.7.18

5^th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

62494              Pte       Blenkinsop L    Injured             11.7.18 Admitted
                        Auth O.C. 2/2              W.R.F.A 13/7/18

1/4^th Battalion West Riding Regiment

203728            Pte       Haggas E         Wounded         12.7.18           
                        Auth O.C. No 10          C.C.S. 13.7.18

34019              Pte       Hardman J P    Wounded         9.7.18
Auth O.C. No 44          C.C.S 13.7.18

9^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment

????8               Pte       Allon J             W                     12.7.18 Admitted
Auth O.C. No 51          F.A. 13.7.18

First of Your Stories – More Please

The first one of ‘your stories’ is now uploaded on the Bradfordww1 website. It tells the story of a Manningham boot repairer who instead of enlisting with the Bradford Pals travelled to Salford to enlist with the Lancashire Fusiliers (Salford Pals). Click here to find out why.

If you have a story about an ancestor who lived, worked or passed through Bradford during the First World War please share it so we can build up a picture of what Bradford was really like at the time. The more stories we get the better legacy we can pass on to future generations.

Maybe they worked at a munitions factory, were a nurse at one of the many military hospitals in Bradford maybe they struggled to cope financially and were in receipt of the Lord Mayors War Relief Fund or maybe they helped to raise those funds or volunteered support in other ways. 

Please contact me if you would like to contribute