Peace and Remembrance

The war which lasted 4 years and 3 months was called to an end when the Armistice was signed on the 11^th November 1918 and 6 hours later military operations ceased. Everyone felt the impact of the war and we should take time to remember not only those who sacrificed their lives or were wounded but also those who contributed to the war effort at home. Remember those who worked in a munitions factory, nursed the wounded, volunteered, who struggled to survive emotionally and financially and the communities that supported them.

I’m sorry that I cannot provide details of the reaction to the armistice in Bradford as the newspapers are currently unavailable. However I thought it might be appropriate to record the Peace Day Celebrations that were arranged by Bradford Poor Law Board of Guardians on 19^th July 1919.

Inmates, who were still dispersed at different locations due to the use of Union House and St Luke’s Hospital as a War Hospital, were allowed special fare consisting of:

·   Breakfast – bread, margarine, tea, bacon, sausage.

·   Dinner – beef, plum pudding, vegetables, oranges.

·   Tea – bread, margarine, cake, cheese.

·   Extras – sweets, tobacco, snuff, biscuits.

Visiting regulations were relaxed and entertainments arranged. The children at the children’s home at Bowling Institution were provided with sports and outdoor amusements with a marquee erected for the provision of tea and, with the approval of the Minister of Health, the sum of 6d each for pocket money. The members of the Ladies Cottage Homes Visiting Committee were invited and arrangements made to hold the event in a vacant block at St Luke’s in case the weather was wet.

Staff at the various institutions were granted a days holiday and 2/6 in consideration of the extra work they had to perform on the actual day (given at the discretion of the master/superintendent).

I hope the memories of a wide range of people who lived during that time can be maintained forever. If you would like to preserve the memory of your Bradford ancestors and their families who experienced life during through the war by sharing it online please contact me.

Remembrance - 97th anniversary of Britain entering the First World War

In remembrance of the 97^th anniversary of the day Britain joined the First World War I thought I would add a link  to the website (technical problems mean it will be actually be added over the weekend).

Remembrance – the Yorkshire regiment is dedicated to the men of Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (the Yorkshire Regiment, also known as the Green Howards). It contains a wealth of information not only do they have comprehensive name index of the people that served with the regiment but also photographs of their memorials and graves, biographies of some of the officers that died and details of those who were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The biographical details section reveals that some of the officers in this regiment had Bradford connections for example:

2nd Lt Benjamin Sydney Appleyard – 2nd Battalion was born in Bradford on May 3rd 1891.

2nd Lt Norman Kenyon Barrett – 4th Battalion attached to 1st East Yorks was born in Bradford in 1888. 

Captain William Liley Batty – 4th Battalion was the son of Tom and Sarah Batty of North View, Drighlington, Bradford

2nd Lt Donald Simpson Bell VC – 9th Battalion supplemented his teachers’salary by becoming a professional footballer with Bradford Park Avenue in 1912 who won the Victoria Cross for his efforts on the Somme July 1916.

2nd Lt Eric William Brodrick – 5th Battalion was educated at Bradford Grammar.

2nd Lt James Langdale Gregory – 8th Battalion attd to 101st Coy Royal Engineers worked for Howe and Gregory in Bradford before the war.

Captain Thomas Huffington – 7th Battalion was born in Bradford on May 28th 1892.

Captain Claud Gifford Jeffery – 2nd Battalion was born on April 13th 1880 in Bradford

2nd Lt Harold Kitson – 5th Battalion was born in Bradford in 1889

To see more biographical details on these and many more officers visit the website and a huge thank you to all those whose hard work researching and recording the details of these men has resulted in a fantastic resource.