New BradfordWW1 talks

I have just updated my list of available talks on WW1. 

There are five new talks from an overview of Bradford’s war efforts to munitions factories and life for children during the war. There are also more interactive talks designed for school children.

My talks are designed to be both informative and engaging and I have had very good feedback from those given so far including

“I attended the talk ‘Musical Beds’  yesterday.   I found it very informative and interesting.  It was surprising where hospitals were sited across the City and surrounding areas... If the talk is repeated I would recommend anyone to go”

“Kathryn Hughes' talk on St Luke’s [hospital] during World War 1 was absolutely fascinating and riveting!! But then I love local history. Her talk was liberally illustrated with photos, and a map which she updated with blobs denoting the [hospitals] changing role as the war progressed.”

If you would like to book me for a talk please email 

Bradford’s War Horses

I went to watch War Horse at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre last night. The production as expected was amazing but I thought I would share some thoughts on how the story related to the purchasing of horses in Bradford at the outbreak of war.

The 2^nd West Riding Royal Field Artillery (Territorials) were one of the battalions based in Bradford just off Manningham Lane. At the outbreak of war they needed lots of heavy draught horses to pull the guns and carts as well as horses for officers. Some farmers had taken grants from the War Office of between 10s and £4 per annum depending on the quality of the horse and in return they guaranteed to provide these horses if needed by the Government. Bradford had 200 guaranteed horses.

The Army Act (section 115) also stated that if the King declares an emergency the military can issue a “Requisition of Emergency” requiring local “Justices of the Peace to issue warrants for the provision, for the purposes mentioned in the Requisition, of carriages, animals, vessels, and aircraft, as prescribed by the said Act”.

The battalion was ordered to mobilise 4th Aug 1914 at 7.15pm.On the 4^th day of mobilisation 137 Heavy draught horses and 17 Officers chargers were brought in by the battalions Horse Purchasing Officer and 54 by a civilian purchaser. However, this was only a third of the amount of horses that were needed by the 13 August, the ninth day of mobilisation.

The story of how these horses were gathered and what happened to them prior to their departure from Bradford is revealed in my book Great War Britain: Bradford available in November or I am available to give talks on this and other subjects locally.

Great War Britain: Bradford

Sorry for the delay in posting, my book Great War Britain: Bradford is now written and is with the publisher and due to be out in the shops in November but you can pre-order it via Amazon.

Hopefully I will now have more time to overhaul the website and upload more information. In the mean time Bradford Library are hosting a Great War Open Day on Saturday 14 June 2014 at which I will be talking about what it was like for children in WW1.

Talks

If you want to catch me talk about life at home in Bradford in WW1  or are interested in booking me for a talk please get in touch

4^th April – Low Moor Local History Group, Bradford - Raspberries and Cream Cakes food rationing in Bradford in WW1

3^rd May – Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds – Musical beds: The story of Bradford hospitals in WW1

Dates to be confirmed – pre show talks on ‘Bradford’s War Horses’ during the production of War Horse at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

30^th June – Bradford Library – “Bradford’s Children in WW1” invited schools attending during this week

Big thanks – Peace Musuem and Bradford YMCA

To the Peace Museum for agreeing to support my book Great War Britain: Bradford to be published by the History Press in 2014. The Peace Museum said they were “Delighted to be associated, with something that looks at women & the home front” 

The book will be full of short case studies and snippets of information which can be dipped in and out of. It provides an alternative angle on existing stories of life at home in Bradford during WW1 and introduces lots of previously unknown stories. The book will provide a balanced view from ordinary people for example in the Raising the Troops chapter there will be a story of a man keen to enlist at the outbreak of war next to the story of one of the first Bradford conscientious objectors to be court marshalled. I hope it will be engaging and informative and will be able to be used in schools as well as by adults.

I have already worked with the Peace Museum on their project Choices: Then and Now and hope to work more with them in the future.

Big thanks and congratulation to the Bradford YMCA for successfully getting HLF funding for a Tea Hut project. I am looking forward to working with them to engage and inspire young people to learn and research more about life during WW1.

Happy New Year – New Library facilities

Apologies for the delay in posting the pictures of the New Bradford Local Studies Library but as expect the run up to Christmas with a young family was hectic but fun!

Opening day Monday 9^th November

Waiting guests see inside for the first time...

 And the West Yorkshire Archive Service are just through some doors in a light and airy room

Later in the afternoon the first talk was held in the Library....

The following day I had arranged a small tweetup for those on twitter interested in local history or genealogy we had a quick lunch then, took part in the flashmob read and then visited the library.

Soon the index’s started to reappear in the local studies library...

As did the digital microfilm scanner – well worth a try if you get a chance there will soon be 2 machines...

And a new piece of kit a large scanner for books / maps etc

If you happened to be passing the City Library you might have spotted me giving a talk to school children on the Bradford Sweet Poisoning of 1858 in the new children's Library

 

All the feedback was positive and we congratulate Sue Caton and all her staff and FOBALS (Friends of Bradford Archives and Local Studies) for making it a success.