100 years ago in Farnhill and Kildwick

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The aim of this page is to provide a monthly summary of events in Farnhill and Kildwick 100 years ago, as reported in the local newspapers of the time: the Craven Herald, Keighley News, and West Yorkshire Pioneer.

We begin our diary in May 1914, three months before the start of WWI.

If you have any additional material please email the web administrator.

Note: The Farnhill and Kildwick History Group would like to thank the staff at Skipton and Keighley libraries for their help with this project.

December 1918

Death of a local airman

John Hartley Stow, aged 22, of Glusburn, died of pneumonia following influenza in hospital in Belgium, where he was serving as an air-mechanic with the RAF.

John Hartley Stow is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Source: "Craven's Part in the Great War - John Hartley Stow"

Men home on leave and returning POWs

Air Mechanic Charlie Hargreaves, of Main Street Farnhill, was reported to be home on leave after suffering dysentery while serving in Italy.

In addition, Farnhill was welcoming home POWs:

Eric Green, of Main Street, returned home on December 10th. He had been taken prisoner on March 21st whilst serving in France with the Durham Light Infantry. He was held in Paderborn, Westphalia, and had been made to work in a mine.
Note: In a memoir written in the 1970s, Norman Green, wrote that his elder brother left the POW camp in Germany as soon as news of the armistice came through and made his own way across Holland before getting a boat home from Rotterdam.

A letter was received by Joseph Richmond, of Skipton Road, from his nephew William Thompson of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment, to say that he was back in England (at a reception camp in Canterbury) and hoped to be home soon. William, who lived with his uncle and aunt in Farnhill, had been a prisoner of war since April 1917.

Sources: Craven Herald, 13th December 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 13th and 27th December 1918; Keighley News, 14th and 28th December 1918

Peace but not plenty

It was going to be an austerity Xmas.

Source: Keighley News, 14th December 1918

Christmas celebrations at Kildwick school

Before they broke up for the Xmas holidays, the elder children at the school treated those pupils whose brothers or fathers had served during the war to tea. Oranges and chocolate was distributed and the younger pupils received gifts from a Christmas Tree.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 27th December 1918; Keighley News, 28th December 1918; Kildwick school log book (1907-1922)

Can you imagine a better Christmas present ?

In the days before Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker of Grange Road received news that their son, Arthur, reported as having been killed in action in October, was in fact alive. He was reported to be a prisoner of war at an unknown location.

Note: Sadly this report would itself turn out to be false. Arthur Whittaker had indeed been killed in action in October 1918.

Sources: Keighley News, 28th December 1918; Craven Herald, 3rd January 1919

The election result

The General Election was held on Saturday 14th December 1918, although the count did not take place until 28 December due to the time taken to transport votes from soldiers serving overseas. In Skipton, W.A. Brigg of Kildwick Hall lost to his opponent Col. Roundell. Here's the result:

Col. R.F. Roundell (Coalition): 12,599
Mr. W.A. Brigg (Liberal): 10,318

Sources: Craven Herald, 3rd January 1919; Skipton (UK Parliament constituency)

Commemoration service

On the first Sunday of the new year a service was held in St. Andrew's Church to commemorate the men of the parish who had been killed in the war. Special hymns were sung and prior to the service the bells rang a muffled peal. There was a large congregation

Source: Craven Herald, 3rd January 1919

National and International news

4th - President Wilson travelling to peace conference - Woodrow Wilson left the US to attend the Paris Peace Conference: the first President to travel to any foreign country while holding office.

14th - General election - The Conservative-Liberal Coalition were returned to power. This was the first national election in which women are entitled to vote. The Irish Parliamentary Party candidates lost heavily to Sinn Fein, who refused to take their seats in Westminster; the Irish War of Independence began soon after.

24th - Nine lessons and carols - The first service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held at King's College, Cambridge.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "1918 General Election"

November 1918

Local men wounded or ill

This month:

Gunner Robert H. Brown, of Newby Road Farnhill was wounded in the left shoulder, hand and face, by shrapnel. He was reported to be recovering in St. Luke's Hospital Bradford.
Second Air Mechanic Charlie Hargreaves, of Main Street Farnhill, was reported to be recovering from dysentery, in Italy.
Private Irvin Bland, formerly of Farnhill was reported to be recovering at a Red Cross Hospital in Christchurch, following wounds to the left arm and shoulder.

Sources: Craven Herald, 1st November 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 1st November 1918; Keighley News, 2nd November 1918

News of Arthur Whitaker "killed in action"

On November 9th, just two days before the armistice, Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker of Grange Road Kildwick recieved notification that their son Arthur, who had been serving in France with the Sherwood Foresters, had been killed in action the previous month.

Sources: Keighley News, 16th November 1918

Death of Albert Green Kitson

Well known Farnhill resident, Arthur Green Kitson, a former member of Farnhill Parish Council, trustee of Farnhill Methodist Church, and director of Farnhill Water Company, died on the 9th of November after a long illnesss. He was the owner of a joinery business in the village.

Sources: Craven Herald, 15th November 1918; Keighley News, 16th November 1918

How Farnhill and Kildwick celebrated the armistice

From the West Yorkshire Pioneer:

When news of the armistice reached Kildwick on Monday, the school children sang "All people that on earth do dwell" and joined in hearty cheers. The school was gaily decked with flags in the afternoon. In the evening a special peal was rung, Mr. C. Brown conducting. Flags were displayed on the Church School, Parish Room, Conservative Club, and from several private houses, and youngsters also paraded with flags. A service of thanksgiving was held in the "Lang Kirk" on Tuesday. Rev. J.S. Griffiths gave a short address. The local mills had holiday.

From the Keighley News:

The sounding of buzzers at 11:30am informed the inhabitants of Cross Hills and district on Monday that the armistice had been signed. The mills of Messrs. Woodrow, at Junction, and Messrs. J.C. Horsfall and Sons closed down from dinner-time, and shortly after dinner Messrs T. and M. Bairstow closed down their large mills for the rest of the day. Messrs. Bairstow stopped work again on Tuesday noon until Thursday morning in celebration of the event.

Farnhill Parish Council celebrated by not holding a monthly meeting in November or December.

Sources: Craven Herald, 15th November 1918; Keighley News, 16th November 1918; Minute book of Farnhill Parish Council

Reckoning the cost

In its first issue after the signing of the armistice, the Craven Herald listed the number of men killed in each town and village in Craven. The total given was 1500.

For Kildwick and Farnhill they recorded six killed:

Private Joseph Smith

Private Joseph Green

Able Seaman Walter Dawson

Private Harry Walmsley

Gunner William Mosley

Private Willie Barker

The report also notes the Military Medals won by Private Ambrose Bower, and Stretcher-bearer John Spencer Whitham.

Notes: This list does not include George Inskip (killed in action 27/11/1917) or Arthur Whitaker (killed in action 20/10/1918 but only reported on November 8th). Nor does it record that Military Medal winner Ambrose Bower was subsequently killed in action at the end of October 1917 (perhaps because by then his family had left the village).

Source: Craven Herald, 15th November 1918

W.A. Brigg stands for parliament

Immediately after the signing of the armistice, a General Election was called (an election due to have been held in 1915 was cancelled on account of the war situation).

The two candidates for the Skipton constituency were Lt. Col. Richard Roundell, standing as a Unionist; and W.A. Brigg, of Kildwick Hall, standing as a Liberal. Lt. Col. Roundell received the backing of the Conservative-Liberal coalition government leaders Lloyd George and Bonar Law - the so-called "coupon".

W.A. Brigg stood as an independent Liberal. He took as his major campaigning platform that he would not support the continuation of conscription, which was favoured by the coalition.

W.A. Brigg was not the first choice candidate for the Liberal Party. They had wanted his twin brother, County Councillor J.J. Brigg, to stand. However, at the time nominations had to be put forward, J.J. Brigg was ill and the decision was taken to adopt his brother as candidate instead.

Campaigning continued from the middle of November until December 14th, the date set for the election. Throughout the campaign the Craven Herald generally supported Lt. Col. Roundell; whereas the West Yorkshire Pioneer was absolutely blatant in its preference for Mr. Brigg, having to apologise at least once for incorrect reporting of one of Roundell's speeches.

Sources: Craven Herald, 22nd November 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 22nd November and 13th December 1918; Keighley News, 23rd November 1918

Influenza closes the school ...

On November 15th the headmaster of Kildwick school wrote in the school log book that 18 pupils (out of a total of just over 100) had been absent all week suffering from 'flu and that a number of others had been away for part of the week. On November 18th the school was closed for two weeks, by order of the Medical Officer of Health.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 22nd November 1918; Kildwick school log book (1907-1922)

... and causes the death of Rev. Dalton and Mr. Hartley

Two Farnhill residents also died of influenza or influenza-related illnesses:

Rev. Dalton, the minister of Farnhill Methodist Church, who had only taken up his post in the village in July. He was 33 years old and left a wife and three children.

Mr. Binns Hartley, a member of Kildwick Brass Band and former vice-president of the Institute.

Sources: Keighley News, 23rd and 30th November 1918; Craven Herald, 29th November 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 29th November 1918

Prosecution for illegal serving and consumption of liquor fails

A case held before Skipton magistrates at the end of the month showed how war-time restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol, although still on the statute-books, were being relaxed locally.

At 11:30am on October 30th, outside licensed opening-hours, Sergeant Flannery the local policeman entered the White Lion at Kildwick and found three men sat at the bar with partially full glasses in front of them. The landlord, John Edward Lister, immediately emptied the contents of the glasses into the slop-tray.

The policeman asked what had been in the glasses and the landlord replied "It is beer, the game is up". One of the other men said "You didn't see me drinking".

The charges of supplying and consuming intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours were dismissed.

Source: Keighley News, 30th November 1918

National and International news

3rd - Austria-Hungary leave the war - Austria-Hungary signed an armistice and left the war.

9th - Abdication of the Kaiser - Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicated and sought exile in the Netherlands.

11th - Armistice with Germany signed - A German delegation signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railway carriage outside Compiegne in France. It cames into force at 11am. Much of the British Army was at Mons in Belgium, where it all started, and where - at 9:30am - George Edwin Ellison became the last British soldier to be killed in the war. (He is buried in a graveyard in Mons, where his grave faces that of John Parr, the first British soldier killed in 1914.)

20th - Surrender of the German Fleet - Under the terms of the Armistice, U-boats and surface vessels of the German High Seas Fleet began to gather at Harwich. The following week they were escorted to Scapa Flow by the Royal Navy.

21st - Women can stand for Parliament - The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act gave women over the age of 21 the right to stand for election to Parliament.

22nd - Belgian Royal family return - The Belgian royal family returned to Brussels.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "George Edwin Ellison"; "German Fleet in Scapa Flow"

October 1918

More local deaths

This was another bad month for local deaths.

Charlie Berry - of Crosshills was killed in action on 7th October 1918, his 20th birthday, while serving with the recently formed Machine Gun Corps.
John Hartley Riley - of Crosshills died in a POW camp in Germany, where he had been held for about 18 months. He was buried in the camp cemetery. The funeral was attended by British, French and American inmates.
Fred Bottomley - of Glusburn was killed in action during an advance in France, while serving with 1/6th Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). He was aged 23.
Arthur Thomas Whitaker - of Grange Road Farnhill was killed while serving with the Sherwood Foresters. He was aged 22.

The photographs above show (left to right): Charlie Berry, John Hartley Riley, and Fred Bottomley (there is no known photograph of Arthur Thomas Whitaker). All of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Charlie Berry"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - John Hartley Riley"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Fred Bottomley"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Arthur Thomas Whitaker"

... and more men wounded

A number of local men were reported wounded, including:

Percy Walmsley, of Farnhill, who had had a narrow escape on the hospital ship Anglia in November 1915, was reported as having been very seriously wounded in the arm, back and chest. He had been in hospital in France for three weeks before being transferred to Brighton. It was the third time he had been wounded.

Charles Green, of Farnhill, was reported wounded in the mouth and cheek and was in hospital in France. His brother Joseph had died in France in 1916, and his brother Harry had previously been invalided home and was in hospital in Gateshead.

Thomas Hargreaves, of Kildwick, had been wounded for the third time, in the thigh, and was in hospital in France.

Sources: Craven Herald, 11th October 1918; Keighley News, 12th October 1918; Craven Herald, 18th October 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 18th October 1918

Re-lighting Farnhill and Kildwick

At a meeting of the Kildwick Parish Meeting it was reported that the lighting fund had a balance of £19. Mr. Seth Tillotson was reappointed lamplighter and it was decided not to raise a precept for lighting the village in the coming year.

At a meeting of Farnhill Parish Council held on the 30th, it was decided that the all the lights in the village, which had been on restricted lighting since February 1916, would be re-lit with immediate effect.
Sources: Keighley News, 12th October 1918; Craven Herald, 8th November 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 8th November 1918; Minute book of Farnhill Parish Council

Junction Mills Parcels Fund

Employees of Woodrow and Sons, Junction Mills, held a whist drive in Farnhill Institute, on the 22nd, in aid of the company's Parcels Fund for Soldiers. Prizes of War Savings Certificates were offered.

The fund had raised a total of £190 10s; £70 had been handed to the local war relief fund and 431 parcels had been sent to the men of the mills serving abroad.

A total of 72 men from the works had entered service, of whom: five had been killed in action, three were missing, four were prisoners of war and eleven had been discharged. Forty-nine men were still serving; eleven wounded.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 25th October 1918; Keighley News, 26th October 1918

National and International news

4th - New German government - Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany appointed a new government to sue for peace.

7th - Polish independence - Poland declares independence from the German Empire.

18th - Czechoslovakia formed - The Washington Declaration proclaims the independent Czechoslovak Republic.

28th - German High Seas Fleet mutinies - Sailors of the German High Seas Fleet in Wilhelmshaven and Kiel refuse to sail into the North Sea to take on the British fleet in a last-gasp effort. The mutiny is the start of a revolution which will lead to the abdication of the Kaiser.

30th - Independent Yemen - Yemen declares independence from the Ottoman Empire.

31st - Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire - Hungary terminates its agreements with the Austria, dissolving the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom" "Kiel mutiny"

September 1918

Local war casualties of the Allied advance

This month, with the allies advancing against the Germans, five local men were killed.

Alexander Wilfred Gill - Private Gill, of Crosshills, was killed in France on September 1st 1918. He had been in the Army since September 1914 and had been wounded several times previously. Before the war he had worked as a basket-weaver. He was aged 23.
John William Wellock - Private Wellock was killed by a sniper on September 8th 1918 while serving with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. He was aged 22.
Frank Bottomley - Private Bottomley, of Glusburn, was killed in action on September 17th. Frank had been gassed while serving with the Sherwood Foresters in the spring of 1918, and returned to duty at the end of July. He was aged 20. In October 1918, the Craven Herald carried a memorial notice for John Dixon Read (who had been killed in October 1917) signed "Frank Bottomley - somewhere in France". Official notification of Frank's death did not arrive until November 29th; by cruel coincidence this was the same day on which his younger brother, Cyril, died of influenza.
John Smith - Private Jack Smith, of Sutton, was killed in action while serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment on September 19th 1918. He was aged 41.
William Barker - Private Willie Barker, of Arbour Cottage Farnhill, was killed while serving with the East Yorkshire Regiment on September 24th 1918. He was aged 21 and had been in France less than two weeks.

The photographs above show (left to right): Alexander Wilfrid Gill, John William Wellock, Frank Bottomley, John Smith, William Barker; all are commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Alexander Wilfred Gill"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - John William Wellock"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Frank Bottomley"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - John Smith"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Willie Barker"

Home thoughts from abroad - by the vicar

In the St. Andrew's parish magazine the vicar wrote from France saying:

There is only one subject uppermost in the minds of all of us. It is not the war, as you might suspect, but home. We know to the second when we are due for leave, and we love getting letters regularly, more even than parcels. So do not forget that when you feel inclined to put off writing. Remember that whatever else we may have learnt of good or bad since we left you, we have at least learnt to love our homes - many of us as never before - and when we come back we shall expect to find homes in which we can very quickly shuffle off the dirt of war, and be our best selves in every way.

Source: Keighley News, 7th September 1918

Military Medal for John Whitham

News arrived that stretcher-bearer John Spencer Whitham, of Bucklar Hill Farnhill, currently in hospital having been wounded, had been awarded the Military Medal. The citation read:

For great bravery as a stretcher bearer on July 20th 1918. With great coolness he personally organised stretcher parties for the wounded, and undoubtedly was the means of many lives being saved. Again in an attack on July 22nd he was a conspicuous example of gallantry in attending to the wounded under heavy fire. He was himself wounded whilst attending to a comrade.

Sources: Craven Herald, 20th September 1918; Keighley News, 21st September 1918

Institute Annual Meeting

At the end of the month the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute held its seventh Annual Meeting. The secretary announced that:

Membership was up to 102, an increase of 12

43 members were serving with the forces

2 members had died on active service and a further 6 had been discharged

During the year the building had been used by the Parish Council, the Paxton Society, and Farnhill Water Company. The Dramatic Society had not met during the summer but were expected to restart rehearsals shortly.

Sources: Craven Herald, 4th October 1918; Keighley News, 5th October 1918

National and International news

5th to 10th - "Reds" vs. "Whites" in Russia - The Kazan Operation launched by the Russian Red Army defeats the White Russians.

19th to 30th - Advances in the Middle East - A series of victories by the British armies and their Arab allies effectively end the activities of the Central Powers in the Middle East.

29th - "The Planets" - First performance of Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets, before an invited audience at the Queen's Hall in London, conducted by Adrian Boult. Sections had previously been performed by the girls of St. Paul's school, where Holst was a teacher.

Sources: "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"

August 1918

Farnhill men seriously wounded

Private Frank Pollard, of The Arbour Farnhill, was reported as being in hospital in Glasgow. Pollard had received serious wounds to both legs whilst serving in France. The right leg was subsequently amputated, below the knee.

Private John Whitham, a stretcher-bearer with the Royal Army Medical Corps, was reported as wounded and in hospital in France.

Private John William Dawson, of High Farnhill, was in hospital in Lancashire after having been gassed. His wife visited him and reported that he was able to see with one eye and that there was hope that he would regain the use of the other.

Sources: Keighley News, 17th August 1918; Craven Herald, 23rd August 1918

Summer holidays

Sunderland's mill, in Farnhill, was closed for 10 days for the annual summer holidays. It was reported that more people than in previous years of the war were going away on holiday, with Morecambe being the most popular destination.

Source: Keighley News, 17th August 1918

Annual flower and produce show

The Paxton Society held its seventh annual flower and produce show at the Institute. A wide range of exhibits were on show.

Source: Craven Herald, 30th August 1918

National and International news

Education Act - The 1918 Education Act comes into force, increasing the school leaving age to 14.

1st - British forces aid "White" Russians - British forces occupy Archangel in the far north of Russia and aid forces fighting the Bolshevik government.

8th - Battle of Amiens - Canadian and Australian troops break through the German lines in what the German commander, Erich Luddendorff, later called "the black day of the German Army". It is the start of a series of victories for the allies.

27th - Battle of Ambos Nagales - The only WW1 battle to take place in the USA occurred when Mexican soldiers, aided by German advisors, attacked a small town in Arizona.

Sources: "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"

July 1918

Another local man killed in France

Lance-Corporal Harold Cowgill of the West Yorkshire Regiment, pictured below, died in hospital in Boulogne on the 2nd after being wounded in the back and leg. Cowgill had previously been awarded the Certificate of Merit on May 25th 1917 for rescuing wounded men whilst under fire.

The citation read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on the Oppy-Gavrelle line on 3rd May 1917. He repeatedly went forward through very heavy enemy shellfire, machine gun fire, and persistent fire from snipers in order to tend and carry in the wounded. He fearlessly continued this work during the whole of the day, and the following night, acting throughout regardless of personal danger."

Harold Cowgill was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Source: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Harold Cowgill"

Garden Party at Kildwick Hall

A garden party and concert was held at Kildwick Hall on the 6th, to raise funds for the Institute. The theme was "An Olde Time Fayre" and the concert consisted of dances and and songs given by a party of ladies from Bradford, in costume, assisted by pupils of Kildwick school.

There were a range of other attractions and stalls in other parts of the grounds.

Over 700 people attended the event, which raised £19.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 12th July 1918; Craven Herald, 12th July 1918; Keighley News, 13th and 20th July 1918

Presentation to Rev. Woodfield

Rev. J.E. Woodfield who had been minister at Farnhill Primitive Methodist Church for three years and preached his final sermon at a crowded service on the 7th. After the service, the minister was presented with a clock and a wallet of money.

His position was taken by Rev. C.R. Dalton of Bingley.

Sources: Craven Herald, 12th July 1918; Keighley News, 13th and 20th July 1918

Flu closes Kildwick school

An outbreak of 'flu, affecting more than 50 pupils, caused Kildwick school to be closed for the day on the 19th.

Source: Keighley News, 20th July 1918

Plans for a Kildwick war memorial

In a letter in the parish magazine and subsequently in a sermon delivered on the 21st while he was visiting Kildwick prior to his departure for France, the vicar outlined his ideas for a war memorial for Kildwick.

He asked people to consider either the enlargement of the churchyard and the erection of a cross; the creation of a smaller memorial inside the church; or the building and equiping of a new St. Andrew's church in "the colonies".

Source: Keighley News, 20th and 27th July 1918

Sale of Work to support St. Dunstan's Hospital

On Saturday 20th a sale of work on behalf of the children of blinded soldiers was held in Kildwick school. The sale was opened by Lady Horsfall who was presented with a bouquet of roses by Master Willie Appleby, the son of the headmaster, and who later commended the children on their efforts.

A total of £18 was raised for the children's fund run by St. Dunstan's Hospital for Blinded Soldiers.

Sources: Craven Herald, 26th July 1918 West Yorkshire Pioneer, 26th July 1918 Keighley News, 27th July 1918

Typical summer events

The month ended with a series of small events that would not have seemed out-of-place during a peace-time summer:

The Paxton Society held their annual Garden Competition. Prizes were presented by W.A. Brigg of Kildwick Hall.

A boat trip, a return from Farnhill to Bingley, was organised by the Primitive Methodist Church. About 120 people attended.

A Sale of Work was held at Kildwick School. £30 was raised for school funds and church missionary efforts.

Sources: Craven Herald, 2nd August 1918 Keighley News, 3rd August 1918

National and International news

1st - Explosion kills 134 - An explosion involving 8 tons of TNT at a shell-filling factory in Notinghamshire resulted in the deaths of 134 people. Only 32 bodies could be identified.

15th - Ration books - Ration books were introduced for butter, margarine, lard, meat, and sugar.

17th - Sinking of the "Carpathia" - RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued the survivors of the Titanic disaster, was sunk by a German U-boat off the West coast of Ireland.

17th - Execution of the Russian imperial family - Former emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their children, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei, and retainers were executed at Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Sources: "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "RMS Carpathia"; "Execution of the Romanov family"

June 1918

Preparing for rationing

With national rationing of butter, margarine, lard, meat, and sugar due to be introduced in July, people had to apply for ration books.

A sub-committee of Farnhill Parish Council was authorised to handle any queries or issues arising out of the new rationing arrangements.

Sources: Keighley News, 1st and 8th June 1918

Agreement over new allotments

The formal arrangements between Farnhill Parish Council, Mr. Riddihough, Mr. Hill were confirmed at a meeting of Farnhill Parish Council. The regulations were agreed with the new allotment holders themselves at a meeting later in the month.

Sources: Keighley News, 8th June and 6th July 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 5th July 1918

Visitors to Kildwick

Two groups visited Kildwick this month:

A party of teachers and pupils from St. Mary's School Keighley arrived by canal boat from Stockbridge. They were treated to tea at the school and then visited the Church and the moor.

Members of Silsden Workers' Educational Association also visited the village, paying a visit to Kildwick Grange where they were told the legend of Roger Coates by Mr. John Pollard Smith.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 14th June 1918

A school outing

The elder pupils of Kildwick school, together with pupils from Silsden Council School, were taken on a day out. The two groups met on Silsden Moor and made their way to Bolton Abbey, where the Kildwick headmaster, Thomas Appleby, gave a talk on the Priory buildings. They then went on to the Strid and the Cavendish Memorial.

Both news reports of the outing conclude by saying that all the children enjoyed themselves, despite poor weather.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 28th June 1918; Keighley News, 29th June 1918

National and International news

3rd - Postage goes up - The price of an ordinary letter stamp was increased from 1d to 1½d. The cost of sending a postcard was doubled, from ½d to 1d.

12th - Execution of Grand Duke Michael of Russia - The man named as the successor to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, who abdicated in March 1918, became the first of the Romanov family to be executed by the Bolsheviks.

Sources: "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "Grand Duke Michael of Russia"

May 1918

Newspapers "thin down" for the rest of the war

A shortage of raw materials, including news-print, resulted in local newspapers reducing significantly in size from about May 1918 until after the end of the war. Not very much local news was reported; the papers concentrating on national stories and local casualty lists.

Death in service

On the 24th, Private Harry Grimston, of Aireside Cononley, was killed whilst serving with the 2/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, when a shell exploded on the dug-out in which he was sleeping. He was aged 34; married, with two children.

Harry Grimston is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Source: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Harry Grimston"

Wounded and hospitalised

News of local men who had been wounded and who were in hospital:

Albert Kitson, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, was reported to have been wounded in the left knee and back; he was in hospital, in Sunderland. The reports also mentioned that his brother Harry had been wounded in May 1917 and was consequently at a "home camp".

Gunner Maddison, of the RGA and formerly the Kildwick policeman, was reported to be in hospital in France following a gas attack.

Cecil Rhodes, of Starkey Lane, was also reported to have been gassed (slightly) and was in a base hospital.

Sources: Craven Herald, 3rd May 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 3rd May 1918; Keighley News, 4th May 1918

If it all gets too much ...

Perhaps all the war news was getting you down. You might have decided to take a trip into Keighley and see a show. Well, there was a lot to choose from.

If you'd gone to the Hippodrome at the start of the month you could have seen an act that had been admired by Queen Mary herself !

Or you could have left it until a bit later in the month if you fancied a bit of real danger.

Is there much skill in getting a lion to disappear from an open cage ? Surely the trick is to make sure it's safely back in the cage at the end of the evening !

Sources: Keighley News, 27th April 1918 and 18th May 1918; "The Great Carmo"

National and International news

27th - Third battle of the Aisne - The German Army, commanded by Erich Ludendorff, began the 3rd Battle of Aisne, against French and British forces. Ludendorff was certain that success at the Aisne would allow an attack on Paris. The German advance was halted on the Marne on June 6th

Sources: "1918"; "Third battle of the Aisne"

April 1918

Another local war death

This month saw another local man killed in action.

Private Oscar Brown, of Croft Street Glusburn was killed in action whilst serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment on April 10th 1918. He was aged 27, and married with two children. He is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Source: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Oscar Brown"

War wounded, missing and PoW

Fred Hargreaves, of Starkey Lane, wrote home to say that he had been wounded in the left arm and was in a military hospital in Liverpool.

Tom Hargreaves, of Kildwick, wrote to his sister Mary to tell her that he was in a hospital near Maidstone. He wrote "I have lost all my things - but it feels grand to get over this side again. I was wounded in the left jaw with a bullet, and it came out just by the throat, so I was very lucky; it is a clean wound." The newspaper report went on to note that Tom's brother, Alec, had also been wounded and was convalescing at a camp in England.

William Green, the Farnhill butcher, received a letter from his son Eric to say that he had been taken prisoner.

George Parker, of Farnhill, who had been serving with the RAMC in Salonika, was in hospital suffering from dysentry.

John Dixon, of Farnhill, had not been heard of for several weeks and was officially listed as "missing in action". His brother Fred had been killed in action in September 1916, although he was still officially missing in action; and another brother, Ernest, had lost an eye and had been discharged. Two other brothers were also serving.

Harry Barker, of Farnhill, a former member of the Kildwick Brass Band, wrote to his wife that he was in hospital in France having received a slight wound in the leg.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 12th and 26th April 1918; Keighley News, 27th April 1918

Vicar goes to war (sort of)

The vicar of St. Andrew's, Kildwick, took up his post as army chaplain on Tuesday 16th - at a camp in Shropshire.

Sources Keighley News, 13th April 1918

National and International news

1st - RAF formed - The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged to form the Royal Air Force.

21st - The Red Baron - Manfred von Richthofen, the war's most successful fighter pilot, was killed in action; probably by a bullet fired from the ground.

28th - Death of Gavrilo Princip - Gavrilo Princip, the man who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, died in prison of tuberculosis.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "Manfred von Richthofen"; "Gavrilo Princip"

March 1918

Local war casualties of the German Spring Offensive

This month saw two local men killed in France.

Cpl. James Hodkinson, of Crosshills. Killed in action whilst serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment: March 21st 1918. Aged 23 years.
Air Mechanic Thomas Henry Stephens, of Newby Road Farnhill. Accidentally killed in France 26th March, 1918, whilst serving with the RFC. Aged 35 years. He and another man died instantaneously; no further details of the accident were reported.

Both of these men are recorded on the Kildwick war memorial.

The photographs above show James Hodkinson (left) and Thomas Henry Stephens (right).

Also reported as having been wounded this month:

Signaller Percy Walmsley - wrote home to his wife in Farnhill to let her know that he was "in hospital having had a bad shaking up with a shell".
Private Cecil Green, of Mary Street Farnhill - In hospital, in Penrith.
Private Richard Inskip, of Farnhill - In hospital, in Bradford, having been wounded for the fourth time. This time, in the foot.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - James Hodkinson"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Thomas Henry Stephens"; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 5th and 12th April 1918; Craven Herald, 5th April 1918; Keighley News, 6th April 1918

War savings week

To promote War Savings Week in the area, local mill-owner James Woodrow provided the following offer to pupils of Kildwick school: for each pupil contributing 10s towards the cost of a war savings certificate, he would make it up to the full amount of 15s 6d. 40 children took him up on this offer.

In addition, Mr. Woodrow purchased outright a savings certificate for each of eight pupils whose fathers had been killed or wounded in the war.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 8th March 1918

Rev. Hodge to be posted next month

News reached the village that Rev. Hodge, who volunteered to become an Army Chaplain last month, had been accepted and would receive his posting in April, after Easter.

Sources: Keighley News, 9th March 1918; Craven Herald, 15th March 1918

More comforts from the Unionist Club

Continuing the work they had done throughout the war, the ladies of Kildwick Unionist Club reported that they had sent £5 5s to Sir Arthur Pearson's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors (St. Dunstan's).

A parcel of knitwear had also been sent off for distribution to men serving with the 2/6 Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

Sources: St. Dunstan's WW1 postcards; Craven Herald, 22nd March 1918; Keighley News, 23rd March 1918

Allotments but no communal kitchen for Farnhill

The question of making land available for allotments was on the agenda again at the meeting of Farnhill Parish Council held on March 21st. Mr Reddihough, the owner of the Farnhill Hall estate, attended and offered a field at Aireside, and the Council agreed to find out who might want to work the land. At a further meeting, held on the 26th, 10 residents put forward applications. The land was then measured up and a ballot held to determine who would get which plot.

At the same FPC meeting, Mr. W.A. Brigg spoke in favour of a communal kitchen for the village. He said "It was not a question of charity or of giving cheap meals to people, but of making the best use of the food available." The other councillors were not in favour, with Mr. Bottomley saying that he thought it would be a waste of time.

Sources: Keighley News, 23rd and 30th March 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 28th March and 5th April 1918; Craven Herald, 29th March and 5th April 1918; FPC Minutes, March 21st and 26th 1918

National and International news

3rd - Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - Russia made a separate peace with Germany and Austria. This ended Russia's involvement in the war and released German soldiers from the Eastern Front.

21st - Operation Michael - The first day of the German Spring Offensive, an attempt to take the Channel ports. The German advance was finally halted on April 5th, east of Amien. British casualties numbered 177,739 killed, wounded and missing; with nearly 20,000 killed on the first day.

23rd - Bullet "catching" trick goes wrong - US magician William E Robinson (stage name Chung Ling Soo) died when a bullet "catching" trick went wrong during a performance at Wood Green Empire.

25th - Death of Claude Debussy - French composer Claude Debussy died of cancer, in Paris. He was 55.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "Treaty of Brest-Litovsk"; "Operation Michael"; "Spring Offensive (1918); "Chung Ling Soo"; "Claude Debussy"

February 1918

Vicar to become Army Chaplain

The recently installed vicar of St. Andrew's, Rev. C.E.V. Hodge, used the Kildwick Parish Magazine to announce that, with the support of his wife and the Archbishop, he had applied to become an Army Chaplain and consequently was likely to be away from the parish for some time. The vicar of Lothersdale had promised to take responsibility for the parish and Mr. Appleby had agreed to assist him.

In his letter to the congregation he wrote "I do feel very strongly that the Church at home must be prepared to sacrifice some of her privileges [in order to] work among our soldiers."

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 8th February 1918; Craven Herald, 8th February 1918; Keighley News, 9th February 1918

National and International news

6th - Votes for (some) women - The Representation of the People Act (1918) gave the vote to all men over the age of 21 and also to women over the age of 30, who were property owners. (Full voting equality with men would not occur until 1928.)

Sources: "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "Representation of the People Act (1918)"

January 1918

Social events to start off the New Year

The new year in Farnhill and Kildwick was started with a number of social events. These were the ones reported in the local newspapers. All of them seem to have been held on New Year's day.

Women's Help Society - held a social evening in Kildwick Parish Rooms. Games and dancing were the major features of the enjoyable event.
A Jumble Sale - was organised on behalf of the Church Day Schools and held at Kildwick school. Over £10 was raised.
Whist Drive - Kildwick Unionist Club held a very successful whist drive. 72 players took part.
Billiard Handicap - A billiard competition was held in the Institute.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 4th January 1918; Craven Herald, 4th January 1918; Keighley News, 5th January 1918

Another local soldier hospitalised

The first newspapers of the new year took up where those of the previous year had left off - with news of a local soldier hospitalised on account of the war. Arthur Turner, the former clerk to Farnhill Parish Council, was reported to be in hospital in Italy suffering from malaria. Private Turner joined the RAMC in November 1915, and had served in Malta and Salonika.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 4th January 1918; Craven Herald, 4th January 1918; Keighley News, 5th January 1918

Appeals to local Military Tribunals

Local Military Tribunals, set up following the introduction of compulsory conscription in 1916 to judge appeals for exemptions from military service, were in the news this month; with reports on three cases involving local men.

A 39 year-old married man from Farnhill sought exemption because he ran a one-man business which was the only grocery shop in the village. The Chairman of the tribunal spoke in support of an exemption, saying "Here we are in the midst of a crisis in the war on account of food. Are you going to take a principal supplier of food from any village ?" The applicant was given a temporary exemption until April 1st and was instructed to go for a repeat medical examination, as he would not be pressed to serve if his health was judged to be anything less than Grade 1.

A 19 year old weaver from Kildwick appealed on the basis that if he were to leave the village his 63 year-old father, who suffered frequent fits, would be left in the care of his younger sister who was unable to cope with him; the applicant frequently having to be sent for - even from work. The Sunday before the tribunal sat, the father had had four fits and had recently fallen onto an open fire during a fit and severely burned his face. The applicant was given a temporary exemption until the end of April.

Albert Rhodes, a wheelwright from Farnhill, appeared in front of Skipton Magistrates for threatening George Bottomley who had been chairman of the Tribunal which had turned down his son's case for an exemption on March 13th of the previous year. Rhodes held Bottomley personally responsible for his son having to join the Army and had said on more than one occasion that if his son was sent abroad he would "do Bottomley in". On January 3rd Rhodes had had a letter from his son saying he was going to be shipped to France and had later accosted Bottomley in the street shouting "I shall go [deleted] mad. I give you fair warning that I will have my revenge. My son would never have joined the army if he hadn't been sent; you are the man that sent him and I shall hold you personally responsible. The Tribunal is, like the war, a [deleted] fraud." Rhodes admitted the offence, but took some persuading to agree to cease troubling Mr. Bottomley in the future. He was eventually bound over to keep the peace for six months with a personal surety of £50 and surety of £25 from another person.

Sources: Keighley News, 12th and 19th January 1918; Craven Herald, 18th January 1918

Presentations to the former Mayor and Mayoress of Keighley

To commemorate their four years as Mayor and Mayoress of Keighley, William Anderton Brigg and his sister Mary Sharpe were presented with gifts from the Town Council, including a silver table-centre and a special silver badge and brooch with the design of the town's coat-of-arms. Over 1000 individual subscribers had also made contributions to the gift fund, with many of the contributions accompanied by expressions of appreciation for their hard work.

During the speeches, the former Mayoress expressed the hope "that not many years would pass before they might possibly have a woman as Mayor" - a suggestion greeted with laughter.

Sources: Keighley News, 19th and 26th January 1918; Craven Herald, 1st February 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 1st February 1918

Unionist Club annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Unionist Club took place on the 18th. The president made mention of two members of the club who had been killed in France: Walter Dawson and Albert Backhouse (who had been missing since April 1917 and had recently been reported killed). He also complimented the Ladies' Working Party who "remembered every soldier and sailor from Kildwick, Farnhill and Junction although the number is constantly increasing, and calling for greater efforts from the workers". He concluded with the hope that by the time of their next annual meeting "we should have secured a victorious peace".

Sources: Craven Herald, 25th January 1918; Keighley News, 19th and 26th January 1918

"Winter Gardens"

A series of three "Winter Garden" events were held on successive nights at the Institute, which was decorated with muslin, Chinese lanterns, evergreens and plants loaned from Kildwick Hall. Opening the first, W.A. Brigg expressed the hope "... that this would be the last year of the war. The result depended on how well and how long we held out. Each individual should do his utmost to back up the soldiers abroad." He also spoke of the benefits of communal kitchens.

A "penny dip", in pre-war days called a bran-tub but in these days of food austerity made up of saw-dust, was a big success.

The three events raised a total of £48. It was planned to contribute one-third of the profit to a war charity.

Sources: Keighley News, 26th January 1918 and 2nd February 1918; Craven Herald, 1st February 1918; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 1st February 1918

National and International news

8th - Wilson's Fourteen Points - American President Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech on war aims and terms under which peace would be concluded to the United States Congress. The so-called "Fourteen Points" speech was the only explicit statement of war aims by any of the nations fighting in World War 1. The proposals were not supported by the rest of the Allies.

15th - Aircraft carrier - Work was begun, on Tyneside, on HMS Hermes the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier.

Sources: "1918"; "1918 in the United Kingdom"; "Fourteen Points"