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 1917

WW1 wounded and home on leave

Fortunately there were no local war dead this month, but the following men were reported to have been wounded:

Private Alec Hargreaves (of Kildwick), wounded in the left leg. He had been operated on in Rouen before being transferred to hospital in Nottingham.
Private Joe Greenwood (of Starkey Lane, Farnhill). He had been operated on at the Australian General Hospital, in France, before being transferred to the military hospital at Sutton Veny in Wiltshire.
Private George Holiday (of Farnhill), suffering from shell-shock.
Sergeant Leo Spencer (of Crag Top, Farnhill). Suffering from a shrapnel wound in the thigh, he was in hospital in Birmingham.

The following men were reported to be home on leave:

Driver Walter Hargreaves, RFA
Driver Robert Brown, RFA

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 7th December 1917; Keighley News, 8th December 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 14th December 1917; Craven Herald, 14th December 1917; Keighley News, 15th December 1917; Craven Herald, 28th December 1917; Keighley News, 5th January 1918

Presentation to former teacher

After school on Tuesday (4th), Mr. Appleby the headmaster presented Mrs. Lawson (the former Miss Sugden), who was married a fortnight previously, with a silver-plated cake basket and sugar sifter. Mrs. Lawson had been teacher at the school for about 10 years.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 7th December 1917

A wounded man's experiences

On the 14th (Craven Herald) and 15th (Keighley News), published details of a letter received by Mrs. Greenwood, of Starkey Lane, from her husband Joe, who was in hospital in Wiltshire recovering from wounds. He said:

As you know the push started on the 20th of November. There were three divisions went over the top - the 36th, the 9th, and us. We advanced five miles, the biggest advance there has been in the war. We got praised for it. We got over the top on the 20th; then had to go again the next day and lost five or six officers. I came out of that racket alright, and we came out the same night, and I was not sorry I can tell you. We set off and got to a place called Havincourt at 8 o'clock on THursday morning, stayed there until 9 o'clock at night and then off again, and we marched until six o'clock next morning and found ourselves lost in a wood, so we got down and had a good sleep. When I waken up it was raining. We had another biscuit and then off again; asking and enquiring until we got to our abode at last, a place called Bertincourt, about 4 o'clok on Friday afternoon. We rested all day on Saturday, but on Sunday an order came to pack up and be ready for amrching at a half-an-hour's notice if needed, and needed we were. We set off at 1 o'clock on Sunday dinner-time and got into the trenches at 10 at night, and I got hit on the following day at a place called Anneux, just off Bourlon Wood.

Joe Greenwood was describing the first few days of the Battle of Cambrai. He was wounded during the German reinforcement and defence of Bourlon Ridge.

Sources: Craven Herald, 14th December 1917; Keighley News, 15th December 1917; Battle of Cambrai

Sudden death of Harry Greenwood

By a sad coincidence, the week after details of Joe Greenwood's letter was published, the newspapers reported the sudden death of his father, Harry Greenwood. He was 60.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 21st December 1917

Resignation of Farnhill Parish Council's temporary clerk

Tom Turner, who had taken over as temporary clerk to Farnhill Parish Council when his father joined the RAMC in October 1915, turned 18 and tendered his resignation in order to join the forces. It was decided that Mr. Appleby, Kildwick headmaster, would act as clerk for the duration of the war.

Sources: Craven Herald, 28th December 1917; Keighley News, 29th December 1917

Another military wedding at Kildwick

The year ended with another military wedding at Kildwick Church. The groom was Lieutenant Alexander McLaren of Dundee; the bride was Annie Wrathall, eldest daughter of the late Robert Wrathall of Farnhill Hall and his wife.

Source: Keighley News, 5th January 1918

National and International news

11th - British take Jerusalem - General Allenby leads British forces into Jerusalem, on foot.

31st - Sugar rationing - The British government imposes rationing of sugar (8 oz per person per week)

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Allenby enters Jerusalem"; "Rationing"

November 1917

And the war goes on

There were four local war dead this month:

Ralph Oscar Gladstone - Signed up immediately on the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the Royal Engineers as a private, and went to France in 1914. Prior to the war he had been a fouder member of Kildwick Boy Scouts. Killed in action 2nd November, 1917. He was 27 years of age and had been married for just a year.
Benjamin Henry Freeman - Lance-Corpl. Freeman, of Skipton Road, Farnhill, was killed in action on 5th November 1917. After emigrating to Canada, he joined the Canadian forces in 1915 and was sent to France in May 1917. He had married shortly before leaving for the front. He was 21.
Tom Thompson - Of Ryeland Street, Crosshills, was killed in action on 10th November 1917, having previously been reported missing. Prior to the war he worked for Messrs. James Woodrow and Sons, Junction Mills, Crosshills. He was married and aged 28.
George Inskip - A Private in the Duke of Wellington's Regt., George was the son of Mr. Richard Inskip, of Farnhill. He was killed in action 27th November, 1917. He had enlisted in September 1914 and, prior to the war, had been a member of Kildwick Brass Band. He was 24.

All of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick War Memorial.

The photographs above show (left to right): Ralph Oscar Gladstone, Benjamin Henry Freeman, Tom Thompson, and George Inskip.

In addition, news reached the area of the death of Private Ambrose Bower, whose parents had until recently lived in Farnhill. Ambrose was a professional soldier and had gone to France in the early days of the war.

Newspapers reported the following local men as being hospitalised:

Private Harry Green (of Farnhill), suffering from trench fever
Private Fred Hargreaves (of Farnhill), suffering from trench fever
Richard Inskip (of Farnhill, younger brother of George Inskip), suffering from gunshot wounds in the right hand. The third time he had been wounded.
Albert Bower (of Farnhill, younger brother of Ambrose Bower), suffering from abcesses. He had been wounded previously, in 1916, and had recently returned to France.

At home on leave:

John Spencer Whitham (of Farnhill) - Recalled some interesting experiences at first-aid posts and also whilst on duty as a stretcher-bearer.
Tom Hargreaves (of Kildwick) - Had taken part in a raid which resulted in his sergeant receiving the Military Medal. He has also narrowly avoided capture by the enemy, making good use of the speed he had aquired while playing football for the Kildwick team.
Thomas E. Sugden (of Kildwick) - Was home on a short leave from the Honourable Artillery Company.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Ralph Oscar Gladstone"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Benjamin Henry Freeman"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Tom Thompson"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - George Inskip"; Ambrose Bower; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 2nd November 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 16th November 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 23rd November 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 30th November 1917

Kildwick infants' class closed

The infants' class of Kildwick school was closed due to an outbreak of measles. The infection was described as mild but affecting a large number of the pupils.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 16th November 1917

Methodist "At Homes"

A series of three "at homes", an annual event, were celebrated in the Methodist schoolroom. The room was "very prettily decorated for the occasion". All of the evenings were well attended, and receipts and donations totalled nearly £40.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 16th November 1917; Keighley News, 17th November 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 23rd November 1917; Keighley News, 24th November 1917

Kildwick farmer fined for overcharging for potatoes

On the 17th, Christopher Smith, farmer, of Kildwick Grange, was found guilty at Skipton court for twice overcharging for the supply of potatoes to Harry Gordon, who ran a fish and chip shop in Silsden.

The defendant claimed that he was entitled, under the 1917 Potato Order, to an extra 2s 6d for bagging and a further 2s 6d for transportation, but was found guilty on two counts of overcharging by 5s.

He was fined a total of £1.
Source: Keighley News, 24th November 1917

A quiet khaki wedding

A quiet wedding took place at St. Andrew's church on the 23rd, when Miss S.E. Sugden of Cononley was married to Lieutenant Tom Lawson of the West Yorkshire regiment. The bride was given away by her cousin, T.E. Sugden who was home on leave from the Honourable Artillery Company.

The bride had been a teacher at Kildwick school for several years prior to her marriage.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 30th November 1917; Keighley News, 1st December 1917; Craven Herald, 7th December 1917

Middleton Wood and Arbour Top

At the monthly meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, on the 29th, it was decided to accept Mr. Reddihough's offer to become tenants of the wood in Middleton, at a nominal rent of 5s per annum but with any timber reserved for Farnhill Hall, and also to allow the council to make improvements to land at Arbour Top

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 7th December 1917; Keighley News, 8th December 1917

National and International news

2nd - Balfour declaration - Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, announces British support for the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".

6th - Passchendaele - After 3 months of fierce fighting, Canadian forces take the Belgian village of Passchendaele.

8th - Russian revolution - Members of the Bolshevik Party lead workers in storming the St. Petersburg Winter Palace. The communists, led by Vladimir Lenin, take power.

20th - Tanks at Cambrai - British forces, supported by tanks, make early progress in an attack on German positions but are soon beaten back.

28th - Russian peace terms - The new Russian government provide peace terms to the Germans, which would lead to Russia leaving the war.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Balfour Declaration"; "Battle of Passchendaele"; "Bolsheviks Storm the Winter Palace"; "Battle of Cambrai"

October 1917

War dead and wounded

Three local men were killed in action this month:

Thomas Alda Friend - Born in Sutton-in-Craven, Thomas died in hospital in France following a gas attack. He was 27 years old.
John Dixon Read - Born in Crosshills, John joined the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in January 1916 and went out to France the following June. John was killed by a sniper. He was 21 years old.
Coulson Fryer - A member of the Royal Field Artillery. Coulson was killed when a shell exploded on his battery as it was being moved to a forward position. He was married and 33 years old.

All of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick War Memorial.

The photographs above show (left to right): Thomas Alda Friend, John Dixon Read, and Coulson Fryer.

Former Farnhill lad, Archie Sugden, was also reported as having been killed-in-action this month. Archie was the son of William Sugden, former clerk in the Skipton Railway Offices. The family had moved to Dewsbury in 1906.

News also reached the village that Farnhill man, Thomas Whitaker, had been wounded by shrapnel in his left arm on September 25th and was in hospital, in London. His wife visited him and found that he was suffering from septic poisoning; it was not known whether his arm would have to be amputated. Tom Whitaker, of Main Street, had enlisted in early 1915 and had joined the Army Ordnance Corps before being transferred to the Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Thomas Alda Friend"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - John Dixon Read"; "Craven's Part in the Great War - Coulson Fryer"; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 19th October 1917; Keighley News, 20th October 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 2nd November October 1917

St. Andrew's Harvest Festival

The St. Andrew's Harvest Festival service was held on the afternoon of the 7th, rather than the evening, so as to avoind lighting restrictions.

The church was decorated with fruit and vegetables, which were later sent to the Keighley War Hospital at Morton Banks.

Source: Keighley News, 13th October 1917

Institute Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting of the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute, it was reported that the present membership numbered 98, of which 32 were serving with the forces. All of these had been made honorary members. Two members had died whilst on active service.

Sources: Keighley News, 13th October 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 19th October 1917

Two lamplighters appointed for Farnhill

Having found it impossible, last month, to find anyone willing to act as lamplighter for Farnhill for the princely sum of £5, Farnhill Parish Council engaged the services of Mr. Robert Parker to lamp the lights in Main Street and in the culvert for £5 10s; Mr. Lee had agreed to light the lamps at Aireside for 10s.

Source: FPC Minutes, October 25th 1917

Conservative Club entertainment

On the 27th, the Conservative Club annual tea dance and entertainment was held in Kildwick School. A whist drive was held a few days later at the club.

The money raised from these events was used to support the club and the Women's Knitting Fund.

Source: Craven Herald, November 2nd 1917

National and International news

5th - Chequers - Sir Arthur Lee donated his country house, Chequers, to the nation. It became the country home of the Prime Minister in 1921.

13th - Miracle at Fatima - A crowd of between 30,000 and 100,000 people witnessed the Sun "dancing", in fulfilment of a prophesy made to three children who reported having had visions of the Virgin Mary. The event was officially accepted as a miracle by the Roman Catholic Church in 1930.

15th - Execution of Mata Hari - Exotic dancer Mata Hari (real name Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod) was executed by firing squad after being found guilty of spying for the Germans.

23rd and 26th - Brazil enters the war - On the 23rd a Brazillian ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Brazil declared war against Germany on the 26th.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Chequers"; "Miracle of the Sun"; "Mata Hari"

September 1917

Methodist Harvest Festival service

Farnhill Methodists celebrated their Harvest Festival on Sunday 9th. During the afternoon, an augmented choir sang the canatata "Harvest"; and on the evening the anthem "Ye shall dwell in the land", with Fred Sugden and Bertha Walmsley taking the solo parts. Rupert Barker was the organist at the morning service.

The fruit and vegetables which had been donated throughout the day were sold on Monday evening; the proceeds to church funds.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 14th September 1917; Keighley News, 15th September 1917

An Amateur Dramatic Society formed

At a meeting held in Kildwick and Farnhill Institute it was decided that a Damatic Society should be formed. After some discussion, Fred Sugden was appointed Musical Director with Ralph Hellings as Secretary.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 14th September 1917 Keighley News, 22nd September 1917

Institute social evening

On Saturday evening, 15th September, the lady volunteers of the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute were treated to a Social Evening by members of the Institute Committee, in appreciation of their fund-raising efforts since the opening of the Institute in 1911.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 21st September 1917

Conservative Club whist drive

A very successful Whist Drive was held at Kildwick Conservative Club on the evening of the 25th. £3 2s 9d was raised, which was divided between club funds and the Ladies Working Party for the purchase of knitting materials.

Source: Craven Herald, 28th September 1917

Death and burial of Jabez Birtwhistle

The end of the month saw the death of the 73-year old Jabez Birtwhistle of Newby Road, Farnhill.

Mr. Birtwhistle had been a member of Farnhill Methodist Church for more than 30 years and had served as Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and as a trustee of the church. He had also been a member of Farnhill Parish Council and Skipton Rural District Council; and had served on the Skipton Board of Guardians.

The funeral service was held, on the 25th, at the Methodist Church with the interment following in Kildwick churchyard.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 28th September 1917; Keighley News, 29th September 1917

No one wants to be Farnhill lamplighter

It was reported at the Farnhill Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 27th that no one had been found to light the lamps on Main Street and in the culvert during the forthcoming winter season. It was decided to increase the amount to be paid to £5.

Sources: Keighley News, 29th September 1917; Craven Herald, 5th October; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 5th October

National and International news

Most of the International news for September 1917 was concerned with the Russian Revolution. Throughout the month the Bolsheviks took increasing control of the government.

This month also saw action on the Western Front at Polygon Wood, part of the 3rd battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele); and the taking of Ramadi, by the British, from a joint German-Ottoman force.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"

August 1917

Another war casualty

Harry Foster Walton, born in the Old White Bear Pub, Crosshills, was killed in action in France whilst serving with the Manchester Regiment. He was married and aged 27.

Harry Foster Walton is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Sources: Craven's Part in the Great War - Harry Foster Walton

Summer treats

On the 3rd, the Methodist Sunday school organised a boat trip on the canal to Gargrave, starting off from Farnhill at 1pm and returning home at around 9:30. On the same day, Sunderland's mill closed down for 10 days and many people took the opportunity to get away to Morecambe or Blackpool.

Note: In its reports on holiday-makers in Sutton, the Craven Herald actually referred to Morecambe as "the Venice of the North". Perhaps there's a certain sinking feeling on arrival ?

Source: Keighley News, 11th August 1917

A Kildwick scholar

It was reported that a Kildwick girl, Mary Holgate, had passed the entrance examination for the Northern Universities (Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham). Miss Holgate had been a pupil at Kildwick National School where she had gained a County Minor Scholarship, which had enabled her to continue her studies at Keighley Grammar.

Source: Keighley News, 18th August 1917

A day out for the wounded

Mary Sharpe and the Brigg brothers entertained a group of 30 wounded men from Morton Banks Hospital to tea at Kildwick Hall. Some of group came by motor transport while others travelled by canal boat.

After tea the men played archery or bowls or took the opportunity to walk around the gardens and grounds before returning to the hospital.

Source: Craven Herald, 31st August 1917

Local men at the Skipton Military Tribunal

The Skipton Military Tribunal, which assessed whether men called up for military service could be exempted, met on the 28th and considered appeals against the exemptions given to two local men:

A 32 year-old, married, Kildwick poultry farmer had previously been granted a conditional exemption, on condition that he had a medical examination at Keighley. On attending he had shown his exemption certificate and asked whether, because he was exempt, the examination was necessary. He was told that, on account of the certificate, he did not need to be examined and he then left. The tribunal ordered that he attend another medical examination and his exemption certificate was withdrawn.

The exemption granted to an 18 year-old Farnhiller on domestic grounds was challenged by the military representative. The boy's sister told the tribunal that their father sufered bad fits and she and her sister were afraid to be left at home alone with him. Of the boy's two brothers, one had been killed in action and the other was at the front in France. The decision was taken to withdraw the young man's exemption certificate and he was ordered to report for duty on October 20th.

Source: Keighley News, 1st September 1917

National and International news

2nd - Landing on a ship - Squadron Commander E.H. Dunning became the first pilot to land his aircraft on a ship when put his Sopwith Pup down on HMS Furious in Scapa Flow. He was killed five days later attempting to repeat the feat.

21st - Price and wage controls - The government introduced guaranteed minimum prices for wheat and oats, and a minimum wage for agricultural workers.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"

July 1917

Promotion for a former Kildwick soldier

Originally reported in the "Chester Chronicle" and then later in the local papers, came news of the promotion of Private Gerald Haswell of the Denbighshire Hussars to the rank of Lieutenant. The Haswell family were former Kildwick residents, and Gerald's father had been for many years on the staff of the 6th Duke of Wellington's Regiment; he had been involved in local recruitment campaigns at the start of the war.

Source: Craven Herald, 13th July 1917

Plans for widening Starkey Lane

A proposal for the widening of Starkey Lane was discussed at Skipton Rural District Council's monthly meeting. Mr Birtwhistle had agreed to provide land to enable the road to be widened; however other landowners would need to be approached, and it was decided that a copy of the plans should be sent out to the them for their consideration.

Source: Craven Herald, 20th July 1917

Strong words at Kildwick church

At a service promoting the missionary work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Dr. Warman of the SPG gave a strong sermon in which he said that "some said missionary effort was waste, and that money should not be spent on foreign missions during the war. That spirit was the German spirit. The aim of Germany was material advancement. That was why there was submarine warfare and aeroplane raids on non-combatants. The unseen things did not count to the Germans, and if we gave up foreign missions, although we might not go as far as the Germans had done we should go in the same direction. Prayer was sorely needed in the present crisis."

Source: Keighley News, 21st July 1917

How to preserve fruit without using sugar

On the 23rd, a lecture on how to preserve fruit without the use of sugar was given at Farnhill Institute by Mrs. Lund, Instructress in fruit bottling at Leeds University. The lecture was organised by the local Paxton Society in association with Leeds University and the Yorkshire Council of Agriculture. Mrs. Sharpe, of Kildwick Hall, presided and there was a good audience.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 27th July 1917; Keighley News, 28th July 1917

Annual produce show

The Paxton Society's 6th annual exhibition of vegetables, fruit, flowers, eggs and bread took place in the Institute building on July 28th. There was a good range of exhibits and the quality was very high. A special exhibit of 30 different types of sweet peas was displayed by Mr. Stephen Shackleton of Glusburn, who later donated it to the hospital at Morton Banks.
Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 3rd August 1917; Craven Herald, 3rd August 1917; Keighley News, 3rd August 1917

National and International news

6th - Aquaba - Arab troops, with their British military advisor T.E. Lawrence, took the small port of Aquaba from the Ottoman Empire.

9th - Loss of HMS Vanguard - British navy dreadnought battleship HMS Vanguard exploded and sank in Scapa Flow with the loss of over 800 lives - including men from Silsden and Skipton. There were only two survivors.

16th to 20th - Unrest in Russia - Soldiers and industrial workers in St. Petersburg engaged in spontaneous armed demonstrations against the Russian Provisional Government. Lenin went into hiding, and other leaders were arrested. On the 20th, Alexander Arkensky became premier. In the same period Russian troops on the front line mutinied and began to retreat; hundreds were shot for desertion.

17th - Royal name change - King George V announced that in future the Royal family would take the name Windsor, rather than keeping the Germanic-sounding Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

31st - Passchendaele - The third battle of Ypres, better known as Passendaele began. It would continue for the rest of 1917.

unknown - Cottingley fairies - During this month children Frances Griffiths and her cousin Elsie Wright took their first photographs of fairies at Cottingley Beck. The photographs would become public in 1919. They are now on display at the National Media Museum, in Bradford.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Battle of Aquaba"; "HMS Vanguard"; "July Days (Russia)"; "House of Windsor"; "Battle of Passchendaele"; "Cottingley Fairies"; "The First World War" by A.J.P. Taylor

June 1917

This month's toll of war

Two local men were killed in action this month:

William Mosley - Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, of 56 Starkey Lane, Farnhill; aged 40. William was one a bellringer at St. Andrew's Church and, as a token of respect, muffled peals were rung when news of his death reached the village. He was 40 years of age and left a wife and five children.
David Smith - Private, West Riding Regt., of Crosshills. Before the war he had been a plasterer and was from a well known Glusburn family. He left a wife and child.

Both of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick War Memorial.

The photographs above show William Mosley (left) and David Smith (right).

Sources: Craven's Part in the Great War - William Mosley; Craven's Part in the Great War - David Smith

A "Sunday School" wedding

A pretty wedding took place, at the start of this month, in Farnhill Methodist Church. Both the bride, Miss Edith Kitson, and the groom, Mr. George Parker, were Farnhillers and both had been associated with the Methodist Sunday School. The bride wore a dress of peacock-blue silk with a matching hat, and carried a bouquet of lilies. The bridesmaid wore a dress of embroidered voile and a Tuscan hat with ostrich feathers. The bride was given away by her brother, Herbert Kitson.

Wedding presents included a silver rose bowl and a pair of vases, given by the staff of the Sunday school.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 8th June 1917; Keighley News 9th June 1917

More news of Willie Thompson

The uncle and aunt of William Thompson, of the York and Lancaster Regiment, who had been reported as "missing in action" April and subsequently PoW, received official news that he was being held at Dulmen in Westphalia.

Source: Keighley News, 16th June 1917

Farnhill housing issue

At the regular monthly meeting of Skipton Rural District Council, held on the 16th, an issue concerning a house in Farnhill was discussed. The house, which the RDC had been trying to get the owners to improve since 1911 and which had subsequently been closed on the orders of the Medical Officer of Health, was reported as having been reoccupied. The Council issued a demolition order but agreed to postpone the demolition for six months providing that the owners would guarantee that the building would not be used for domestic purposes.

Source: Keighley News, 23rd June 1917

Garden party and operetta at Kildwick Hall

A highly successful Garden Party, which included a performance of the operetta "Zurika, the Gypsy Maid", was held in the grounds of Kildwick Hall, which were opened for the purpose by the Brigg family.

The cast of the operetta numbered over 30, with the main parts being taken by local children, who had been coached by Miss Millie Wrathall and Mr. Fred Sugden. The role of Zurika was played by Miss Dorothy Hill; and the music was provided by Miss Nellie Wrathall (piano) and a string band under the direction of Mr. Julius Spencer.

Amongst the very large audience were two groups of injured soldiers: a party from Skipton Auxiliary Hospital and another group, who arrived by motor launch on the canal, from the Keighley War Hospital. (Perhaps not to be outdone, a group of injuted soldiers from Skipton would also be entertained to tea by Mrs. Riddihough at Farnhill Hall the following week.)

After the performance tea, sugar-less in accordance with the Food Controller's guidelines, was served on the lawn and the guests were then invited to view exhibits in the Kildwick Hall armoury.

Total receipts for the event were over £34 and profits of £19 19s was subsequently handed over to the treasurer of the Institute.

Sources: Craven Herald, 29th June 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 29th June 1917; Keighley News, 30th June 1917

Farnhill Parish Council on street lighting and infant mortality

At the Farnhill Parish Council meeting, held on the 28th, it was decided to approach the Superintendent of Police for permission to light nine street lights on Farnhill Main Street, between Starkey Lane and Twig Nook (the corner of Main Street with Bradley Lane).

The question of clearing ash-pits and the consequent danger to infant life was briefly discussed. It was "Baby Week" in Skipton and the chairman, Mr. W.A. Brigg noted that "Children are very valuable to the nation, particularly at the present time and they often get diseases from ashpits." Mr. Bottomley said that the wastage of infant life was appalling; adding that at the present time England was losing more children than it was men at the front - 12 babies died every hour and 9 soldiers. Mr. Biggs remarked that the death rate amongst infants was higher than three years ago and it was, to a large extent, preventable.

Sources: Keighley News, 30th June 1917; Craven Herald, 6th July 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 6th July 1917

National and International news

7th - Battle of Messines Ridge - The British action against Messines Ridge, near Ypres, started with the detonation of a land mine buried by sappers under the German lines. It was the largest non-nuclear man-made explosion in history, and could be heard in London. 10,000 German soldiers were killed in just a few seconds. After two years of planning and meticulous execution the British line was advanced, at most, by two miles. How long to get to Berlin ?

13th - Fixed-wing aircraft bomb London - The first major German bombing raid on London by fixed-wing aircraft. More 160 people are killed and almost 500 injured.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "The First World War" by A.J.P. Taylor

May 1917

This month's toll of war

This month's war dead

Three local men were killed in action this month:

Samuel Booth - Private, 2/7 West Riding Regt., of Church Terrace, Kildwick; aged 32. Samuel had joined up in October 1916 having previously been rejected. He was sent to France in January 1917 and reported as missing in action presumed dead on 3rd May. He left a wife and three children.
James Mosley - Private, 2/6 West Riding Regt., of Glusburn; aged 20. Reported missing on 3rd May, during the Battle of Arras, James would not be officially reported as having been killed in action until March 1918. His mother died without knowing that he had predeceased her.
Arthur Chatterton - Private, East Yorkshire Regt., of Glusburn; aged 36. Arthur died on 8th May, after being wounded in the left leg on 27th April. He had returned to England at the start of the war, having previously emigrated to the USA. He enlisted in 1915 and had been in France since November 1916.

All of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick War Memorial.

The photographs above show James Mosley (left) and Arthur Chatterton (right). There is no known photograph of Samuel Booth.

Local men wounded and/or ill in hospital

A remarkable number of local men were reported as having been wounded this month, with the West Yorkshire Pioneer reporting that "all the lads in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in connection with the village (Farnhill) are wounded except Pte. Harry Green, of Starkey Lane". The Farnhill men included:

Anthony Hargreaves - slight shrapnel wounds to both thighs
Albert Kitson - gunshot wound to the back (slight)
Harry Kitson - severe wound to right arm
Richard Inskip

In addition, Perry Kitson wrote home to tell his wife that he was ill in hospital, although not wounded.

There were also three Kildwick men, including two brothers, in the same hospital in Rouen:

Charles Alec Hargreaves
Tom Hargreaves
Harry Bulcock - bullet through the knee

Sources: Craven's Part in the Great War - Samuel Booth; Craven's Part in the Great War - James Mosley; Craven's Part in the Great War - Arthur Chatterton; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 11th May 1917; Craven Herald, 11th and 25th May 1917; Keighley News, 12th and 26th May 1917

Body in the canal

On the evening of Thursday May 3rd, a body was found floating in the canal at Farnhill Wood. This was later identified as Dyson Stell, aged 70, of the Halifax Workhouse. He had been given two days leave on the previous Tuesday.

An inquest, held the following day in Kildwick Conservative Club, recorded a verdict of "Found drowned".

Sources: Keighley News, 5th May 1917; Craven Herald, 11th May 1917

How to save food

With Germany attempting to starve the country into submission with unrestricted submarine warfare, an important public meeting took place in Farnhill Institute on Friday night, 4th May, when members of the West Riding War Savings Committee spoke to a good crowd about how to save food.

Mr. W.A. Brigg told the meeting about the perillous situation the country found itself. He said "If we cannot hold out until American ships are ready [to bring food] we might be obliged to come to terms with the enemy before we have beaten him. We must hold out until harvest. We must eat less and rise from the table longing. I am pounds lighter but I am no worse".

A message from the Food Controller was then read out. An investigation had shown that there was very little food wasted but there was a need for less bread to be eaten and wheat substitutes must be used where possible. He believed that if people did their best compulsory rationing could be avoided, but if it did come it would be a calamity. The way to avert disaster was to use substitutes and waste nothing. It would help a great deal if wealthy people would leave potatoes and all the cheaper kinds of food for the poorer people.

The speaker had brought along with him, for inspection and sampling, breads made with a combination of wheat flour and possible wheat substitutes, including: wheat and rice, wheat and barley, wheat and oats, and wheat and maize. Several of the local ladies, who sampled these breads were heard to remark "It's not bad but would be improved with some butter."

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 11th May 1917; Craven Herald, 11th May 1917

Sunday schools have their Whit weekend festivities

May 27th was Whit Sunday and members of both Farnhill Methodist church and Kildwick St. Andrew's Sunday schools held their annual parades and festivities. The Methodists ended their walk at Kildwick Hall where games were played during the afternoon in a field loaned by the Brigg family. The St. Andrew's walk ended at Boxtree Farm where races and other games were held.

Owing to the need for food economies the usual teas were not provided.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 1st June 1917; Craven Herald, 1st June 1917; Keighley News, 2nd June 1917

Finally - some good(ish) news from the war

News arrived at the very end of the month that William Thompson, who had been reported as "missing" in April, was in fact a Prisoner of War. His place of internment was not known.

Source: Keighley News, 2nd June 1917

National and International news

9th - Nivelle Offensive abandoned - The joint Anglo-French offensive was finally abandoned as a failure. French deaths numbered around 120,000; the British, over 150,000.

13th - Visions of the Virgin - At monthly intervals between May and October, visions of the Virgin Mary appeared to children at Fatima in Portugal.

16th - Nivelle sacked - Following the spectacular failure of the French offensive and loss of life, the Commander-in-chief Robert Nivelle was sacked. He was replaced by Phillippe Petain, with Ferdinand Foch as Chief-of-staff.

19th May to 7th June - Mutiny of French army - Pushed beyond breaking-point by the failure of the Nivelle offensive, widespread mutinies broke out in the French army. Some units refused to go into the trenches; one regiment marched to the front line with the men bleating like sheep being led to slaughter.

24th - First British naval convoy - With the losses of merchant shipping approaching crisis levels (almost 1m tons of British and neutral ships were lost in April alone, with 1 in 4 ships leaving British ports failing to return) and Britain facing the prospect of starvation, Prime Minister Lloyd George forced the introduction of convoys, against the advice of the Admiralty.

25th - Folkstone air raid - 95 people were killed in Folkestone area in the first daylight bombing raid on the UK by fixed-wing aircraft.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Our Lady of Fatima"; "WWI air raid on Folkestone, 25th May 1917"; "British naval convoy system"; "The First World War" by A.J.P. Taylor

April 1917

The toll of war

It looks as if April 1917 was a truly horrible month for the local men involved in WW1, with a significant increase in the number of deaths and injuries. It included the deaths of two brothers who were killed within a few days of each other.

This month's war dead:

William Foster Green - Originally from Keighley, but living in London. Died 9th April, 1917, while serving with the London Regiment. Aged 25.
James Henry Peel - Died of shell shock while serving with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in France, 14th April 1917. Aged 36; of Railway Terrace, Skipton (born in Bradley).
Arthur Hargreaves - Died of wounds, 19th April 1917, while serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers (formerly of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment). Of Scots House Farm, Glusburn.
Arthur James Happs - Killed in action, while serving with the Durham Light Infantry, in France, 20th April 1917. Brother of Matthew Percy Happs (below)
Matthew Percy Happs - Killed in action, while serving with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, in France, 25th April 1917. Brother of Arthur James Happs (above).
Albert Lister Backhouse - Lance-Cpl, Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Presumed killed having been posted as "missing in action", 25th April 1917. Aged 26; of Sandylands, Crosshills. The son of PC Backhouse, the former Kildwick policeman, who had come out of retirement in March 1917.

All of these men are commemorated on the Kildwick War Memorial.

Photographs above (left to right): James Henry Peel, Arthur Hargreaves, Albert Lister Backhouse. There are no known photographs of William Foster Green or the Happs brothers.

Local men "Missing in Action":

Mr. and Mrs Joseph Richmond, of Aireside Farnhill, received official notification that their nephew, Willie Thompson (below), who had lived with them since he and his older brother were orphaned as children was Missing in Action. His fate was not known, but it was clear that the worst was feared.

Local men wounded and/or ill in hospital:

During the course of the month reports reached the villages of the following men having been wounded or being ill in hospital:

John Stott, of Farnhill - Lance-cpl, West Riding Regiment. In hospital suffering from shell-shock.
Harry Hargreaves, of Farnhill - In hospital in France; a "hospital case".
James Arthur Hartley, of Farnhill - Aged 21, a Sergeant with the Royal Field Artillery. In the Australian General Hospital, Rouen, with gunshot wounds to the left leg. He was later transfered to a hospital in Manchester, from where he wrote home: "The piece of shrapnel went in the back of my thigh and buried itself in the muscle. I might say I was very lucky indeed when I got this wound as three shells fell inside a yard of me; in fact, I fell onto one of them when I went down."

Sources: Craven's Part in the Great War - William Foster Green; Craven's Part in the Great War - James Henry Peel; Craven's Part in the Great War - Arthur Hargreaves; Craven's Part in the Great War - Arthur James Happs; Craven's Part in the Great War - Matthew Percy Happs; Craven's Part in the Great War - Albert Lister Backhouse; Keighley News, 21st April 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 27th April 1917; Craven Herald, 27th April 1917; Keighley News, 28th April 1917; Craven Herald, 4th May 1917

What's on at the pictures ?

With all the bad news, you might want to cheer yourself up by going to the pictures. But, showing at the Picture House in Keighley, something not really designed to cheer people up. "The Flying Torpedo - a vision of war in 1921" was going to show people "the wonderful yet terrible power of scientific inventions of death in war-time." These included the "electric kite periscope, and the weird, marvellous "FLYING AIR TORPEDO"; things that "must inevitably come in real warfare".

The film is now thought to be lost.

Sources: Keighley News, 7th April 1917; The Flying Torpedo

Death and funeral of Mr. S.D. Watson

This month also saw the death, from pneumonia, of the well known local resident, Samuel Dawson Watson; aged 43. Sam Watson had been the owner of the Airedale Mill, up until the time of the disastrous fire in March 1906. He had been a member of Kildwick Church choir, and a manager of Kildwick National School. He was also a member of both Kildwick and Silsden cricket clubs, and a member of Crosshills Conservative Club and the 6th West Riding Volunteers.

The funeral took place at Kildwick Church and was well attended by family, friends and representatives of the many organisations with which Mr. Watson had been associated.

Sources: Keighley News, 7th and 14th April 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 13th April 1917

Another stopping train

One of the items discussed at the Annual Meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, held on April 19th, was a note received from the Midland Railway Company, asking that the 3:42pm train from Bradford run as a stopping train between Keighley and Skipton. The suggestion was approved by all council members present.

Source: Keighley News, 21st April 1917

National and International news

5th - Food Hoarding Order - The government introduced a "Food Hoarding Order" designed to prevent householders from stock-piling foodstuffs that were in short supply due to German submarine attacks on ships bringing food to the UK. On the 7th, the Keighley News published a photograph of women and children queueing for potatoes outside the Co-Op in Keighley.

6th - US declares war on Germany - Having failed to obtain assurances from Germany that its vessels would be excluded from the policy of indiscriminate submarine warfare, the USA declared war on Germany. In the words of President Wilson "God helping her, she can do no other."

9th to 12th - Battle of Vimy Ridge - The four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought three divisions of the German Sixth Army for control of high ground in the Pas de Calais. Using the new tactics of a devastating bombardment followed by a "creeping barrage", and equipped with a new type of artillery shell, the Canadians secured an overwhelming success. 3,598 Canadians were killed and a further 7,000 wounded.

16th - Lenin returns to Russia - The Bolshevik leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin returned to Russia from exile in Switzerland, arriving at the Finland Station in St. Petersburg. The return was facilitated by the German authorities who allowed Lenin and a small group of his supporters to travel through German territory in a sealed railway carriage.

16th - Start of the Nivelle Offensive - The big Anglo-French military operation of 1917, for which the Canadian attach on Vimy Ridge was just a diversion, began on April 16th. It was unsuccessful and demonstrated once again the ineffectiveness of set-piece assaults against elaborately fortified positions. The main assault was called off on April 25th.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; Keighley News, April 7th 1917; "Battle of Vimy Ridge"; "Vladimir Lenin"; "The First World War" by A.J.P. Taylor

March 1917

The war - this month's toll

During the month it was reported that:

On the 18th, Private Tom Millward, of Aireside, died of septic poisoning, in hospital in France, after being wounded in the arm while serving with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. He had joined the army in August 1916 and was aged 19. Tom Millward (shown below) was buried in France and is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.
Mrs. Greenwood of Starkey Lane received news that her husband, Joe, was in hospital in Surrey suffering from trench-foot. In a letter to his uncle, Joe Greenwood revealed that he had actually been shot in one foot and had trench-foot in the other.
Also in hospital this month, suffering from meningitis, was Archie Dawson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dawson of Newby Road. Archie, who was serving with the Naval Yacht Patrol in Portsmouth, was involved in an incident which left him adrift in an open boat for more than 13 hours. Archie's older brother, Walter Dawson, died in February.
News also reached the village that a former resident of Farnhill, Maurice Pimblot Green, had died in hospital in Edinburgh after being wounded in France. During his final illness, Maurice had expressed a desire to be allowed to leave hospital and return to Farnhill.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Tom Millward"; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 16th and 23rd March 1917; Craven Herald, 30th March 1917 and 6th April 1917; Keighley News, 31st March 1917

Departure of Kildwick school teacher

School teacher Florence Spencer left Kildwick School to take up a new post in Kettlewell. Miss Spencer had been a teacher at Kildwick for almost 12 years. Children and staff presented her with an attache case and an autograph album as a leaving present.

Source: Keighley News, 3rd March 1917

Presentation to the school

Misses Clough and Dennison presented the trustees of Kildwick School with a framed print of the Harold Copping picture "The Hope of the World".

Source: Keighley News, 10th March 1917

Association of Craven Village Institutes meet in Farnhill

The Association of Craven Village Institutes held their quarterly meeting in the main hall of Farnhill Institute. The main item seems to have been a magic lantern slideshow and lecture, given by Mr. Appleby, the headmaster of Kildwick School, entitled "Summer Holidays with the Co-operative Holidays Association".

Slides of local beauty-spots in the Craven area were shown. Mr. R.E. Barker and Mr. Mosley operated the lantern.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 16th March 1917

Confirmation service at St. Andrew's

The Bishop of Barrow officiated at a confirmation service at St. Andrew's in Kildwick. 36 candidates were confirmed, from Kildwick, Sutton and Cononley.

Source: Craven Herald, 23rd March 1917

It's a fair cop ...

The Kildwick constable, PC Maddison, was called up. His duties will be carried out by the retired former Kildwick policeman, PC Backhouse.

Source: Craven Herald, 23rd March 1917

Rural District Councillor's report

At the annual Farnhill ratepayer's meeting, George Bottomley, the local member of Skipton rural district council, reported that in the past year three cottages in the village had been condemned as unfit for habitation. In addition he said that the village had 26 houses with pail toilets but that there were no longer any earth middens.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 30th March 1917

Induction of the new vicar

On the last day of the month, Rev. C.E.V. Hodge was formally inducted as the new vicar at a service in St. Andrew's Kildwick. Perhaps the Venerable Archdeacon Cook was aware of the problems that had arisen between the congregation and the previous vicar when, in his sermon, he asked them to remember that "... if differences arose between them and they resorted to prayer, a solution would be found. If they carried on their work in the spirit of prayer the parish would become the most peaceable place possible".

In the evening a peal of bells was rung. Amongst the ringers was Pte. Hibbert from Warner's the bell founders, the company who had recently recast the Kildwick bells.

Source: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 6th April 1917; Craven Herald, 6th April 1917

National and International news

11th - Capture of Baghdad - British forces led by Sir Stanley Maude captured Baghdad, the southern capital of the Ottoman Empire.

15th - Fall of the Romanov Dynasty - Following a week of bread riots in St. Petersburg, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the Russian throne. It was the end of the 300 year Romanov dynasty. The Tsar was replaced by a democratically elected Provisional Government.

20th - Birth of "the forces sweetheart" - Singer Vera Lynn, known as "the forces sweetheart" during WWII, was born.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "February Revolution"

February 1917

Death of Seaman Walter Dawson

On February 5th, Able Seaman Walter Dawson, aged 24, died of wounds received fighting in France. Dawson had joined the Royal Naval Division (the land-based fighting section of the navy) in November 1915 and had been wounded on the Somme. He had recently married.

A memorial service was held on the 18th in St. Andrew's Church, where Walter Dawson had been a member of the choir. It concluded with the "Last Post" played by Richard Inskip.

Walter Dawson is commemorated on the Kildwick war memorial.

Sources: "Craven's Part in the Great War - Walter Dawson"; Keighley News, 17th and 24th February 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 23rd February 1917; Keighley News, 6th January 1917

The new vicar takes up his duties

The new vicar of Kildwick, Rev. C.R.V. Hodge, took his first service in St. Andrew's on the 4th. There was a good congregation.

Newspaper reports noted that the vicar and his family had had a stormy voyage across the Atlantic from Canada, where he had worked previously.

Sources: Craven Herald, 9th February 1917, Keighley News, 10th February 1917

Three more local men called up

On the evening of the 13th there was a social gathering and whist drive at the Kildwick Conservative Club intended to say farewell to Charles Green, Charlie Fort and Samuel Dixon, members of the club who had been called up for service starting on the 19th.

The young men were presented with parcels of cigarettes provided by Mrs. James Woodrow.

Source: Keighley News, 17th February 1917

No additional allotments required in Farnhill

Much of this month's meeting of Farnhill Parish Council was taken up with a report by the Allotments Committee, set up in January to investigate the supposed need for more land for allotments. The committee had had only six applicants, who had requested 1000 square yards, and they decided that the amount applied for did not justify taking the matter any further.

The chairman of the committee had written to the War Agricultural Committee, in Wakefield, to let them know that, for a population of 850, Farnhill was better provided for with regard to allotments than most other places of the same size. This was acknowledged by Wakefield.

Also in this month, the Paxton Society reported that they had distributed three tons of seed potatoes to its members' gardens and allotments.

Sources: Keighley News, 3rd and 24th February 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 3rd March 1917

National and International news

1st - Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare - In March 1916 Germany had promised US president Woodrow Wilson that submarine activity in the Atlantic and English Channel would be restricted to military vessels only. This promise, known as the "Sussex pledge", was withdrawn in January 1917 and unrestricted attacks on all vessels resumed on February 1st.

3rd - Voluntary rationing - The government's food controller, Lord Devonport, asked people to restrict their weekly intake of bread, meat and sugar, and to avoid wastage of food.

3rd - US severs diplomatic relations with Germany - Following the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, the US broke off diplomatic relations.

13th - Mata Hari - Mata Hari, the most famous female spy of WW1, was arrested in her hotel room in Paris and chrged with spying for Germany.

13th - Zimmermann Telegram - The US ambassador to Britain is shown an intercepted telegram from Arthur Zimmermann, the German Foreign Secretary, to the Mexican government suggesting that they jointly declare war on the US; and that, in return for its support, Germany would help Mexico reconquer territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Sussex pledge"; "Food rationing"; "Mata Hari"; "Zimmermann Telegram"

January 1917

"A Trip to the Stars"

On January 4th Rev. A.C. Blunt, vicar of Gargrave, gave an illustrated lecture on the solar system entitled "A Trip to the Stars". The speaker described the sizes of each of the planets, their distance from Earth, and how long it would take to reach them in an aeroplane travelling at 186,000 miles per second. Reference was made to the possibility of human-like life on Mars, which he thought was unlikely. Lantern slides of shooting stars, solar and lunar eclipses were also shown.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 12th January 1917; Keighley News, 6th January 1917

Gifts from the Unionist Club

The ladies of Kildwick and Farnhill Conservative and Unionist Club announced that they had sent out 127 Xmas parcels to serving men. In addition 30 pairs of socks had been sent to Jack Petty, of the West Yorkshire Regiment and a member of the club, to be distributed amongst his men. Mr. James Woodrow, the club president, had sent 100 cigarettes to each member of the club serving with the forces.

The secretary had received letters of thanks from around the world, including: Egypt, Salonika, Italy, Malta, France, Ireland, and various camps in England and the Isle of Wight.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 12th January 1917; Keighley News, 13th January 1917

Military Medal for Ambrose Bower

Whilst home on leave, news reached Ambrose Bower, of Main Street Farnhill, that he had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the Somme offensive. He won the medal for going into the German trenches to steal grenades when his own men's supply ran out.

The news reports mention that Ambrose's brother, Albert Bower, was in hospital in Northampton, having been wounded in both legs on July 12th of the previous year during the Somme campaign; and that his brother-in-law, J.W. Archer of the Royal Field Artillery, had been out "somewhere in France" for over two years.

Sources: West Yorkshire Pioneer, 12th January 1917; Keighley News, 13th January 1917

Prize-giving at the Methodist Sunday school

The annual tea and prize-giving took place at Farnhill Methodist Sunday School on the 13th. A large number sat down to tea and entertainments, provided by members of the school and the congregation, were presided over by Rev. J.E. Woodfield.

The proceeds, which went to Sunday School funds came to £4-10s.

Source: Keighley News, 20th January 1917

The curate leaves St. Andrew's and the new vicar arrives

Rev. Gerald Richardson, who had been curate-in-charge at Kildwick since Rev. Rhodes left the parish in 1914, presided at his last Sunday services on the 14th. He was presented with a wallet containing £30 by members of the congregation.

The new vicar, Rev. Christopher Hodge, arrived in the UK from Canada on the 29th after a voyage of 14 days.

Sources: Keighley News, 20th January and 3rd February 1917; Craven Herald, 26th January 1917

Conservative Club Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting of the Kildwick Conservative Club it was reported that out of a membership of 78 men, 24 were serving with the forces. The ladies' working party had ensured that every man who joined the forces from Kildwick, Farnhill and Junction had received a pair of socks and other "useful articles" on joining up.

The president, Mr. James Woodrow, expressed sympathy to the relatives of Joseph Green and Harry Walmsley, two of the members who had been killed. He hoped that 1917 would be a year of victory and peace; and that by the time of the next annual meeting the ladies' working party would be out of employment, at least with regard to making things for soldiers and sailors.

Source: Keighley News, 20th January 1917

Farnhill Parish Council meeting

At the January 1917 meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, held on the 25th:

The question of who was to pay to light the culvert was finally settled when the clerk to Skipton Rural District Council gave the council his opinion that the Canal Company had no liability to ensure that the culvert was lit and that Farnhill Parish Council should take responsibility.

Following a poor wheat harvest and the failure of the potato crop in many parts of the country in 1916, the council considered a letter sent from the West Riding War Agricultural Committee asking them to consider making waste land available for cultivation as allotments. Mr. Hill and Mr. Ellis, representing the Paxton Society, said that they knew of 12 people who were keen to start allotments, each requiring between 6000 and 12000 square yards each; they had identified a suitable piece of land but they thought they would not be able to obtain it from the owner. After much discussion it was decided to create a joint Allotment Committee, including members of the council and the Paxton Society, to investigate the need for allotments in the village.

Source: Keighley News, 27th January 1917; West Yorkshire Pioneer, 2nd February 1917; "WWI Food Shortages and Rationing"

National and International news

19th - Silvertown explosion - An explosion at a munitions factory in Silvertown, East London, resulted in the death of 73 people with over 400 injured. The explosion occurred when a fire ignited 50 tons of TNT.

22nd - Woodrow Wilson's inauguration speech - Having been re-elected on the slogan, "He kept us out of war", US President Woodrow Wilson called for "peace without victory" in the inauguration speech at the start of his second term.

26th - Loss of Devon village - A combination of easterly gales and exceptionally high tides resulted in the sea defences of the village of Hallsands in Devon being breached. By the end of 1917 only one house was still habitable. The site of the village is now closed.

Sources: "1917"; "1917 in the United Kingdom"; "Silvertown explosion"; "Woodrow Wilson"; "Hallsands"