According to the census return, in 1871 William Vickers (b.1825 in Brimington) was the Butler at Kildwick Hall, and his wife Sarah was the Housekeeper. Although the family had moved on by the time of the next census, perhaps to Eshton Hall (?), members of the Vickers family must have stayed in touch with the Brigg family at Kildwick Hall for several generations.

On 28th December 1914 John Jeremy Brigg, the son of Sir John Brigg, sent this message to Charles Vickers the grandson of William Vickers.

 

It reads:

Congratulations on your escape with thanks for the interesting card & good wishes
Yrs sincerely J.J.Brigg

The word “escape” was intriguing and an exchange of emails with Doug Aylward, the grandson of the recipient, revealed a connection with a Yorkshire WW1 tragedy.

In 1914 the Vickers family were living in Hartlepool when, on December 16th, the town – along with Scarborough and Whitby – was bombarded by a squadron of ships from the German Navy. The bombardment caused significant damage to the town and resulted in 130 civilian deaths with hundreds more injured. (See When Germany bombarded Hartlepool for more details.)

It seems that Charles Vickers did indeed have a lucky “escape”.

Posted 05/04/2020.
With thanks to Doug Aylward

Another of our short pieces, connecting the experiences of the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers with the iconic poetry of the war period, the work of the so-called War Poets.

Article – Commemorations

 

If you didn’t get a chance to see the WW1 “From Farnhill to the Front” exhibition last year (or if you’d like to have another look), a selection of the display boards and a slideshow will be on display, upstairs in the Institute, to commemorate 101 years since the end of WW1.  Saturday 9/11/2019, 10.00am – 12.00. Free admission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front shows a child receiving a gun from a kneeling soldier and presenting him with laurel leaves.  The child is watched over by an angel holding a dove of peace.

On the rear, the text reads:

Crosshills & Dist.
Peace Celebrations
To commemorate the victorious conclusion of the Great War
and the signing of the peace
June 28th 1919

 

In September 1919, the children of Kildwick school were each presented with a Peace Medallion, by W.A. Brigg.  The medallion commemorated the signing of the Versailles Agreement, and was one of a number of designs used in different areas of the country

Photographs of this medallion have recently been donated to the project:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front shows a child receiving a gun from a kneeling soldier and presenting him with laurel leaves.  The child is watched over by an angel holding a dove of peace.

On the rear, the text reads:

Crosshills & Dist.
Peace Celebrations
To commemorate the victorious conclusion of the Great War
and the signing of the peace
June 28th 1919

 

Another of our short pieces, connecting the experiences of the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers with the iconic poetry of the war period, the work of the so-called War Poets.

Article – Thoughts of home