The Farnhill & Kildwick Local History Group maintains a month-by-month diary of events in the two villages.
The diary begins in May 1914 and provides information not just about the men that went off to fight in WW1, but also how the impact of the war affected the village.
You can view the diary at: http://www.farnhill.co.uk/History_Pages/100_years_ago.html
John Spencer Whitham, of Bucklar Hill, served as a stretcher-bearer in WW1 with the Duke of Welington’s (West Riding) Regiment. He survived the war and when he died, in 1950, this motto was found tucked away inside his bible. As we approach the start of 2018, with the centenary of the end of WW1 coming in November, it is a reminder of the state of mind of Farnhillers 100 years ago.
J.S. Whitham’s 1918 motto
Either side of WW1, George Holliday – one of the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers – was a milkman in Farnhill and regularly had to get milk up Starkey Lane, Mary Street, and the other steep, narrow streets of the village. He came up with an elegant solution to the problem – he employed an assistant to do the heavy hauling for him …
Article – George Holliday the Farnhill milkman, and his assistant
A few months ago, in a news report we looked at whereabouts in the village the Farnhill Volunteers lived at the time they signed-up to serve in WW1.
We’ve now expanded this piece of work to examine what happened to the men after the war. Did they leave the village and, if so, where did they go ? What was the trigger for them moving away ?
Article – Where they lived and where they went
Our project is researching the lives of all the 68 men from the village of Farnhill who volunteered to serve prior to the introduction of mandatory conscription early in 1916. Of these men, just seven died while on active service during the war.
In this article, published 99 years after the signing of the Armistice, we use Regimental war diaries and contemporary newspaper reports to examine these men’s military careers and look at how and when they died.
Article – Volunteers who died on active service
A little while ago the project started to research the post-war 1919/1920 season Kildwick Old Boys football team, which contained a number of men who had just returned from the war.
This research is now complete and an article on the team, and its progress to the top of the championship table, is available for you to read.
Article – The return of football – 1919-1920 season
The Farnhill WW1 Volunteers project has been very well served by the local press – particularly the Craven Herald and the Keighley News.
Here’s a link to the online report of our website launch event in the Craven Herald:
http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/15624400.Website_for_Farnhill_war_dead_goes_live/
The Farnhill WW1 Volunteers project website was launched at an event held in Kildwick & Farnhill Institute on Saturday 21st October.
In addition to the new website, visitors were also able to view slideshows of village scenes from the early 20th century, and information and personal items belonging to some of the 68 men who are the subject of the project.
Hope you can join us !
The photograph below has been in the Farnhill and Kildwick History Group archive for some time – indeed it first appeared on the History Group website in 2013, as a “Mystery”.
Kildwick Old Boys football team, 1919-20 season
Research carried out by this project has revealed that the photograph is of the 1919-1920 season Kilwick Old Boys football team, which included a number of the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers. The team ended the season, the first after football resumed following WW1, as champions of the Keighley District second division and are shown with the “Victory” shield.
Although the photograph doesn’t have a “cast list” we know from contemporary news reports that the playing members of the team were:
and others whose position on the photograph we don’t know:
The non-playing “officers” of the club included treasurer Eric Green, who appears on the photograph – far right, back row.
So, it’s no longer a total mystery – but if you can help us match more of the players’ names to the faces, please send an email to farnhillww1volunteers@gmail.com
