The events of December 1916
The Battle of the Somme was over but there were still several vivid accounts of what life had been like for those who lived through it
and a number of additions to the long list of local men who had died or been wounded.
There can be little doubt that the events on the Somme had had a profound effect on people back home and it is noticeable that the
newspaper contained a number of items in which the matter of how the war would have changed society. Public opinion seems to
have been growing stronger that there had to be changes in society and that the sacrifices made by men in the war had to be reflected
in the way society treated those who came back and the families of those who didn’t.
Just how big a shift that would mean was glimpsed in a brief ‘scandal’ at Titus Salt Hospital when some of the Board who ran the
hospital and others outside objected that the matron had allowed the ‘boys’ a teaspoonful of rum on their plum pudding, ignoring
the fact that those same boys had been wounded fighting in hellish conditions for their country.
Then, as now, Christmas dominated much of the publication in December with many adverts tempting people with the latest gift
ideas. There were collections for parcels to be sent to the troops and collections to pay for treats for poor children. And after
Christmas the cautiously hopeful wishes for 1917 to be less harrowing than the year just passed.
Among the key stories was the resignation of Prime Minister Asquith; the Rev Bowker, the popular curate at St Paul’s leaving to take
over as vicar of St Luke’s in Bradford; and the tragedy when four members of a family were killed in their home.
The links here will take you to pages containing stories published exactly 100 years before. The headlines shown are only a taste of
the stories that appear on that page.
1 December 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Sacrifice in vain if society doesn’t change
- Church collection dishonours war heroes
- Still can thread a needle at 90
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Shipley leads in tackling food shortages
- Labourer sued for quitting without notice
- Much-loved curate leaves St Paul’s
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Dramatic account of Somme battle
- School honours war hero
- Military medal for digging out pals
8 December 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Shipley’s role in early cinema
- Novel fund-raising method
- What chance of life on other planets?
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Review is no picnic for Volunteers
- PM’s resignation ends suspense
- Appeal for Children’s Christmas dinner fund
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Mud is a greater enemy than Germans
- Victim of destroyed house
- Brothers invalided home
15 December 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Residents clean up the Glen
- Verse to a cow on the war economy
- Driver not to blame for pedestrian’s death
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Council accounts are ‘very satisfactory’
- We must help ‘boys’ rebuild their lives
- Soldier’s mother loses house case
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Shipley man witnesses steamer sinking
- Idle gunner wounded mending a puncture
- More cash needed for troops’ parcels
- Christmas shopping in Shipley 1916
22 December 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Four members of a family found dead
- Whisky lands spinner in cold water
- Health visitor’s report on sick children
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Soldier who stirred pudding the wrong way
- Salvaging Christmas in terrible times
- Late trains, station angels & munition girls
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Overheard conversation convicts four men
- Neglected girl who turned to theft
- Bob Stubbs Christmas message
29 December 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Christmas treat for poor childern
- Owd Abe on war, ageing and women’s work
- Ladder causes death of a labourer
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- inquest verdict on the Idle family tragedy
- Hospital Board fall out over Christmas rum
- Woman’s narrow escape in gas explosion
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Looking forward to 1917
- Time for those at home to step up
- Airman off to France