The events of November 1916
The regular, now familiar reports from France of dead, missing and wounded that dominated the pages of the newspaper week after
week was bound to have an effect greater than at any other time of the war. In the Shipley area, one result was the holding of church
memorial services aimed at honouring all the men who had died since the conflict started.
Discussions also started about what kind of world there would be when the war was over; what would those men who survived the
conflict expect when they returned? How would the process of re-introducing them into society and work be handled?
And that included thoughts about how the role of women would have changed. Some campaigners saw this as a breakthrough in
women’s status, others were concerned that young girls were in danger of being led astray from their traditional roles.
There is no doubt people were conscious of their debt to soldiers - in Shipley they created a home from home where the men could
relax while off duty, and those who dared to suggest it was time to negotiate a peace treaty with Germany were overwhelmingly
condemned.
Life for people at home was more expensive and restrictive. A careless moment allowing a light in your house be seen from outside
could result in a policeman at your door and a fine. Among the topics being discussed were whether the County Council were right to
stop children under the age of 12 from working on farms, and whether the school leaving age should be raised to 16.
Despite the awareness that this was a society overshadowed by war, many of the stories were as commonplace then as they are today -
some people ending up in court, others celebrating births and anniversaries, often tragedy and comedy side by side on the page.
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.
3 November 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Disgraceful practice in Saltaire
- Tommy won’t settle for small share of pie
- Council to investigate wicked extravagance
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Opposition to raising school-leaving age
- Old Chapel should be protected
- In court for drinking and driving
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Officer describes going over the top
- News from home is always welcome
- More men added to dead & wounded toll
10 November 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Removing the stigma of illegitimacy
- Dog fancier seeks military exemption
- Ben claims swimming prize
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- More pubs but less drunkeness
- ‘Good lad’ fined for assault on girl
- Children’s death rate ‘only 16%’
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Workers must share war abundance
- New recreation centre for serving men
- Girls invited to support women workers
17 November 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Protest that children taken off farm work
- Trades Council backs votes for women
- Opposition to ‘peace cranks’
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Mission to rescue girlhood
- Call for complete overhaul of education
- Shelter coping with more abandoned cats
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Under fire on his way home to get married
- Chaplain’s vivid account of life on Somme
- Local soldiers’ courage recognised
24 November 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Shipley’s ‘home from home; for servicemen
- Service to honour men who have died
- Huntsman ‘owd’ John reaches 80
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Long working day for milk dealer
- Recruiting for post-war social reform
- John (3) scalded reaching for father’s knee
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Too late parcel shared with pals
- A surge in local casualties
- 18 year old Joseph killed in action
