The events of September 1916
Two months after the launch of the ‘Big Push’ on the Somme, the news was still dominated by lists of men who were wounded, missing
or killed. And alongside the toll of grief came stories from men who had taken part and news of those who had been honoured for
outstanding bravery.
The large number of casualties needing care or whose dependants needed financial help now their breadwinner was dead, produced a
new crisis in fund-raising and created tensions between local and national funds.
Back at home the churches, which had such a big influence over so many people’s lives, were trying to make sense of it all, trying to
take lessons that would give their congregations hope but also improve the moral climate of the time.
The tug-of-war between companies wanting to hang on to as many of their now depleted staff as they could and the army that wanted
to enlist more and more recruits, continued to be played out in the Military Tribunals, which as we look back provide some fascinating
insights into the nature of work 100 years ago.
Equally interesting is the changing role of women, who were being urged to stand up for their rights and who were being given fresh
opportunities to do jobs previously denied to them and also to extend the scope of their education.
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 September 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Shipley suspicious of Bradford motives
- The scourge of T.B.
- Lower pulpit suits vicar
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Concerns national funds harm local
- Praise for tireless St John leader
- Welcome news for pensioners
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Howitzer gunner’s letter from the Somme
- D.C.M. hero killed
- Thank you letters reveal Tommies’ thoughts
8 September 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Praise for 11-year-old hero
- Moral courage is also needed
- School caretakers seek pay rise
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Boys fined for stealing apples
- Ace ‘stumper’ acclaimed by England star
- Handloom weaver dies
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Like nothing you will see at Baildon Green
- D.C.M. for two local soldiers
- Interned sailor craves some action
15 September 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Local funds must counter national failure
- Film of the Somme coming to Shipley
- Gold medal for long-distance cyclist
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Rebuke for warmongers from the Front
- Women urged to unite for their rights
- Traditional and new education for women
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Continuing toll from the Somme
- Double agony for Windhill family
- Row over who pays for army ‘lunatics’
22 September 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Fined for not reporting anthrax case
- Payment system punishes patriotism
- Better dead than a career on the stage
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Councillor accused of diphtheria cover up
- Community honours one of their own
- Temperance butcher back for a visit
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Yet another gallery of casualties
- Widow blames neglect for trainee’s death
- Chaplain carries on despite illness
29 September 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Hope that missing soldier is POW
- In praise of Royal Engineers
- Chatty soldier dies of wounds
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Set back for Hirst Wood housing scheme
- Place for lazy and drunk in the army
- Baildon man fined for foul language
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Hobbs & Hollings inspire Idle triumph
- Royal visit to Saltaire boosts funds
- Shipley drapers shop changes hands