The events of December 1917
Although we now know that the battle of Passchendaele had reached its bloody and inconclusive end, the Shipley Times and
Express was still catching up with the stories of the men who had been killed, wounded or reported missing. Later in the month
there is news of medals awarded for heroism and a few fortunate men managed to get home for a short leave.
At home, food shortages were hitting people hard and the Food Control Committee struggled to ensure there were fair shares for
all. There was even talk of ploughing up parts of golf courses so more food could be grown.
Shortages were part of the reason some were calling for peace talks to begin. But the majority still felt there should be no talks until
the German military machine was crushed and this message was enthusiastically received at meetings of the War Aims movement.
Of course Christmas, although a little less lavish this year, was a time for celebration and exchanging gifts, although some of the
items advertised as suitable for presents - flags of the allies, hot water bottles and meat mincers - might strike us as odd.
While the war dominated the news, there was plenty of other reporting to interest local people. Discussions raged about a
proposed Education Bill that would end half-time working and have a major impact on Shipley and district; Shipley’s vicar
announced he was leaving to take a new post in Leeds. And while this is all 100-year-old history to us, we also get the chance to
look back even further with an article about Windhill in the 1840s.
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.
7 December 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Making the case for peace talks
- Unjust to deny COs the vote
- Shipley vicar leaving for Leeds
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Shopper and shopkeeper fall out
- 100gns for led astray young woman
- Looking back to Windhill in the 1840s
- 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 Xmas leave when killed
- Another agony for Baildon family
- Pals reunited on casualties’ ship
14 December 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Some folk can’t tighten their belts any more
- Famous cornetist’s kindly deed
- War is too serious for peace piffle
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- War profiteers are betraying fighting men
- Education battle must also be won
- Widow dies soon after son returns to Front
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- More men make the ultimate sacrifice
- One pastor returns from front, another goes
- Bridegroom quickly back to the front line
- Christmas advertising
21 December 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Appeal against 3d letter search fee
- We need optimism, despite the odds
- Council’s tribute to one of their own
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Golf courses give way to food production
- Will star cricketers stay after the war?
- Council stick to 44½ hour working week
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Filling the roles of the sterner sex
- Praise for courage of front-line chaplains
- Killed shortly after returning to the line
28 December 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Health needs no central authority
- Brass band signals it is Christmas
- Christmas treat for poor children
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Appeal for French Red Cross
- Jail for neglecting his family
- Airedale on a memorable Christmas Day
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Wrong people benefitting from the war
- Fund raiser for shell-shock handicrafts club
- Making Christmas in hospital memorable
