The events of January 1917
The new year brought fewer reports of dead and wounded, though it was clear that the war was far from over and that the men were
facing another hazardous winter made tougher by the cold and mud. And there was a growing consciousness of the problems the
country was going to face if they were to solve the problems created by war such as the number of men who were coming home
blinded
One of the fascinations of following events week by week is to notice how different life was to that we now experience, although the
21st Century may not always have ‘improved’ things as shown by the announcement that while the 9.30 pm letter collection from
pillar boxes was stopping, it was still possible to post a letter up to 10.30 pm at the head post office.
Other stories seem very modern - a rural crisis caused by a shortage of suitable housing, opposition to immigrants being allowed to
come here and work. Others are very British - complaints about queue jumping.
The biggest problem being faced at home was created by rising prices and a shortage of food. It was clear that the country needed to
produce more of its food at home but that was difficult because of the shortage of men working on farms.
There was still little sympathy for conscientious objectors and those who advocated opening peace negotiations with Germany and
the public were under constant pressure to ‘do their bit’. The vicar of Shipley decided to set an example by taking on an unskilled job
from Monday to Saturday.
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.
5 January 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Soldier held on bigamy charge
- When Clippy stood out from the crowd
- Rum do rumbles on
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Man masquerading as woman in court
- Housing shortage causing rural crisis
- Schools close early for lack of coke
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Military Cross for local vicar
- Appeal to support work with blinded soldiers
- Stain on Shipley if refugees not helped
12 January 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Wide-ranging speech by Gilbert Murrat
- Fire at the Queen Hotel
- Peace leafleters are out of touch
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Boatman claims war made him insolvent
- Concerns over ploughing up meadows
- Holiday widow drowns in the canal
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Bandsman heading for fame
- Cheery letters from the front
- Vicar offers to help in industry
19 January 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Labour shortage worrying farmers
- Trades Council oppose coloured workers
- Innovative new manager at Shipley cinema
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Labourer dies after falling in sludge pit
- Girl burned when apron caught fire
- 12 year old boy’s leg crushed at work
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Volunteers called to guard planes
- We must stop people cashing in on the war
- 19 year old killed Somewhere in France
26 January 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Move to end half-time labour
- Shipley set £150,000 loan target
- Shortage of men and suspicion of Bradford
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Woman’s nasty fall looking for her son
- Baby’s death highlights need for cots
- Price rises cause hardship
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Service of a Windhill family
- Wounded soldier’s wedding
- Learning to drive in hazardous conditions