The events of July 1917
As ever the newspaper carried stories of casualties, local men killed, wounded, gassed and shell shocked, as well as stories of
heroism. Occasionally we get a glimpse of the other side of war, the opportunity it gave some local lads to see places like South
Africa, places they could never have dreamed of visiting in other circumstances.
The death toll meant a need for more conscripts and the Military Tribunals were busy trying to find more men to sign up, which
now involved them in finding substitutes to fill the vacant jobs among the men who were not eligible to join up.
While the war dominated, somehow normal life continued in some respects. The WEA organised educational rambles, there were
some harsh words spoken as politicians tried to sort out the new parliamentary boundaries and Salt Schools were delighted to
announce that Winston Churchill had agreed to become their president.
Sport, especially cricket, was flourishing. More than 8,500 attended a Priestly Cup tie at Saltaire between Tong Park and Idle and
women even got in on the act as players and spectators.
Some women were less welcome at Salts Hospital where Sister Mitchell felt they were preying on the wounded soldiers and she
described them as more dangerous than bullets.
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.
6 July 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Finding substitute workers for enlisted men
- Weighing needs of army v needs at home
- Girl Guides have green fingers
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Ramble reveals local history
- Cricket must attract more women
- Fire damages Airedale Mills
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Family ready to keep up the fight
- Tributes to a local hero
- Praise heaped on teenage bugler
13 July 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Controversy at Priestley Cup tie
- Russian Revolution film set for Shipley
- Ambulance men praised
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Shipley happy with Parliamentary Divisions
- Young Quakers hold first annual meeting
- Gout sufferers, beware tomatoes
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Idle pastor’s son killed in air crash
- Military Medal for Shipley tradesman
- Some women more dangerous than guns
- Soldier’s view of South Africa
- Brother’s anguish at being too late
- Baildon casualty lists grow
20 July 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Shipley accuses Bradford of bad faith
- The mystery of Baildon stocks
- But I was only drinking soda water!
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- The first example of Four Candles?
- Disagreement over appeal by boatman
- Choir goes on strike
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Gallery of men who answered the call
- Local men who paid the ultimate price
- Military wedding
27 July 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Churchill accepts school presidency
- Boy’s prank causes dangerous car fire
- Instructive ramble around Baildon
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- ‘Outcast’ off to entertain the troops
- Jutland hero discharged
- Women’s generosity moves soldier to tears
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Three pals who have stayed together
- Ill omen of returned letters
- Youngest soldier discharged
- Father reflects on son’s death and YMCA
- PoW thinks of home cooking and parcels
- Gas victim is regaining his sight