The events of May 1917
Once again the casualty rate from the front increased and the Shipley Times & Express covered the stories of the dead and wounded and again published the galleries of pictures of local men caught up in the war. There were also stories of prmotion, of medals - including the Croix de Guerre for one Shipley soldier - and of the excitement felt by some of the men who, despite the dangers of their everyday lives, were enjoying the chance to see new lands they could only have dreamt of seeing before the conflict. Another aspect of the war that was clear from the reports were the large number of men who had emigrated before 1914 for a new life abroad but who now returned to fight for the Motherland and in many cases gave up their lives. At home it was very much an age of austerity. Food shortages meant everyone was urged to grow more food and to cut back on eating to much and waste. Even the traditional Whitsun holiday celebrations were somewhat muted and children’s treats cut back because of the need to economise on food. The newspaper ‘did its bit’ by publishing regular columns of household tips and recipes for cheaper meals. And many of the ‘ordinary’ aspects of life continued including Shipley’s suspicion that Bradford was trying to gobble it up and do away with its independence. 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.
4 May 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line - Letters home from “Eccleshill Road” - Serving men condemn striking miners
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- Time to tighten the belts to win the war - Children steal coal to keep fire burning - High death toll from measles epidemic
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
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  - Vicar holds service for munition workers   - Round-up of latest war casualties   - Women survive being gassed
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
- Double tribute to true son of Empire - Buried alive while sheltering in a cellar - 19 year old dies of his many wounds
PAGE 1 PAGE 1 Shipley Times & Express base page Shipley Times & Express base page Shipley Times & Express base page Home Page Home Page Home Page
11 May 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line - Letters home from “Eccleshill Road” - Serving men condemn striking miners
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- Support for a ban on alcohol - Patriotism forces Whitsuntide limits -Tribunal strike ends in victory
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
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  - Time to face up to Volunteer duties   - Recruit comes to terms with army life   - Food shortages? Try cooking nettles.
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
- District suffers another high casualty rate - Brothers doing their bit - Ambulance man wounded
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18 May 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line - Letters home from “Eccleshill Road” - Serving men condemn striking miners
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- Restraint now better than starvation later - Bad lad Dicky quick with a quip - Important to give children a balanced diet
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
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  - A Baildon lad’s experiences in Africa   - Soldier mourns his lost pal   - Workmates’ presentation to wounded chum
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
- Shipley soldier awarded Croix de Guerre - Round-up of the latest local news from the Front line
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25 May 1917
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line - Letters home from “Eccleshill Road” - Serving men condemn striking miners
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- Women’s temperament and the vote - Soldiers shouldn’t fight for arrant skunks - Does Bradford have ulterior motives?
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
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  - Tommies praise Saltaire Hospital   - Tribute to unassuming benefactor   - Church mark 80th birthday with hymns
- Killed after just two days in the trenches - Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home - POWs give the view from the other side
- Smiles when I served up pancakes - Rejected flyer escapes sinking ship - Men missing after great battle of May 3
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  - Killed in action weeks after his wedding   - Missing soldier confirmed as killed   - Saturday post brings dreaded news