The events of August 1918
While there are signs that people were starting to believe the end of the war was in sight, any optimism on that score was balanced
by the shortages and privations at home. Food rationing was biting and there was real concern that even with strict rationing, some
staple goods would be hard to come by
This led to discussions about how farming in particular could be helped - women were urged to join the land army, some people
thought German prisoners of war should be used more, while others suggested that discharged soldiers could be trained for jobs in
agriculture. So much pressure was there for everyone to work hard, that some felt it necessary to protest that schoolboys should
not be expected to work both before and after school.
While party politics re-appeared with parties starting to choose candidates for elections whenever they might return, the
government was clearly concerned that people might start to think they could ease off on things like war savings schemes.They
published a series of weekly advertisements suggesting ways people could make savings on things like boots & shoes, gas and
laundry and to put the money saved into the war effort.
Politically the main discussion was between those in the minority who were urging the government to take up Germany’s offers of
negotiating a peace treaty and those who insisted that the only successful peace could come from the victorious allies imposing
terms on their foe.
Meanwhile, inevitably, despite paper shortages reducing the size of the newspaper to four pages, much of the space was taken up
with the toll of dead and wounded at the front.
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.
2 August 1918
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Shipley Feast draws the crowds
- Committee to help find work for ex soldiers
- Barnes closes on 100 wickets
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Tram conductor helps catch thief
- Local girls on fruit-picking ‘holiday’
- Pupils start pig keeping
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Death of three-times decorated hero
- Soldier poet, prahd to be a Yorkshireman
- Weekly toll of dead and wounded
9 August 1918
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Differing views on Remembrance Day
- Killed by a falling sign
- Woman’s suicide 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
- Relief and warning for PoW’s families
- We need a war on poverty
- War has altered the meat on our plates
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Weathering a storm on the front line
- He died facing the enemy
- Musical send off for a bandsman
16 August 1918
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Should boys work before and after school?
- Farming opportunities for disabled soldiers
- Compensation for loss of both arms
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Tragedy from falling bale of wool
- In defence of the Kaiser film
- Caught in a rabbit trap
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Discordant note behind calm at the front
- Rumour of my death is exaggerated
- Fitted in a cricket match on leave
23 August 1918
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Liberals pick their parliamentary candidate
- Fined for watering down milk
- Council concerned with vandalism
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Journalist enthralled by Salts Mill
- Hectic schedule to be part of cup triumph
- Slighted by having to share postmaster
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Pick of an exceptional bunch KIA
- Fever-hit soldier on benefits of pigeons
- Campaign of tips to boost saving
30 August 1918
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Fined for charging too much for toffee
- Times fixed for shopping at butcher’s
- Novice and amateur gardeners’ success
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Cracking down on towel thefts at baths
- Workers’ League to tackle pacifists
- Stingy council need to provide more seats
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Father of two killed by sniper
- Nurse recognised in despatches
- Local men taken prisoner