Huddersfield and WW1

[BeppoSapone]

Unfortunately I have not yet seen anything at all about the Willie Kippax mentioned above.

Tony.

Tony

Your best hope might be to find his sheet in the Quaker "Visitation of Prisoners Committee" archive in London's Euston Road.

This should tell you the date of his arrest, and his age and possibly his occupation. You then look in the local paper for that date and, in theory anyway, you will see his court appearance. Usual result "fined 40 shillings and handed over to the military authorities"

Once you have established his age and occupation you work back to find what he had to say at the earlier Tribunal.

[Guest mruk]

Hi Mick ,

I’ve managed to find a few items in the Liddle Collection that I hope will be of use in your planned talk, and I’ve tried to keep on something of a theme surrounding the N-CF and employment, both in terms of profession and occupation, and those involved in the movement, and the regulations that were also imposed on future employment. This ties-in, in many ways, with the disciplinary aspects associated with nonconformity and dissent, and it seems that restrictions were placed on many CO’s on when and where they could actually take up or search for work, with a twenty-five mile ban being enforced outside the London area, unless proven to be a professional, or a trade desperately needing work. This took the form of ‘Exceptional Employment [and] New Regulations’, and was introduced c. October, 1918. For those that did find work locally, there was also that of the question surrounding ‘What did you do during the war?’, which many also had to contend with. I’ll write it up as I go along, but I’ll also reference, and place these at the end.

I looked at two distinct files, and a number of documents which were placed in the archive by the family of both H.P. Bell [Ref: CO 006] who was an Absolutist during the First World War, and Mark Hayler [Ref: CO 044] ,who was a once serving soldier; court-martialled at Dover Castle; and served a lengthy prison sentence at Winchester and Dartmoor. There is also a typed transcript of an interview between Mark Hayler and Peter Liddle [ Tape 348], and, interestingly, I came across a journal of sorts belonging to Hayler, and on the inside and back covers were two photos of men in civilian dress, each with an army service number underneath. I think the first must belong to Hayler himself. Pte. 14290, 12th Res, Bn, The Queen’s Regt. [E. Coy. Royal West Surrey Regiment] AND No. R. 7547 9th Coy. 5th Bn Royal Fusiliers [No Name] Maybe someone can help with these numbers, assuming they are on the MIC and Medal Rolls, as I believe that those who were court-martialled also forfeited any right to medals. I’m not sure on that one though

I was hoping to get most of what I’d copied down this evening, including the ‘Manifesto Issued By The No-Conscription Fellowship’ [sept. 1915], but I’ve just had a call asking me if I want some work tonight at 10, so for the moment I’ll only include a letter from ‘Mrs. Bell’ regarding ‘employment after the war’, and her own dealings with the Home Secretary and the Government’s position at that time. The letter is dated 10th December 1918, and it also sounds like some self-help group or network amongst CO’s and their families was set up. I’m sure there would have been, but, again, I can’t be certain, and I think this will need checking.

92 Northgate, Darlington

Dear Madam,

I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 7th instant. Ihave been in communication with the Home Secretary, Viscount Cave, in regard to the question of Conscientious Objectors and he points out that it would not be fair to those who have defended the country if those who refused to defend it were allowed to obtain release at present and secure employment which the soldiers, in the ordinary course of affairs, would obtain for themselves.

Signed

Mrs. Bell [bell, H.P. CO 006, Liddle Collection, Brotherton Library, Leeds University]

I hope this helps, and I shall try to post something tomorrow.

Kind Regards,

Dave

PS: It's amazing how things have a habit of snowballing. My own particular interests lay in 19th C. Cemetery Research and Death Studies, and I only joined the forum with the idea of finding something about my Grandfather. I like the way things have taken a turn and developed. I'm also trying to hold an objective opinion about the N-CF and Conscientious Objectors, and I think many will understand why I'm finding this slighlty difficult when I post Mark Hayler's poem, ''A Tribute to the Late Comrade-H.W. Firth', written in Dartmoor, and outline the disciplinary regime of many of the prisons in which Hayler served . 'Cushy Number' springs to mind, but I shall try to remain impartial, and remember that some COs didn't have things so easy.

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks Tony. Many Thanks Beppo,

Your input is most welcome, and I must apologise for not offering a more appropriate response, but I've just been asked to go into work tonight at short notice. I'm very sorry, and I'll try to offer something in the way of a decent response tomorrow.

Best Wishes and Kind Regards,

Dave

[Guest mruk]

“The Absolutists’ Objection to Conscription: A Statement and an Appeal to the Conscience of the Nation” [issued by Direction of The Friends Service Committee, 18 Devonshire Street, Bishopgate, London, E.C. 2.--Pelican Press, c. 1917]

I have a selection of figures here concerning the number of CO’s. held in prison, the number and names of the prisons, along with occupation and professions, and political affiliation of the 872 convicted up until May 1917. It is not a complete list, that stretches to about four pages, but it does offer an indication of the social demographic and the differences between those involved in the Non-Conscription Fellowship.

OCCUPATIONS [577 Reported]

The Miscellaneous form by far the largest group in this bracket [84-113], followed by Schoolmasters and Lecturers [49], Cabinet Makers, Carpenters and Upholsterers [37], and 31 Shop Assistants and Warehousemen. At the lower end of the scale, and those not classified in the ’Professional Class’, are the two barbers and two policemen who were held, including a librarian; though ,interestingly , only four trade-union organisers [professional class] who had ‘either [when in prison] refused to appear before the Central Tribunal, or refused the Home Office Scheme.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION

Of the 329 reported, the largest number of COs belonged to the ILP [195], with another ten claiming to be Anarchists

PRISONS

38 prisons are mentioned in total, with 657 prisoners reported: Wandsworth [101]; Wormwood Scrubs [80]; Winchester [64]; Exeter [52]; Dorchester [46]; Dublin-Mount joy [26]; Liverpool-Walton [12]; Leeds [10]; Glasgow-Barlinnie [4]

HOMES

London [200]; Middlesex [40] Lancashire [111]; Warwickshire [59]; Yorkshire [50]

[sOURCE: ABOVE and H.P. Bell, CO 006, Liddle Collection, Brotherton Library, Leeds University]

There are a couple of things that I wouldn’t mind pursuing here. The first is the role which Mountjoy Prison in Dublin played, and, secondly, that of the part played by Pelican Books in the distribution of Pacifist Literature. I’m hoping that someone with a knowledge of the publishing side would be kind enough to help out on this one: possibly on the restrictions that were imposed under DORA , and the printing and distribution of ’subversive’ literature, and what the punishment would have been when caught--machine-wrecking, imprisonment, etc., undoubtedly among the penalties imposed.

Kind Regards,

Dave

[Tony Lund]

Huddersfield Weekly Examiner, August 5th 1916.

MOLDGREEN MAN KILLED

Private Norris Green, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action on July 1st. He was the son of Mr. H. H. Green, Church Street, Moldgreen, Huddersfield, and was single. Before the war he worked as a fireman for the London and North western Railway Company.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

A couple of bits and pieces that might be of interest:

In January 1916 - At Huddersfield Town Hall the Yorkshire Trades Council voted to demand that the government repeal the Munitions Act, introduce an eight hour working day and grant equal pay for women. In March the minimum wage for females over the age of eighteen years and employed on munitions work, was set at £1 per week.

May 1916 - After a number of speeches had been given during an anti-conscription mass meeting at Saint George’s Square in Huddersfield, some of the protesters publicly burnt their call-up papers.

October 4th 1916 - Conscientious Objectors Position.

The next case heard at the Holmfirth Military Tribunal was that of a conscientious objector, described as a labourer aged 34, who at a previous hearing had been given a month to find work of National importance.

The Chairman: (to the applicant) “Have you done that?”

Applicant: “No.”

He explained that he had a conscientious objection to military service, and as his vision became clearer, the more he felt he could not be identified with organised militarism. He read extracts from views held by public men on the question, and added that he had suffered for conscience sake previously, having had his goods sold under the Education Act, and he was still a passive resister. He read a letter from a local official, which stated that the writer was fully convinced that the applicant and his brother were of the truest type of passive resisters. He felt that he could not allow his birthright, his freedom of conscience, to be taken away. He frankly confessed that he could not thrust British militarism any more than he could trust German militarism. Owing to his conscientious objection to the Education Act, he had never been able to exercise the franchise. Applicant concluded a lengthy explanation of his reasons for objecting to military service by stating that it was his intention to fight conscription, which he considered to be an evil in any country, by moral weapons.

The Chairman: “I think you will give us the credit for having listened attentively?”

Applicant; “Yes.”

Absolute exemption was granted.

August 1917 - An open air meeting organised by the Huddersfield and District’s Workers Committee, was held at the Square, New Mill. Councillor Sam North of the Independent Labour Party presided over the crowded meeting where a resolution was passed congratulating the Russian people on their revolution.

Later in the year Mr. Lund, the proprietor of the Electric Picturedrome, Dunford Road, presented a film entitled, “The Russian Revolution.” The film was said to contain scenes that were actually filmed in Petrograd.

Unfortunately I have not yet seen anything at all about the Willie Kippax mentioned above.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Herbert Atkinson.

I will need three posts for this.

[Tony Lund]

Number 2

[Tony Lund]

And the photo:

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks Tony,

These accounts prove very revealing, and besides the personal information they contain, there is also that of the background that is given on the regiment itself. One of the problems I am having with the 10th West Yorks, is mapping the movements of their training. York is the obvious choice, and Wareham in Dorset, although Alnwick has also been suggested, and I'm inclined to believe that the 10th did have some connection, if not for training, then in terms of recovery and convalescence, and now Burton-on-Trent. The obituaries seem to say more than the official histories. I also like the effort that went in to the prose and style, and the personal details of Herbert Atkinson's short life. It seems he was one of the many replacements for the men who were killed at Fricourt. Tony, was the extract taken from the Holmfirth Express or the Huddersfield Weekly Examiner?

Kind Regards,

Dave

[Tony Lund]

I should have said; it was the Holmfirth Express November 11th 1916. There may well be another report in the Examiner. I plan to go though the Examiner after I have finished with the Holmfirth Express and the Official Histories. I have bought a laptop so I that can add any fresh information as I find it. It will be a few weeks yet before I start that though, but if I find any more I will pass it on.

Tony.

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks Tony,

It was only later that I thought the extract might have been taken from 'The Worker'. The tone and language is very anti-militarist. "[Pte. Atkinson] succumbed under the ruthless revolving wheels of war".

Kind Regards,

Dave

[Guest mruk]

I’d just like to continue with the stance which some took against the war by looking at some of the effects which Mark Hayler deposited with the Liddle Collection at Leeds University. Before moving on, though, and offering a brief overview of Hayler’s involvement with the N-CF, and his time in ‘clink’, I‘d just like to say that I felt quite frustrated and slightly annoyed reading through many of the documents in this file, including the typed transcript of Peter Liddle’s interview with Hayler in March 1976, when Hayler must have been well in to his late 80s. I can’t quite say what it was that was niggling me, but it may have had something to do with Hayler’s own sense of ‘moral superiority’, and the stance he took against the war. Not once, or so it seems, does he make any reference to the hardships that serving soldiers must have endured, despite the fact that he had once been in uniform himself, though never served abroad, and I’m really finding it difficult to muster any sympathy or empathise with the man--but here goes.

Mark Hayler was born in Hull in 1888, and at the time of his court-martial in 1916, he was serving with the Queens Regiment [Pte. 14290, 12th Res, Bttn.]. There is a notebook or journal amongst the files containing reports from the ‘Croyden Times’ which was following his trial at Dover Castle, and inside this notebook are two photographs and two inscriptions. The first reads, E. Coy. Royal West Surrey Regiment, and at the foot of the second, No. R. 7547, 9th Coy. 5th Bttn., Royal Fusiliers. Both photos are unnamed, though each man is in civilian dress, and I’m assuming the first is Hayler himself. Following his court-martial, Hayler was initially sent to Wandsworth Prison, London, which also held a military wing, and as Hayler was quick to point out to the Governor on arrival, since he was now a civilian, then he should not be bound by military rules. The Governor told him where to go in no uncertain terms, and shortly afterwards he was transferred to Dartmoor Prison, and this is the part I find most interesting. Rather than being escorted to Dartmoor, Hayler was released on his own cognizance, given a rail warrant, and told to make his own way to Plymouth where he would be met and taken on the final part of his journey. He was to spend just under two years in Dartmoor Prison, and when interviewed about his time, Hayler offers a fascinating insight into the prison regime. Not only did Dartmoor have its own orchestra, but societies were organized and political groups, as well as a number of other intellectual pursuits, and sporting activities, and although ‘banned from the democratic process and the right to vote’, it seems that Hayler had more freedom in ’nick’ than had he remained in the army, with regular trips into Dartmoor and Plymouth being no small occurrence. He was discharged from prison in 1919, and found it difficult securing employment for any period of time, until he joined ‘The Friends’ War Victims Relief Organization’ and went to France. This was the first time he had been abroad.

I’d like to finish with a poem that I found in his possessions. The title is, ‘A Tribute To The Late Comrade--H.W. Firth’, and was written by F.W. Pullinger [Dartmoor-Feb. 1918]

‘A Tribute To The Late Comrade--H.W. Firth’

[Prompted by the funeral procession of 900 CO’s following the coffin on its last journey to the Railway Station en route for Norwich]

Hark! What is this sound I hear?

Not the note of the drum,

Nor the trumpet of shame--

But the sound of funeral feet

As they tread the prison street

With their comrade dead--but dear.

For he fought in the fight for “Right”

Not with gun or sword,

Nor with lying and fraud--

But with a passionate Love, for all

Living lives at the beck and call

Of tyrants, who rule by might.

T’was a death for a world full of strife--

Not of selfishness cleansed

Nor of ignorance freed--

But his spirit lives on, and shall move

And awaken that world, and shall prove

That the “Cause” was for “Love” and for “Life”

I can understand the sentiments of the second verse, but what about all those lads who died just over a month later in the Spring Offensive? I think it’s hardly likely that ‘900 comrades’ would have been allowed to mourn their mate who had died for whatever “Cause”.

Kind Regards

Dave

[Guest mruk]

MANIFESTO ISSUED BY THE NO-CONSCRIPTION FELLOWSHIP

The case for and against compulsory military and munition service is being argued by many who, for reasons of age or sex, would not be subject to it. The signatories to this Manifesto think it imperative to voice a protest in the name of a large body of men in this country who, though able-bodied and of military age, will--in the event of coercive measures--be bound by deep conscientious conviction to decline these services, whatever the consequences of refusal.

We yield to no one in our admiration of the self-sacrifice, the courage and the unflagging devotion of those on our fellow-countrymen who have felt it their duty to take up arms. Nevertheless, we cannot undertake the same form of service; our conviction is solemn and unalterable.

Whatever the purpose to be achieved by war, however high the ideals for which belligerent nations may struggle, for us “Thou shalt not kill” means what it says. The destruction of our fellow-men--young men like ourselves--appals us; we cannot assist in the cutting off of one generation from life’s opportunities. Insistence upon individual obligations in the interests of national well-being has no terrors for us; we gladly admit--we would even extend--the right of the community to impose duties upon its members for the common good, but we deny the right of any Government to make the slaughter of our fellows a bounden duty.

We have been brought to this standpoint by many ways. Some of us have reached it through the Christian faith in which we have been reared, and to our interpretation of which we plead the right to stand loyal. Others have found it by association with international movements; we believe in the solidarity of the human race, and we cannot betray the ties of brotherhood which bind us to one another throughout the nations of the world.

All of us, however we may have come to this conviction, believe in the value and sacredness of human personality, and we are prepared to sacrifice as much in the cause of the world’s peace as our fellows are sacrificing in the cause of the nation’s war.

Believing it is the imperative duty of every citizen to serve his country, we are eager to render national service through such occupations as shall help to build up the life and strenght of our country without inflicting loss on that of other people.

We have not emphasised the objections to Conscription which are widely held by many who do not share our views on war. There are many who are now exposing the folly of forced service from the military standpoint; there is a vast body of Trade Unionists who view with suspicion the agitation of the National Service League and the Conscription Press, and see in it a menace to the working class; there are experts who demonstrate that the revolution entailed would undermine the financial and commercial stability which is not the least valuable asset this country offers to the Allied Powers; there are the advocates of national unity who for that reason alone deprecate the raising of so disruptive an issue; and finally there are those whose objections are held on the ground of the great traditions and liberties of our country.

We, too, recognise to the full the grave dangers to those liberties and those traditions in the present agitation for Conscription, and especially as it must affect the workers of the nation, but first and foremost our decision rests on the ground of the serious violation of moral and religious convictions which a system of compulsion must involve.

We believe the real inspiration that prompts all efforts towards progress is a desire that human life may become of more account. This ideal we cannot renounce; its claim is absolute.

[signed]

Clifford Allen, Chairman

Edward Grubb, Hon. Treasurer

A. Fenner Brockway, Hon. Secretary

Committee

A. Barratt Brown

A. Sutherland Campbell

W.J. Chamberlain

J.H. Hudson

Morgan Jones

C.H. Norman

Leyton Richards [Rev]

Merton House, Salisbury Square, London E.C.

September, 1915

[sOURCE: Bell, H.P. CO 006, Liddle Collection, Brotherton Library, Leeds University]

Regards,

Dave

[auchonvillerssomme]

I now have a nice signed copy of Comrades in Conscience, by Cyril Pearce.

I live just round the corner from the Quaker School in Ackworth, I will get in touch and see if they have any archives.

Mick

[Guest mruk]

Thanks Mick,

I've had my copy delivered to my mam and dad's address, and forgot they're on holiday till next week.

Regards,

Dave

[Guest TrevorM]

There is a collection of folders in the Local History Reference Library at Huddersfield which contains the War Memorial Survey taken several years ago. It lists the names given on most of the village and church memorials from around both towns. Who are you interested in and do you know which district of the town they are likely to be recorded in?

Tony.

Having recently discovered the name Albert Smith on the War Memorial at Almondbury, Nr Huddersfield, I have been trying to prove that this is my Great Uncle rather than another Albert Smith. I came across this post in searching for more information on the people behind the names on the memorial and visited Huddersfield Local Studies Library today in the hope of confirming his identity through the collection of folders. Unfortunately these only gave the same information as the memorial itself, i.e. just names. Could anyone advise me where I can find more details about those listed on this memorial, enabling me to confirm whether it is my Great Uncle named? (his details appear below)

Thanks

Trevor

[Tony Lund]

I have this bit of information on memorials on an old disk:

Albert Smith

Lowerhouses and Longley War Memorial, Longley Road, Lowerhouses. (Opposite S. Milnes the butchers.)

Almondbury Parish War Memorial in Almondbury village.

Memorial Plaque inside All Hallows Church in Almondbury. (Beside the altar, same names as the outside memorial.)

Now, I have always assumed him to be Albert Smith, Military Medal, Sergeant (242567), 1st 4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment who was killed in action on 11th of October 1918. My reason was mainly because he was listed (CWGC) as born in Almondbury, Huddersfield. Soldiers Died in the Great War says he enlisted at Huddersfield.

The man named on the Almondbury Memorial is obviously the same man who is named on the Lowerhouses Memorial which is within the Parish of Almondbury, all but one of the thirteen names at Lowerhouses appear on both memorials. Maybe there will be something more in the newspapers, unfortunately it is towards the end of the war and there are a lot of dead, the Huddersfield Examiner reports are not as good then as the earlier ones from the beginning of the war. But there should be something.

I have a very old note that says he was in B Company on the 10th of April 1918. That one really is many years old and I have no idea now where it came from.

Interestingly, when the territorial battalions were renumbered the 1st 4th (Halifax) was given 200001 to 240000 and the 1st 5th (Huddersfield) was given 240001 to 265000, and that places your Albert Smith in the 1st 5th before they were disbanded. When the army was reorganised in early 1918 the 1st 5th Battalion was disbanded, and although many of its men went to the 2nd 5th some of them went to the 1st 4th, just over a hundred if I remember correctly. There should be details of that in the History of the 1st 4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment 1914 - 1919.

The CWGC information is interesting, born at Almondbury can be taken to mean anywhere within the Parish of Almondbury. Most Lowerhouses men at the time gave their address as Almondbury, and the Lowerhouses and Longley War Memorial tends to cover the old electoral district of Lowerhouses which covers Lowerhouses and Longley, Somerset Road, Almondbury Bank, parts of Aspley, and even bits of Moldgreen.

The age is also useful because he is old enough to vote. I know the Absent Voters Register for this area is in the Local History Reference Library, and downstairs they have a copy of “The History of the 1st 4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment 1914 - 1919.” By P.Bales. It is a stack copy so you have to ask for it at the desk and they will go and dig it out for you.

If you can think of anything that points to another location let me know, but I think he was either born or brought up or resident in that part of the Parish of Almondbury which is covered by the Lowerhouses and Longley War Memorial. With a bit of luck the Absent Voters Register or the local newspaper might be able to prove it one way or the other. The parent’s address given by the CWGC may not be the same as their address was during the war.

Regarding the surname Smith, I agree it is necessary to be careful, but in researching the Holmfirth area I have found much more trouble from the Battye/Brooke/Kaye/Hirst and Hinchliffe surnames than I have ever had with Smith and Brown.

SMITH, ALBERT

Serjeant

Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

1st/4th Bn.

Age: 28

Date of Death: 11/10/1918

Service No: 242567

Awards: MM

Born at Almondbury. Son of William Arthur and Emma Smith, of 154 Alma Terrace, Lockwood, Huddersfield.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

1901 census:

This must be the same man in 1901, unfortunately I do not have any credit to get the home address and family details just now.

Albert Smith - Age 11 - Where born Yorkshire Huddersfield - Administrative county Huddersfield - Civil parish Almondbury.

The only other Albert Smith around this age (born 1885 - 1895) that comes up for Huddersfield or Almondbury was 16 in 1901.

Tony.

[Guest TrevorM]

I am very grateful to Tony Lund for the information he has given in the previous two posts about Albert Smith. Some of this was already known to me since my wife and I became the first family members to visit his grave in Wellington Cemetery, Nord in 2002 after obtaining the details from CWGC. On our return I resolved to find his name on a local memorial. A month ago, thanks to two lines in the Huddersfield Family History Society journal, I found the name panels behind the Almondbury memorial. Now Tony has pointed me towards two other places where my Great Uncle's name appears to be recorded.

The 1901 census shows Albert Smith (age 11) living with parents William A. and Emma and 4 siblings at 48 Hey Lane, Lowerhouses, a further pointer towards my Great Uncle being the Albert Smith named on the memorials.

I have a copy of the book "The History of the 1st/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Yorkshire Regiment" by P.G. Bales and so will be looking into Tony's point about the renumbering. I shall be revisiting the library in Huddersfield to check out the Huddersfield Examiner and Absent Voters Register.

Hopefully I shall soon be able to report that definite proof has been found and can then move on to finding out how Uncle Albert gained his Military Medal. I do have the Medal Index Card but the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Headquarters could not enlighten me has to the circumstances in which it was awarded.

Thanks again

Trevor

[Tony Lund]

Trevor -

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner November 3rd 1918. Page 4.

"Sgt. Albert Smith, D of W’s, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Smith, 154 Alma Terrace, Lockwood, has been killed in action. He had been twice wounded and had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field. Before enlisting in February, 1916, he was employed by W. S. Beaumont and Co., Market Street."

There is a terrible quality photo in the Weekly Examiner, Saturday November 16th. Page 6 number 2 in a block of 14. He is hatless and I can’t even tell if he is in uniform or not. The quality of some of this microfilm is a bit rough to put it mildly.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

In case you haven’t seen it yet, a side of the Lowerhouses Memorial. The skip in the background is next door to the butchers, and just around the corner at the end of the lane is a steep little hill called Hey Lane.

His name is not in alphabetical order, so maybe it was added at the last minute. Maybe he was living at Lockwood at the time he died.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

We might as well have a picture of Hey Lane as well. Unfortunately a lot of the houses in this area have been renumbered since the war.

Tony.

[MelPack]

Hello Dave

It may be worth your while checking out James Hinton The Firs Shop Stewards' Movement (1973) via inter library loan to see if it contains any material on industrial militancy in the munitions and engineering factories in the Huddersfiels area.

There was considerable labour unrest throughout the war over the issues of dilution, wage rates and military conscription.

The following link will provide you with a flavour of the issues confronting the rank and file and the attempts to create an alternative leadership to the bovine pro-establishment (and pro-war) trade union bureaucracy:

http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/sr194/sagall.htm

regards

Mel

[Guest TrevorM]

Trevor -

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner November 3rd 1918. Page 4.

"Sgt. Albert Smith, D of W’s, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Smith, 154 Alma Terrace, Lockwood, has been killed in action. He had been twice wounded and had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field. Before enlisting in February, 1916, he was employed by W. S. Beaumont and Co., Market Street."

There is a terrible quality photo in the Weekly Examiner, Saturday November 16th. Page 6 number 2 in a block of 14. He is hatless and I can’t even tell if he is in uniform or not. The quality of some of this microfilm is a bit rough to put it mildly.

Tony.

Once again I am indebted to Tony Lund for the time he has spent and new information he has given me about my Great Uncle, Sgt Albert Smith. My Wife and I have now visited the War Memorial at Lowerhouses and were surprised to find Albert's name at the end of the alphabetical list which forms 3 sides of the pillar. I think that Tony's suggestion about this may well be correct.

We have no photographs at all of him so the news that there is a picture in the Huddersfield Weekly Examiner is most welcome, whatever it's quality.

As for his employers before he enlisted we are wondering if this could be the company we knew as Beaumont's Warehouses. Before their demise they were located on the site now occupied by P C World but I am aware that at one time they had premises down an alley way on the main street in Huddersfield.

We have also now visited the interior of All Hallows Church, Almondbury where the War Memorial is located outside (see my avatar). There we found the Roll of Honour board in memory of those from the parish who lost their lives including my Great Uncle. Two photographs of this appear below and in the following post.