The events of April 1916
Although the Shipley Times & Express continued to carry weekly stories from the trenches of heroism,
tragedy, deprivation and and old friends meeting up far from home, one is also struck by the many reports
from home of how ordinary life still could be.
While it was clearly a time of anxiety for many families as they waited for news of loved ones at the front,
their local paper entertained them with stories of April Fool tradition, fashion, caged birds competitions,
black-leading the range and, despite some protests, the start of the cricket season which would see even
more national stars appear in local teams because the county game had been cancelled.
Probably the hottest topic was that of the military tribunals where men could appeal against conscription.
And there were plenty of heated arguments on both sides, especially about those claiming exemption on
the grounds of conscience.
The links below 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.
7 April 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- April Fool tradition is dying out
- Cycling Club in breach of drink laws
- Self-made man who succeeded by ‘push’
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Harry’s prompt response to conscription
- Patriotic acts by insurance company
- Two sides of the conscience argument
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- DCM for Baildon hero
- Memorial service for 20-year-old ‘trier’
- Meeting old friends far from home
14 April 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Conservative calls for coalition government
- Hints on blackleading a range
- Trout ready for catching in R Aire
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Cricket season under way despite criticism
- Merchant wins appeal against conviction
- New taxes on entertainment
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Cinema packed for Baildon hero’s return
- Vicar on dogs, rats, churches & the French
- Moorland is fine but needs a pub!
21 April 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Tribunals are industries’ watch dog
- 20 “don’ts” to ensure economies
- Khaki orders keeps mills booming
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Profile of a Shipley pawnbroker
- Courting couples never had it so good!
- Wanderer reflects on women and work
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Veteran tells how he suffered shell shock
- Engineer killed after many narrow escapes
- More action in France than in Egypt
28 April 1916
- Windhill vicar writes from the Front Line
- Letters home from “Eccleshill Road”
- Serving men condemn striking miners
- Saltaire landmarks in need of repair
- Plenty to do at Easter
- Profile of St Peter’s first vicar
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Give up your eggs for the wounded
- Euclid among the gravestones
- Cricket stars can’t prevent defeats
- Killed after just two days in the trenches
- Civilian distress shames ‘shirkers’ at home
- POWs give the view from the other side
- Danger and heroics in the Dardanelles
- Trenches are fine, except for the rats
- Volunteer Force needs a cycle corps