A film project featuring Yorkshire during the First World War has received a major funding boost.

The Yorkshire Film Archive has received £52,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an important new project called Filmed And Not Forgotten.

The money will be spent rooting out and then profiling Yorkshire First World War soldiers, friends and family captured on historical film.

It will get right down to the finer details such as who was that sergeant waving at the camera as he marched over Lendal Bridge in York and what happened at the sports day in Scarborough when the regiments stationed there came together with the community for a day of fun away from the frontline?

All of these films – and the stories of the people in the films – will be brought together in screenings and as an online exhibition so that everyone can see and learn about the impact of the First World War on communities across our region.

Yorkshire Film Archive director Sue Howard said: “This is a hugely important project for all of us. As we approach the centenary commemorations of the First World War our thoughts will turn to the soldiers, their families and the communities across our region and how they all experienced the impact of the war.

“Some of those very troops, families and communities were captured on film, so what better way to mark the centenary than by researching and telling their stories through our Filmed and Not Forgotten project.”

Off to war: scenes from a 1915 film called Fifth Battalion York and Lancaster AKA Barnsley Battalion
Off to war: scenes from a 1915 film called Fifth Battalion York and Lancaster AKA Barnsley Battalion

Fiona Spiers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in  Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “The First World War affected all corners of the UK and impacted different communities across Yorkshire.

“As the commemorations of this significant world event approach it is critical that we reflect on and open up our valuable archive resources allowing these important stories to be discovered and retold. Filmed and Not Forgotten will help investigate and bring to life the local stories from the First World War.”

Some films feature Elland. One was made exclusively for the Central Picture House in Elland and documents the first electric tram to arrive in Elland, part of the Huddersfield transport network which was extended from Birchencliffe to Elland in 1914.

It was called Opening of The Electric Tramway into Elland and starts on January 14, 1914, in the crowded streets of Elland town centre on a rainy day.

The double-decker tram, decorated with bunting for the special occasion, stops in the town centre and Clr Samuel Lumb, chairman of Elland Urban District Council, makes a speech from the driver’s platform, asking the crowd to give three cheers to the Mayor of Huddersfield. 

Another film called Young Elland shows the town’s children  gathered together in a group on the steps of the Central Picture House.

A third film features Elland’s peace celebrations July 1919.

Elland Town Hall at around the time of the First World War
Elland Town Hall at around the time of the First World War

Called In Town Hall Square, it shows a huge crowd in the town hall square singing along to a hymn.

A fourth is called The Procession which begins down a narrow street and is led by a group of children, some holding Union Jacks and many holding each other’s hands as they make their way down the road. 

A brass band follows, two horses and carts pass and walking behind them are a group of men, possibly veterans, then a group of nurses and a group of scouts.

The Yorkshire Film Archive is a registered charity that finds, preserves and shows the moving image heritage of both Yorkshire and the north east of England, and has collections of over 50,000 titles.

YFA is committed to providing access to its collections so that as many people as possible can see and enjoy them and it has an ongoing programme of regional screenings and exhibitions, as well as providing over 75 hours of moving image content free to view online.

Find out more by visiting their website at www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com