Groups across Huddersfield and Kirklees are now gearing up to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War ... and the four terrible years that followed.
A preliminary meeting in Huddersfield in May was attended by more than 130 representatives from local history groups, the Royal British Legion, Huddersfield University, colleges, churches, community groups and faith groups – to name but a few.
This means everyone is starting to get a picture of what everyone else is doing to commemorate this world-changing event that claimed 16 million lives and it also means that different projects won’t be duplicated.
Kirklees Council has appointed Joanne Catlow as the First World War co-ordinator to compile everything in one place.
Two more meetings have been organised for later this month – one in Huddersfield and the other in Dewsbury.
The Huddersfield WWI Anniversary Network Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 14 at Huddersfield Town Hall’s reception room from 10am to 12noon and the Dewsbury one will be on Monday, November 18 in the main hall at Cleckheaton Town Hall between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
Anyone is welcome to attend and Joanne’s contact details are at the end of this piece.
Joanne said: “One hundred years on we are all connected to the First World War, either through our own family history, the heritage of our local communities or because of its long-term impact on society.
“In May we held our first network meetings to give details of activities already in the planning stages, information about funding opportunities and to explain how we propose to provide a co-ordinated platform to promote WWI anniversary activities taking place across Kirklees.
“A World War One Network has been formed which will meet every six months throughout the war anniversary years to provide information, support and encourage partnerships.
“The meetings were very well attended and organisations and individuals have since provided details of a wide range of projects being planned.”
Joanne added: “In order that we can accommodate everyone we are limiting attendance at November’s meetings to a maximum of two people from each organisation.”
Plans are already starting to take shape with books being written along with walks, talks, exhibitions, musical evenings, cleaning war memorials and developing school competitions and research projects.
The Friends of Tolson are planning a memorial garden which will also be used as an outdoor performance space in Ravensknowle Park. It is hoped to open the garden in May next year.
Caroline Knight from West Yorkshire Archive Service is based at Huddersfield Library and is happy to help people to locate archive records.
Caroline has a topic list which covers all the collections in all the different office bases and the website contains an online search facility where you can look through what information is included in the collections.
Visit http://www.archives.wyjs.org.uk/ for further information.
There is a document listing all WW1 related documents held by WYAS and is available to anyone wanting to conduct research.
Contact Joanne Catlow, Kirklees
Community Heritage and Education Manager by email at joanne.catlow@kirklees.gov.uk or phone 01484 234024.
