As many of you will know, the RL Heritage Project has published a book, “Huddersfield In WW1”.

There follows two extracts. The first talks about sport at the start of the war:

“Huddersfield Town FC and the Huddersfield Northern Union Rugby Club FC were understandably keen for the public to see them supporting the war effort, and their matches were frequently used to recruit volunteers.

“On November 14, before a Fartown crowd swollen by numerous wounded soldiers from the battles of Mons, the Marne, Aisne and Ypres, there were several recruitment speeches on behalf of the 232nd Company Royal Engineers at half-time, and a further meeting after the match, when GL Paton of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee commented: ‘The West Riding of Yorkshire stands at the bottom so far as numbers per head of population joining the ranks of recruits – that is a stain upon their patriotism – Those men with their wounds are far more eloquent than I am capable of. Huddersfield have won the game by a margin of 61 points, and I appeal for at least that number of recruits. We must score against the Huns as well as Huddersfield have scored against Hunslet.’

“For now, professional association and northern union rugby football continued at Leeds Road and Fartown, but the impact on local amateur sport was immediate. Most football clubs of both codes suspended operations. Northern Union clubs Almondbury and Marsden Villa had disbanded before the end of August.”

The second extract concerns daily life:

“As people braced themselves for Britain’s first European war for a century, ‘spy-mania’ swept the country. On August 14, the Examiner reported:

“There have been spies and rumours of spies these past few days sufficient to satisfy the most ardent lover of such excitement. But the prize for spy hunting must be given to Crosland Moor. The other day, great excitement was caused in the vicinity of the tram terminus in this lovely suburb of the borough. There dismounted from the car a party of foreign-looking individuals, the appearance of whom was not at all to the liking of the peaceable inhabitants of the district.

“Apprehension quickly grew into the most intense excitement and alarm when it was seen that members of the party began to chalk a curious message on the flags outside a local shop. They were Germans! What could they be seeking in this part of the world? They were up to no good, at all events! Immediately the answer was supplied. They were going to poison the water in the Blackmoorfoot reservoir, or else blow up the banks and create suffering and devastation in that way. People began to draw supplies of water before the evil work could be accomplished. The wildest rumours existed.

“The police were telephoned, and pending their appearance the mysterious message in chalk was jealously guarded.

“The writers were Dutch Esperantists on holiday, and the message was to the remainder of their party, who were arriving by a later tramcar!”

The book can be purchased at The Zone, online at www.HuddersfieldRLHeritage.co.uk , or via David Thorpe [01484 533378].

Everyone is welcome at all HGSA events. Full details can be found at www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk .