THE quarter of a million refugees who fled Belgium for Britain in the First World War was the largest refugee movement in our history.

Huddersfield played unexpected host to hundreds of Belgians fleeing the German invasion of their homeland.

Local historian Dr Rebecca Gill is now tracing their arrival and stay in the region, and asks readers with knowledge or family recollections of the Belgians' time in Huddersfield to get in touch.

Dr Gill's research has so far drawn on local newspapers of the time as well as records housed in the library and university - including letters sent by Belgians on return to their devastated homes after the war.

Following the German occupation of Belgian cities in the opening months of the war, and tales of bloodcurdling atrocities against civilians, many Belgians were forced to seek refuge in Britain.

Out of approximately 250,000 to arrive in Britain over the course of the war, 5,000 settled in the West Riding, many finding employment making khaki in the booming textile mills.

Graphic coverage of German violence in Belgium had created a thrill of horror in Britain, and those fleeing German violence were met with sympathy and generous offers of assistance.

Huddersfield was no exception and the arrival of the first Belgian families to the region on October 7, 1914 was enthusiastically welcomed at the station by a crowd of well-wishers reported to have reached 30, 000 - with many waving Belgian flags.

More refugees continued to arrive throughout the autumn, with over 300 living in the district by the end of November.

After tea with local dignitaries at the Town Hall, new arrivals were driven to Royds Hall in Paddock (now Royds Hall High School) where they were given lodgings and provided with donated clothes and furniture.

Many of the Belgians were then taken in by Huddersfield families, while others were housed in cottages given by local benefactors and provided with free lighting, water and gas by the council.

Refugee families were lodged across the town, with communities of Belgians settling in Slaithwaite, Marsden, Linthwaite, Netherton, Holme, Holmfirth and Deighton.

The majority of Belgians to arrive in the region were from the Flemish-speaking areas around Antwerp - in particular Ostend, Malines and Aerschot - and were of the artisan class, skilled in such trades as cabinet making, weaving and lace production.

Many arrived with only few possessions, and lacked winter clothes and other necessities. These and other needs were met by the town's Distress Committee and by the generous donations made to the local relief fund, with collections on behalf of the Belgians taking place in local mills and through the columns of the Examiner.

However, as the war continued and heavy fighting ravaged Belgium, the prospect of the Belgians returning home after a few months gradually receded.

Many sought work in local mills and factories, which was welcomed by employers at a time of labour shortage - but generated controversy among local trade unionists who were wary of wages being undercut.

The majority of Belgians returned to their homes at the end of the war, though Huddersfield's textile industry forged links with Belgium in the following decades through mills such as the Anglo-Belgian Mill in Lindley and Bailly-Ancien in Marsden, which was also the home of the region's Belgian Consulate.

LOCAL historian Dr Rebecca Gill would like to hear from readers with family recollections or mementoes of Huddersfield's wartime refugees, or knowledge of the local textile industry's links with Belgium.

Dr Gill is giving a talk When Brave Little Belgium Arrived in Huddersfield, at the West Yorkshire Historical Association meeting on November 9, 5.15pm, Huddersfield University, Room WG/01, West Building.

Contact Dr Gill at: History Department, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH. Email: R.Gill@hud.ac.uk