A LOCAL historian has unearthed some fascinating details about Holme Valley’s war heroes.

Tony Lund came up with the information on The Holme Valley Lads after an exhibition in the area.

And he has some great tales about the men who went away to fight in the First World War.

The memories followed a display at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth.

A series of pictures of Great War soldiers from Huddersfield and the Holme Valley were part of a complete “magic lantern” found in a box at the cinema, unearthed when rebuilding work took place.

The magic lantern – a series of slides that could be projected onto a screen – is believed to have been used for recruitment during the war.

The 32 glass slides were images of original First World War recruitment posters for Huddersfield and Holmfirth.

There was also a series of photographs of 23 young men from the Holme Valley, nicknamed the Holme Valley Lads, who had joined various regiments.

Mr Lund’s research centred on three of the men:

Littlewood Hoyle

He had been living in Massachusetts, United States, but decided to return to his native Holmfirth and enlist after the sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania by a U-boat shocked the world.

He joined the Holme Valley battery of the Huddersfield Artillery Brigade with three companions from the USA.

They sailed for France on December 27, 1915, on the SS Inventor.

In March 1916, while serving as a driver, he was wounded but survived.

In December, 1921, Mr Hoyle read out a list of war heroes when the Holmfirth Oddfellows’ Memorial Roll of Honour was unveiled.

Harry Beaumont

He lived at New Fold, Holmfirth, and was Private 3552 in C Company, 2nd/5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

He enlisted in Holmfirth in December, 1914, but died of pneumonia in May the following year during training.

He had been a plasterer’s labourer in peacetime and was buried in May 1915 with full military honours in St John’s Churchyard, Upperthong.

John William Chapman

Mr Chapman came from Lower Hagg, Thongsbridge, and worked as a teamer for Henry Mitchell & Sons. He enlisted into the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons in Halifax in November, 1915, and went out to France at Easter, 1918.

Sadly he was wounded very son afterwards and died on August 9 that year.

In a letter to his wife, who was living at Neiley, Honley, a lieutenant wrote: “He was hit by a piece of shell. When we got to him he was just conscious but did not speak. We lifted him to a shelter near at hand, but on reaching there he was unconscious and passed away a few minutes later.

“The doctor was with him and he told me he would have suffered no pain. Your husband had only just joined us and I cannot tell you how grieved we all are to lose such a cheery, fine comrade.”