Mic, WW1 Bradford Group Chairman, opens the new commemorative display that is now situated in the Town Hall, 2nd floor, just outside of the Debating Chamber. The opening was attended by a large number of guests who afterwards were provided with a buffet and refreshments in the Banqueting Hall
The ‘Names recorded on Bradford Memorials’ database have been updated with 80 records from Salem Church Roll of Honour and 52 records from St Johns Church (Little Horton) Roll of Honour. Both these church’s have been demolished.
Many thanks to reader contributions who loaned and/or donated these Rolls of Honour. Without the names being available for transcription they would have been lost to their descendants.
The transcription of the National Roll of Honour complements the Bradford Roll of Honour in that it provides addition data to that of the Bradford Roll of Honour.
Some names are included on both the Rolls of Honour and there are also addition names included on the National Roll of Honour that do not appear in the Bradford Roll of Honour.
The National Roll of Honour includes a short biography of the persons service. This biography has not been fully transcribed due to space constrictions but has been summarised.
One of our members Ray Greenhough transcribed over 36,500 names from the Bradford Roll of Honour. He was invited to meet the Lord Mayor (Clr Love) who thanked him for his work. The full transcribed list has been uploaded to the WW1 Groups web site and his work was recognised in a two page spread in the Telegraph and Argus. His work will aid all researchers looking for ancesters who served in WW1 from Bradford and surrounding townships.
The full transcription of the Bradford Roll of Honour, that contains over 36,500 names of those who served in WW1, is now available for viewing on the Bradford WW1 web site
Many thanks for a grant from the Heritage Fund, administered by the Bradford Metropolitan Council, without whom this project would not be available for viewing
Coronavirus restrictions reduced the annual Pals’ commemoration to very small impromptu gatherings, including a handful of WW1 Group members who met at the Pals’ memorial on 1 July. The Chairman gave a brief, impromptu appreciation of the immense cost of the losses sustained on that day in 1916 and placed a wreath on behalf of the group. Another member then read a short poem by Somme survivor Walter Hare.
In France, Jean-Luc Tabary, the Mayor of Hébuterne, placed the wreath at the Pals’ memorial on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Bradford and the WW1 Group. The position of this memorial on the Front line of 1 July 1916 could not be more appropriate. It’s difficult to fully express our gratitude to Mayor Jean-Luc for offering this site, his organising of the installation by local builders and for his ongoing care in maintaining the area.
Riff and James from Bradford Council’s Communities Team take delivery of 8 displays devised by the Bradford WW1 Group telling the story of the Commonwealth Contribution.
Sharing Remembrance displays.
The WW1 Group supported Elizabeth Smith, Public Engagement Officer CWGC, in staging this event at City Hall. Visitors came from far and wide. An old boy of St Bede’s, now a Liverpool resident, commented on the resounding success of an impressive day. A WW1Group member from Barnard Castle brought photographs and documents relating to her father who served with the Ilkley Artillery Battery. She was delighted that treasured family memories were received with such enthusiasm and empathy. An officer’s compass, and miniature versions of his medals including the Military Cross, were also among the dozens of family objects.
The pictures show:
Lord Mayor Cllr Zafar Ali and WW1 expert examining the Bradford Roll of Honour, a mask worn by tank personnel and various documents plus an officers compass.
The WW1 Group display banners were on show at the community centre for a week and were followed by a presentation to regular users of the centre.
