WAR memorials have always held a significant place in the history of Bradford, along with other cities, towns and villages across the country.
They serve as a focal point for individuals and communities to mourn, honour, reflect and remember those whose who served in the armed forces. In Bradford there are two main ceremonies held each year. One is to remember the huge loss of lives of a Bradford regiment on July 1, 1916 and the other is the annual Remembrance day, held on November 11.
Many local memorials were created and financed throughout Bradford and local townships by individuals, communities, various local organisations, employers, schools, churches and others. For years they were displayed with pride throughout the city, but in recent years many have been lost due to buildings being demolished or repurposed.
Over the past few years a list of local memorials and the names recorded on them have been put onto the Bradford WW1 Group’s website, free to access at ww1bradford.org
Annual commemorations on Remembrance day (November 11) see ceremonies held simultaneously across the nation. People gather together, as a nation, to lay wreaths, pay respects and observe a minute’s silence to reflect on the bravery and sacrifices made for all of us by the men and women of our armed forces. Such ceremonies also serve to provide education for future generations about the impact of war, the importance of peace and the human cost of conflict.
Bradford’s grief during the First World War was so profound, in every community, by the astronomical number of deaths of its men along with the equally significant number of life-changing injuries they received in the name of freedom.
A Memorial was created by the Bradford Council to honour all its citizens who served in the forces. This was the Bradford Roll of Honour 1914-1918.
It was principally inspired by the events of July 1, 1916, when men from a Bradford Regiment suffered huge losses in one day. This book has 510 gilt edged pages, is 5 ins thick, bound in Moroccan leather, and contains the names of nearly 37,000 names of Bradford citizens who served in the Forces. It is currently kept in City Hall.
This book can be viewed by appointment but its contents can also be found on the Bradford WW1 Group website.
The idea of creating this Roll of Honour was conceived shortly after news of the significant loss of life on July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The Lord Mayor proposed a resolution that “it be recommended the Town Clerk be instructed to compile for deposit as a permanent record in the Central Free Library a list of all Bradford men, who served with the Navy or the Army in the European War and also a Roll of Honour containing the names of Bradford men killed on active service in the War”.
This Roll of Honour could not be completed until hostilities had ended. On August 19, 1919 the Finance and General Purposes Committee Minutes started the first steps by agreeing a budget. An estimate of approximately £450 was approved and instruction was given to start the work. The value of this sum today would be £28,183.
The next step was to collect the required data. This was done by giving out pre-printed postcards to every household in Bradford’s Borough asking them to fill in details of men in the household who served in the forces during the war and return them to the Town Clerk. The distribution of these postcards was done by employing many people to distribute them throughout the district by knocking on doors and getting the details filled in. If no one was at home, the form was put through the letter box.
The Town Clerk was responsible for sourcing the Roll of Honour book and transcribing the replies into it.
In February 1921 adverts were placed in local newspapers asking for “eligible people who have not already filled a card and returned it do so if they wish to be included”. There were several hundred returned after this notice.
The Roll of Honour was finally completed on December 15, 1921 and collected by the Chief Librarian, who was told that the book was to be treated as a historic document and was not intended for casual reference. It was then put on display at the Central Library on Darley Street (now occupied by Eatons Solicitors and which has a blue plaque at its entrance).
In 1947 the Federation of Ex Service Associations wanted the Roll of Honour removing from the Library and placed in a “more suitable setting” of Cartwright Hall and said the City Council should appoint an official who would supervise inspection “for a small fee”. The City Council refused this request.
Sometime in the 21st century the Roll of Honour was moved from the Central Library (then off Jacobs Well roundabout) to City Hall for safe keeping.
* Several memorials, believed to be lost, did find their way into private hands. If anyone who has one could they please allow me to take a photograph so that I can add the memorial names to the WW1 Bradford Group database. Email me at r.greenhough@sky.com
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