THIS year is the centenary of Keighley’s war memorial and Roll of Honour and 103 new names, researched by Men of Worth volunteers, have been added.

One of the names added to Book Two of the Borough of Keighley 1914-1918 Roll of Honour is Frances Hildred Mitchell - the only woman from Keighley known to have died in the First World War, and the first woman to be recognised along with the men.

Bradford cultural historian Irene Lofthouse, who is portraying Frances at the unveiling of Book Two on Saturday, November 9 at Keighley Local Studies Library, says: “Frances is buried in Utley cemetery and commemorated there with a Commonwealth War grave. It’s rare for women to be acknowledged on a Roll of Honour, and it’s thanks to the research undertaken by Andy Wade and the volunteer team at Men of Worth that Frances’ story has come to light.

“Very often, women’s contributions to war efforts are overlooked. Their stories disappear once war is over as they move back into traditional roles and jobs, and so many are unrecognised.”

Frances, a farmer’s daughter, was born in Keighley in 1895. She had been a spinner in a worsted mill and was working in munitions when she enlisted with the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. This was the first time women had served in the armed forces other than in nursing.

Frances was posted to Nottingham for duties with QMAAC. She died, aged 23, at a hospital in February 1919. Research by the Keighley Men of Worth group revealed that Frances had influenza and pneumonia during the Spanish flu epidemic.

Her funeral is thought to have taken place on February 26, 1919. Her family thanked her previous employers and colleagues at Isaac Ingham’s for contributions to a wreath. Frances was eventually given a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone at Utley Cemetery.

Frances Mitchell has finally been recognised for her war service Frances Mitchell has finally been recognised for her war service (Image: Keighley Men of Worth)

Irene, who will be ‘inhabiting’ Frances and portraying aspects of her life at Saturday’s event, adds: “She had what today we might call a ‘portfolio’ work life. From life on a farm to a mill to munitions to being a QMAAC worker, she experienced many changes and developments.

“She was clearly a lass unafraid of hard work and challenges, with many skills useful to the war effort. However, like many women’s lives of the era, there are gaps in specific details of her war work, but there is much that can be inferred from research. I’m honoured to be asked to present her life at this historic event.”

The event, presented by Men of Worth, will be attended by Deputy Keighley Town Mayor Chris Herd and relatives of some of those commemorated on the Rolls Of Honour. There will be two standards, a bugler and a minute’s silence, and Andy Wade will give a talk on Keighley’s war memorial and Rolls of Honour. An exhibition celebrates the lives of each person added to Book Two. Steven Foley, a calligrapher, has meticulously entered each of the 103 names into the book, which is on view.

Keighley Local Studies Library at Keighley library will be open on Remembrance Day from 10am to 12noon for anyone wishing to look at the exhibition and Roll of Honour.

Men of Worth have been supported by the National Heritage Lottery and Keighley Town Council to organise the memorial events, along with a book by Andy Wade, 2024 Centenary Names, containing details of all the men on the Roll of Honour, and Frances. The book will be distributed free to schools in Keighley.