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JUNE 1914 |
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15
- 26 June |
Great Storms in Bradford On the weekend of the 21 and 22 June there were violent thunderstorms
over Bradford. Thunder and lightning were followed by tropical rain and
hailstones poured down turning streets into rivers. Several homes were struck
by lightning. Bradford Fire Brigade – Fully Motorised Horses were no longer required to pull fire engines as the last of the
motor engines were christened the “John Arnold” “Hayhurst” and “Howarth.” Keighley Strike The ongoing engineers strike at Keighley continued. Several cases of
harassment and misdemeanours went before the court. |
Ireland and the Home Rule Bill Finance Bill |
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JULY 1914 |
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27
June – 3 July |
Heat wave and Floods [full page spread] The heat wave continued with 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade and 112
in the sun being recorded on Tuesday 30 June. The heat was broken the following day
by another great storm. It rained from 2.30 until 9pm and caused Bradford
Beck to burst its banks flooding many areas of the city with Leeds Road,
Mildred Court, Charles Street and Forster Square worst affected. Buildings
collapsed, roads upheaved, railway embankments broken, fires broke out and
many, many basements flooded the estimated cost of the damage was
£100,000. Military Sunday Bradford’s Military Sunday on 28 June was reported as an imposing
spectacle with nearly 900 men on parade. All units in the city were
represented – Army Service Corps, the Queen’s Own Yorkshire
Dragoons, 2nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 6th Battalion Prince of Wales
Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Bradford contingent
of the National Reserve, Legion of Frontiersmen, Imperial Yeomanry Cadets and
Postal Telegraph Messengers’ Cadet Corps. |
Ireland and the Home Rule Bill |
Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo |
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4
– 10 July |
Keighley Riots The scenes of the riots on Wednesday “were extraordinary and show
the ugly mood of the strikers... in the course of the day the younger section
of the strikers, no doubt reinforced by the hooligan element of the town, got
completely out of hand, and embarked on a campaign of wanton destruction,
which must meet with the disapproval of all law abiding members of the community.” |
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11
– 17 July |
Saltaire Rose Show Opened by the
Lady Mayoress of Bradford “one of the most
successful exhibits consisted mainly of very fine violas and carnations which
were shown by Messrs Sam Dean and Sons of the Victoria Nurseries, Great Horton.” School Sports The annual
Athletic sports for council schools took place at Park Avenue, thousands of
entries and hundreds of heats “this is a real joy day for the scholars
of Bradford”. In addition to the sports events there was national
dancing by the girls of five schools, a fancy dress costume display and the
Daisy Hill Brass Band played. |
Irish
peace talks to be held at Buckingham Palace |
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18
-24 July |
Yorkshire Show
22-24 August The show was held in Thornbury, Bradford and gained record attendances
on first and second days. The first ever scheduled flights, between Bradford
and Leeds, were hampered by the weather. Unemployed in
Bradford Bradford Distress Committee reported that there were 606 men on the
unemployed register Keighley Strike
Negotiations Fail |
Ireland and Home Rule |
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25
– 31 July |
Central Area
improvement Scheme Tall buildings that face onto Leeds Road and Hall Ings
were being demolished. Plans for the reconstruction were not yet chosen. Wibsey Carnival The main feature was the military tournament by the Army Service Corps
including tent pegging, bareback riding and vaulting, sword lance and
revolver exercises and wrestling on horseback. Bradford’s
Next Lord Mayor Alderman G H Robinson was selected |
“Dublin
Disturbances. Soldiers fire on mob. Four killed many injured” |
Austria Declares War Germany and Russia mobilising |
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August 1914 |
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1
– 7 August |
Bank Holiday Railway Bank Holiday excursions were cancelled. Many firms shut down or
went on short time due to uncertainties and difficulties obtaining supplies
and finances. High numbers of unemployed in Bradford. Garrison Town Bradford takes on the appearance of a Garrison Town. First the naval reservists depart on 3
August followed by French and German and other reservists and conscripts. The
2nd West Riding (Territorials) Royal Field Artillery were called
back from Camp at Marske. 6th West
Yorkshire (Territorials) never made it to their camp in Scarborough. Both
territorial Battalions prepared to mobilise and the Army Service Corps
equipped their reservists at Bradford Moor Barracks. Food Prices Rise The Lord Mayor calls for restraint as panic buying increases demand and
pushes prices up. Calls for Peace |
Britain
declares war with Germany Bank
Holiday extended by 3 days Lord
Kitchener appointed as Secretary of State for War |
Germany declares war on Russia and France and invades
neutral Belgium |
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8-14 |
Territorials
Depart 6th West Yorks
territorials left Bradford at 6am on Monday 10th August for Selby.
Due to lack of warning and the early hour their departure was quiet. The 2nd West Riding Royal Field Artillery Territorials
departed for Doncaster three days later on the 13th August. War Relief It was agreed that Bradford Corporation form a special committee to
deal with distress and all matters relating to unemployment. Germans German citizens arrested and taken to Bradford Moor Barracks which is
acting as a military prison. Mr A E Ingram, the Consul of the United States
of America in Bradford temporarily assumed protection and interests of German
subjects in the Bradford District. |
Maximum
Food Prices The Government steps in to control food prices establishing maximum retail prices including: Sugar 3¾d per lb Butter 1s 6d per lb Cheese 9½d per lb British bacon 1s 3d per lb British
Expeditionary Force land in France |
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15-21
August |
Mysterious
Airship seen over Bradford Four responsible citizens claim to have seen and airship at 9pm on Saturday
night all agreeing that it came from the direction of Bradford Moor
disappearing in direction of Bingley. Farm Waggoners’ Reserve In the early hours of Friday 400 men of the Farm Waggoners’
Reserve attached to the Army Service Corps left Bradford. War Relief The work of distributing relief began. Dependants of Soldiers and
Reservists in necessitous circumstances were allowed 5s each. Work was also
underway to find employment for those out of work. |
New
Army Lord Kitchener called for a New Army to be formed 100,000 recruits needed |
German Advance Belgians retire occupation of
Brussels imminent |
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22
- 28 |
Recruiting One of the busiest men in the city is Captain Burton, recruiting staff officer
for Bradford. He has been given the task of securing 1,000 men for
Kitchener’s New Army. Lady Mayoress’ War Guild Local organisations established in each ward and to date 791 completed
garments have been received. A Bandaging Centre, open 4 afternoons a week,
was established at 7 Belle Vue as they must only be
made under medical supervision. Special
Constables Work has started to form a Second Reserve of the police force by
recruiting Special Constables. |
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Eclipse of the sun Partial eclipse seen in Bradford Battle of Mons starts |
