First World War - Wakefield Museums and Castles
Posed sepia photograph of uniformed First World War soldiers on training. The back row are standing and the front row are seated. Some are holding rifles.

First World War

The First World War (1914-1918) was a global conflict on a scale never seen before.

Over 65 million people from more than 30 countries fought in the war. The loss of life was devastating, with 16 million people killed.

The war had a huge impact on society and transformed everyday life around the world.

Wakefield was no exception. Across the district, local people made huge contributions to the war effort.

Men signed up to fight overseas, with many tragically never returning home.

On the home front, women trained as nurses to care for the injured servicemen. Workers helped to make munitions and equipment for use on the front line. Civilians welcomed European refugees displaced by the fighting.

Our museum collections give a remarkable insight into wartime life in Wakefield. The objects reveal many moving stories. They help us to remember the extraordinary sacrifices made by ordinary people.

Find out more

A4 poster, portrait orientation, red paper with black text in a variety of fonts, text is in capital letters and centre justified. The title reads, "Where duty and glory lead"

Recruitment poster, August 1914

Would this poster have encouraged you to join the army?
A wristwatch with a black leather strap and round face with Roman numerals in black and red. A luggage label is attached to the fastening. The label has typed text and is signed in blue ink.

Wristwatch, Captain R Ede England, 1916

Worn on the front line, this watch is one officer’s poignant tribute to the soldiers killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
A small diary with a worn burgundy cover. There is a gold emblem in the middle of the cover. The edges are worn with losses and there are creases across the cover.

Diary, George Kellett, 1918

Find out how an ordinary soldier from Sandal left a fascinating insight into the daily reality of life at war.
A square wooden cabinet with a large glazed panel showing a collection of military medals displayed against black material inside. 7 medals on ribbons are arranged around a circular bronze memorial plaque in the centre.

Medal cabinet, Sergeant Arthur Cox

Arthur Cox from Wakefield gave his life in the First World War. His family proudly kept his military medals.
Black and white photograph, landscape orientation of a woman in First World War military nursing uniform standing in a garden. The uniform includes a white pinafore and wimple.

Photograph, Gladys Cockroft, 1918

Gladys Cockroft joined the Military Nursing Service during the war. She became one of the first professional nurses.
Autograph book front cover, reddish brown leatherette cover with gold coloured embossed lettering in the centre reading, 'Autographs'

Autograph book, Marion Walker, 1918

Nurse Marion Walker collected signatures from her patients. The recuperating soldiers filled this book with their humour and hope.
Watercolour portrait of a man, his head and shoulders are painted in side profile, he has dark hair and eyebrows, is wearing a grey flat cap and grey coat with a large collar and is shown smoking a pipe.

Watercolour portrait, Lofthouse Park internee, 1917

This unknown sitter was one of 1500 civilians interned at Lofthouse Park during the First World War.
Circular mahogany table top engraved with carved lettering inscription

Table, Belgian refugees, Sandal

This table commemorates the arrival of Belgian refugees in Sandal early in the war.
Leather bandolier, brown leather belt with 5 leather pouches attached

Bandolier, William Sykes Ltd, Horbury, 1916

When war broke out, Horbury's world leading sports manufactory turned its expertise to supplying the military.

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