Category: History

WWII – Home Guard

During the 2nd World War Methley was the Headquarters of a heavy artillery and searchlight regiment for the protection of Leeds and the Lower Calder Vale who were billeted and … Continue Reading →

WWII – VE Day

VE Day – Norman Green on the drum outside of the Royal Oak  after the announcement by Alvara Dell of the BBC of cessation of hostilities. I can’t remember a … Continue Reading →

Prisoner of War – Artist

Year 1947. Acceleration of the demobilisation of British troops throughout 1946 and re-employment into their former occupations brought about the need to complete the repatriation of Axis troops held in … Continue Reading →

Roll of Honour

Pontefract & Castleford Express 19th December, 1947 Village Memorial WWII To raise £500 to complete the memorial in St Oswald’s Church to the villagers who gave their lives to the … Continue Reading →

War Memorial WW1

Unveiling of the War Memorial– Sunday April 10th, 1921 at 3.00pm A simple but very impressive ceremony was witnessed in St Oswald’s churchyard on Sunday afternoon, when the memorial which … Continue Reading →

Bell Pit

It was 1950, midwinter and freezing.  We’d just come across ice covered water in a steep hollow between some trees.  The ice was thick and in the middle was a … Continue Reading →