Resource created by Kirklees Museums and Galleries

This resource explores how the First World War affected people in Kirklees at home and on the frontline. It highlights key local experiences, individuals and places, linking everyday life in towns like Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley to the wider national and global conflict. The resource shows how ordinary men and women faced extraordinary challenges, reshaped their communities, and helped drive lasting social change during and after the war.

Curriculum links

KS2 History: A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
KS3 History: Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world, 1901 to the present day

Context:

World War One had a huge impact on people’s lives across Britain, including in Kirklees. Nearly one million British soldiers died, and millions more were injured. From Huddersfield alone, around 3,500 men lost their lives.

At the start of the war, many people in Huddersfield were enthusiastic. Parades and recruiting trams encouraged men to join the army, and local Territorial units grew rapidly. Those unable to fight because of age or health formed Volunteer Corps to help with home defence.

However, not everyone supported the war. Some people, known as Conscientious Objectors, refused to fight and were sometimes imprisoned. Huddersfield became known for having a strong anti-war movement during this period.

The war affected almost every family. Entire streets sometimes lost most of their men. Life on the Home Front also changed. Food shortages led to rationing, and women took on new roles in factories, transport, and services. Huddersfield’s mills played an important role by producing cloth for uniforms and materials for explosives.

Hospitals were set up locally and near the front to care for wounded soldiers. When the war ended in 1918, Britain mourned its losses and began to remember those who had served, while society continued to change.

Learning objectives:

• Identify key facts about the impact of World War One on Kirklees
• Describe how life changed on the Home Front during World War One
• Explain how the war affected the lives of local people

Discussion and activity ideas:

• Literacy: Describe the experience of a local soldier during World War One using evidence from the resource.
• Reading: As a class, read Hardit Singh Malik: World War One Flying Ace by Bali Rai.
• Disciplinary skills: What can artefacts tell us about the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the war
• Art: Design a local war memorial to commemorate the experiences of people from Kirklees.

Heritage is…

• RE and Ethics Some people refused to fight in World War One because they believed it was morally wrong. Should people always follow their conscience, even when this goes against the law or public opinion? Why or why not?
• Fundamental British Values
  Soldiers from across the British Empire fought in the war, but their experiences were not always treated equally. What do mutual respect and tolerance mean when learning about the experiences of people from different backgrounds?
• Citizenship
  World War One led to large numbers of refugees and displaced people. Why might some communities feel sympathy for refugees, while others feel fear or suspicion? What responsibilities do communities have today?

Glossary:

Artillery – Large, powerful guns used in battle

Auxiliary hospital – A smaller hospital caring for recovering soldiers

Battalion – A large group of soldiers in the army

Civilian – A person not serving in the armed forces

Commemoration – An act of remembering and honouring people from the past

Conscientious objector – Someone who refused to fight in war because of their beliefs

Conscription – When the government makes military service compulsory

Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) – Laws giving the government special powers during the war

Home Front – Life in Britain during the war away from the fighting

Munitions – Weapons and ammunition used in war

Rationing – Limiting supplies so there is enough for everyone

Trench – A ditch used by soldiers for protection in battle