HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR SOME OF THE DESIGNS that is not necessarily depicted in the exhibits. This Flower Festival marks the centenary of the ending of World War 1. We hope you enjoy looking at the displays. In planning this exhibition we have learned so much - we hope you too will discover things you didn’t know before, and come to understand a little more about this very significant part of our recent history. 1b War Horse – our own Joey requisitioned from the farm As you arrive at the church you will see the magnificent horse inspired by Michael Morpurgo’s powerful novel about a farm horse named Joey that was bought by the Army for service in the Great War. Mechanised transport was cumbersome so horses were needed for moving supplies, armaments and casualties to and from the front line, and for the cavalry. Most supplies, i.e. ammunition, food, fuel, and munitions (weapons) were carried to the front on General Service wagons pulled by 4 or 6 horses. Sometimes, they pulled 2-wheeled limbered carts that held huge guns. Ambulances and other service vehicles were horse-drawn, too. Many requisitioned horses were much loved animals. Millions were needed, many shipped over from America, most of whom were killed or died of starvation. Few returned to East Yorkshire. 2 Yorkshire pole wagon and The Wolds Wagoners The unusual design of the East Yorkshire pole wagons required special expertise to drive them. The Wagoner’s Special Reserve, was formed by Sir Mark Sykes of Sledmere, who believed their unique talents were perfect for overcoming the front-line logistical problems he encountered in the Boer War. Regular competitions were staged between the Wolds villages. When war started 1247 of these skilled East Yorkshire wagon drivers joined up and were sent to France. The Wagoners, part of the Army Service Corps, did a superb job of passing on their skills, working with horses unused to battlefield conditions. Not many wagoners returned. A memorial dedicated to their skill, unique to the Yorkshire Wolds, is at Sledmere village. The stories of the Wolds Wagoners, ‘Yorkshire Billy’ and Seth Gilbank are fascinating. 7, 8. The Social Divide – Working Man’s Poverty and Pre-War Opulence during La Belle Époque In rural areas poverty was very real with mechanisation reducing the workforce, the workhouse was the only refuge of those without a job. There was one on Burnby Lane, Pocklington. The search for work took many to the cities looking for opportunities in industries such as textiles, coal and steel. Others joined the Forces or emigrated in the hope of a better life. Medical treatment had to be paid for, and there was no Social Security to fall back on, only the charity of the local benefactors. For the rich 1900-1914 (during La Belle Époque) was a period characterized by optimism, economic prosperity, an apex of colonial empire and technological, scientific, and cultural innovations. Many masterpieces of literature, music, theatre, and visual arts gained recognition. For those who could afford it labour was cheap and life could be enjoyed to the full – until war came, and then things started to change. Wealthy families saw their fortunes dwindle due to increased taxation and the economic decline after the war. 9. South aisle Votes for Women These days it is almost unthinkable that women were not allowed to vote in elections or own property. At that time many men still considered that women were incapable of making rational decisions! The struggle had begun in the 19th century when members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) along with the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) campaigned to gain women the right to vote. Activists, ‘Suffragettes’, led by Emmeline Pankhurst and others made their case heard in a more militant way than previously by smashing windows, tying themselves to railings and going on hunger strike in gaol where many were force-fed. Many protesters were lampooned in the press. Campaigning was suspended during of the war. In 1918 women over 30 with certain qualifications were eventually given the vote, but it wasn’t until 1928 that the Equal Franchise Act granted equal voting rights to men and women over 21 years of age. 11. South aisle, west wall Communications Keeping lines of communications open between the troops at the Front Line and those in command, plus the politicians at home was very difficult. There were no mobile phones, though the telephone had been invented, but there were few and very cumbersome, and wires trailed cross-country easily damaged. Radio was primitive, so Morse code and semaphore were used initially. Dogs carried messages and First Aid equipment, even fitted with gas masks. Britain set up the War Dog School of Instruction in 1917 to recruit and train animals. Run by Lt Col Edwin Richardson, it trained many of the 7,000 pets given by owners to fight – and in many cases to die – for their country. Carrier pigeons were useful for greater distances, travelling over 100 miles at 50 miles an hour, they were 95% successful in taking messages back to their home roost. Over 100,000 were used to deliver messages in World War I. One pigeon, called Cher Ami, (pictured) flew 25 miles in 25 minutes in France delivering vital information that saved the lives of nearly 200 American soldiers. It had been shot at by the enemy and injured in the chest and leg and blinded in one eye, but it still managed to get home with its message. It was awarded several medals. 12. South Transept, S. wall The first air services used in war Just 8 years after the first powered flight in 1903 by the Wright Brothers the Royal Flying Corps came into being, and then Royal Naval Air Service formed at the start of World War 1. Planes were constructed with a wooden frame covered with canvas, leaving pilots very vulnerable. Photographic reconnaissance was their mission, but on coming under attack, guns and bombs were added to their remit. Initially the pilot’s average lifespan was 11 days. With so many pilots lost, parachutes were eventually allowed. The first Chief of Air Staff, Major General Hugh Trenchard’s apprenticeship scheme ensured a force of well-trained men from across society. By the end of the war there were 27,000 officers, 260,000 other personnel and 22,000 aircraft. The Sopwith Camel’s and the SE5a’s speed and manoeuvrability were much valued by the pilots. In 1918 the two services merged to become the Royal Air Force, the world’s first independent air service, their uniform material coming from Hainsworth’s at Pudsey, and still does. 13. South transept windowsill ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’ Concerts, including in Pocklington, were used to raise funds for families of servicemen and to pay privately for medical care of the wounded, there being no NHS. 15. S. transept, south wall Navy and Merchant Navy Before WW1, submarines were considered to be an unfair way of fighting a marine battle, and enemy crews should be given a chance to surrender. This attitude changed when vital supplies in merchant vessels were targeted by enemy U-boats. As well as attacking ships, submarines were used for coastal bombardment. Many Hull fishermen and Pocklington men served courageously throughout the war making a significant contribution to Britain’s maritime war effort. To help protect provisions and supplies brought in from the colonies and around the world much of Hull’s fishing fleet was requisitioned for mine-sweeping and to search for submarines which were causing havoc. Hundreds of these minesweeper craft were built in Humber shipyards; there were very few trawlers left for fishing, so supplies of fish became scarce. Minesweepers ‘swept’ an area using wires, as in this picture, and would detonate the mines once they were on the surface. Significant sea battles were at Heligoland and Jutland. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania by U-boat torpedo attack off the Irish coast outraged ‘neutral’ Americans and helped bring the USA into the war. The Lusitania going down. 16. S. transept window ‘We are sailing’ Sailing ships were still operating, particularly iron- hulled windjammers used for bulk cargo on long- haul voyages, and speedier narrow, wooden-hulled clippers for high value cargo like tea. Steam ships were fast becoming the norm though. The words of the song are perfect and adopted by the modern Navy for concerts and sing-songs. “We are sailing, Home again 'Cross the sea, We are sailing, Stormy waters, To be near you, To be free, Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free.” A typical Windjammer 17. Corners of altar platform ‘Keep the home fires burning’ Written in 1914 by Ivor Novello this song became very popular, being sung regularly – the refrain being: “Keep the Home Fires Burning, While your hearts are yearning. Though your lads are far away They dream of home. There's a silver lining Through the dark clouds shining, Turn the dark cloud inside out Till the boys come home.” As well as looking after their families, women in wartime were busy keeping Britain’s vital systems working. Some worked on farms producing food; others worked in munitions factories to make explosives and ammunition, as this picture shows. Most other women just did the jobs that men had done (but for much less pay). Workers in munitions factories were often paid higher wages than was usual for women because it was dangerous work but many were poisoned by the chemicals used.