The outbreak of the Second World War was an advancement in stages, with fear and mistrust of Germany growing following the absorption of Austria in March 1938, and increasing further with the long threatened invasion of Czechoslovakia in October 1938. Even before this invasion, on 13th September, the growing anti-German feeling was shown in the following newspaper article (below):
Germany invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, with Hitler watching his troops march into Poland (below), and War against Germany was declared. Fearing aerial bombardments, the region immediately imposed Black-out rules, and times began appearing in the local press:
On 15th September 1939, when it was announced that British aeroplanes had successfully dropped millions of propaganda leaflets over Germany, one Kippax villager was reported to have provided a laconic summary of the effort: “Leaflets weant ‘urt ‘em.” As Kippax began to house evacuees from Leeds, the First World War Veterans launched into action. 66 Air Raid wardens were appointed to cover Ledston, Kippax, Ledsham, and Newton, and 55 hailed from Kippax. Mr G.C.Cookson and Rev Charles Ottley Ellison were Head and Deputy of the organisation respectively, and both had served in the First World War. They were too successful, and recruited a full time Warden for every 500 of the local population, and the Government asked them to cut back once expenses started to be submitted, and the scheme turned more voluntary. Kippax Veteran, Ted Bickerdike had already prepared a dug-out, and wanted it to “’addle its keep” by growing mushrooms in it, until it was required “for more serious things.” Villagers also prepared a dug-out at Mount Pleasant, and Edward Hewitt (1902-1982), a member of the ARP, found the cellar of an old property on Church Lane, which had been demolished, and restored it to convert the cellar into a Dug-out. Another veteran, Victoria Cross Winner, Tommy Steele, had moved to Leicester and wrote back to his Kippax pals that he’d re-joined the ranks, and was on anti-aircraft duty. By Armistice Day in 1939, Kippax had already provided 54 Service Men, and by the end of the year, this had increased to 124.
Late November 1939, Kippax began providing ARP drills to train themselves. The Decontamination Squad ran a clean-up exercise:
The exercise below was for the Kippax ARP treating a victim of Gas poisoning. These exercises drew crowds, who attended not only out of mere curiosity, but also for their own education:
Life in the Blackout was dangerous. On 1st December 1939, 66 years-old Albert Illingworth of 7 Park Avenue, a former manager at Kippax Gas Works, died in Leeds General Infirmary from injuries received in a Black-out. He had moved to Kippax in 1902. Shortly after, on 5th January 1940 it was reported that David Stokes (1882-1949) had been struck by a car in Kippax High Street during the Blackout, and had been taken to Leeds General Infirmary with head and body injuries.
On 22nd December 1939, St. Mary’s Church Hall was converted into a temporary hospital, with surgical appliances, wash-basins, and medicine cupboards. Under the supervision of Dr. Charles Mathieson, the Hall was kitted with Air Locks, a waiting room, and a first aid post, and was designed specifically to treat any victims of Air Raids. Many Kippax villagers volunteered to serve at the First Aid Post, including men such as: F. Firth, L. Whitaker, J.W. Mackenzie, F Parkinson, W.G. Greenough, J. Cogan, A. Cripwell, A. Beeston, E. Gittins, T. Gittins, B Slater, W. Fawcett, J. Norman, J. Barratt, A. Goodall, I. Spencer, H. Tasker, H. Collinson, G.T.S. Taylor, W. Roberts, H. Shackleton, E. Hunter, G.W. Smales, J. W. Barton, A. Moore, G.T. Thompson, C.F. Booth, A. Richardson, J.N. Jackson, and E. Hutchinson. The married ladies manning the post were: B. Freeman, E. Smith, L. Townend, L. Trenholme, M. Wilson, H. Benson, W. E. Townend, I. Bickerdike, L. Wake, S. Firth, E. Cookson, A. Hudson, L. Dyer, A. Collinson, R. Firth, E. Backhouse, K. Richardson, and E.M. Carter. Young, unmarried ladies who volunteered were E. Wilson, E.M. Garlick, K. Woolford, B. Smart, R. Whitaker, D. Whitaker, A. Cawthray, E. Thorpe, D. Townend, E. Bulmer, A. Stones, H. Wigham, E. Smart, M. Slater, B. Oldham, H. Barton, M. Carris, K. Rhodes, B. Backhouse, and A. Cheesbrough. Whilst the majority of volunteers were from Kippax, this list contains volunteers from Garforth, Bowers Row, Goody Cross, Swillington and Ledston Luck.
On 2nd February 1940, the Rev. T.W.F. Sparrow, who was the Curate in charge of Great Preston, but also attended Kippax, gave an address to the Kippax Men’s Guild, detailing his experiences in Germany. He said: “It has to be admitted that there have been some tremendous reforms since Hitler came to power. Under national socialism all are on one level. About one-third of Germany is Roman catholic, the remainder belonging to the German reformed church and several smaller sects. The country is split up religiously as well as politically. The Prussians were the last people to be Christianized. As regards education in Germany, the facilities are better than we have, but the majority of them don’t think about what they learn – they merely learn it. This fact is the failing of the whole nation.” Turning to his personal experiences of life in Germany, Mr. Sparrow related how he arrived at a big house occupied by 30 Germans, the house where at one time the famous brothers Grimm lived. “The surroundings were very beautiful, and you couldn’t help writing fairy tales there.” Mr. Sparrow told how he became acquainted with the man who was connected with the Toc H movement [International Christian movement], and as the two of them were visitors to the country, the Nazis did all of they possibly could to help them live like Princes. This was meant to serve as propaganda for the Nazi regime. “After four months of that, I came home a convinced Nazi. We in England don’t realise what Germany went through in the period between 1918 and coming to power of Hitler. The country had experienced such conditions that it was not difficult to see how readily they responded to the appeal of someone who fervently promised sweeping changes and reforms. I have never seen anything like the goodwill and enthusiasm which was shown at that time. Whatever else has happened, Hitler and his gang have done a wonderful work. It was a wonderful experience – but I soon lost it. If you hear Hitler make a speech it is like a blowing up a balloon: 10 minutes later there is nothing left.” Referring to a later visit to Germany, Mr. Sparrow told of being at a certain place where of 31 people present only two were Nazis. The company as a whole tried their best to convince him that Germany is not Nazi. They said: “For goodness sake when you get back to England tell them that we intend to get rid of the Nazis.” In Berlin, Mr. Sparrow met acquaintances of Pastor Martin Niemöller [1892-1984, a veteran of the First World War, who also initially supported the Nazi Regime, before becoming a critic. He wrote the famous poem: “First they came”] and attended a service at which the Pastor asked them to pray for his deliverance from his Nazi opponents. Mr Sparrow had brought with him copies of “Der Stürmer” a Nazi organ edited by Julius Streicher [1885-1946, executed after the War and the Nuremberg trials for crimes against humanity] whom he described as a madman, supported by another madman in Hitler. He added: “I have never met anyone in Germany of real church sympathies who favoured the Nazis. I met on my later visit only one who supported the government and he was a government official.” Rev. Sparrow subsequently joined the Armed Forces in June 1942 to fight the Nazis directly.
The following month, Mr. Sparrow was assisting Ted Bickerdike, who, fresh from building his dug-out, was now setting up the Kippax and District Services Fund appeal for jar, bottles and scrap metal. Ted managed to acquire everything from a poker to a motor car for scrap metal week. Robert Sherburn provided premises for the collection point. £16 7s 8d had been quickly raised largely from house-to-house collections. On 30th April 1940, an article appeared (below) from the Jars and Bottles Committee.
In May 1940, the ARP Special constables and Wardens undertook a professional bomb disposal course, and officials expressed themselves satisfied with the keen interest shown by Kippax villagers. Not everyone however was satisfied. Councillor Thomas Hopkinson (1889-1942) of 2 Cliff Crescent lamented that Kippax had spent about £400 on air raid shelters, rather than bomb-proof shelters. Air Raid shelters were not bomb-proof, and if struck, he considered it would result in the deaths of at least 100 people. The surveyor present pointed out that the Air Raid shelters were at least splinter proof, and that no shelter could be considered bomb-proof unless it was 30ft underground, with 8ft of concrete on top.
In May 1940, Cyril Jarvis was fined 7s 6d for allowing a light to be visible from his window during Black-out hours. Walter Roberts, Kippax newsagent was fined 10s for a similar offence at the same time. Virtually every week for the rest of the war, a villager from Kippax would be fined for breaking the blackout rule.
By July 1940, Kippax had two “Ben Nevises” organised by two World War One Veterans. Charles Ridsdale (1889-1941) was in charge of a mountain of scrap metal which was still being kept in Robert Sherburn’s yard, and Ted Bickerdike was looking over a mountain of bottles and jars. These would be used for the war effort. At the same time, Herbert Morrison had encouraged Betty Walker, Sylvia Eaglen and Jean and Kathleen Brookes, who were all 11 years-old, to make a quilt of many colours and materials, such as wool, cotton, silk and satin, all of which they had collected from neighbours. When finished, it was passed to Mrs Mathieson for the Red Cross Fund.
In August 1940, Rev Charles Ottley Ellison who was also associated with the scrap metal collecting scheme, turned to the trinkets and other collectables he had, and donated his watch and chain to the collection.
Kippax’s war efforts continued during War Weapon’s Week in May 1941. This was organised by Colonel Roper M.P. for Barkston Ash, who announced to at a Kippax meeting that he had listened to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons, and whilst everyone knew the importance of the fighting front of the armed forces and the industrial front of agriculture, mining and munitions, not as much was known about the financial front of the War. War Weapon’s week was a way to encourage people to save in War Bonds and similar Government schemes to help Britain re-arm. He stated we should strive to make a financial contribution as large as possible, and asked people to make a real personal sacrifice in their expenditure so that they might bring the war to a speedier and victorious conclusion. The bonds, he said, were also the safest form of investment, and would also protect investors against inflation, high prices and the prospect of further taxation. He considered that there was no man or woman who could not make some form of contribution towards the scheme, and that it might be the investment of a shilling which paid for the last bullet or bomb that put paid to Hitler. The Kippax Co-operative Society handed over an immediate investment of £1,000. Jean Gittins, who was only 5 years-old, bought the first 6d stamp at the centre. During the week, there were events, parades with military Bands, and the R.A.F. gave a demonstration flight in the area. Monday was Ladies Day, which included a cricket match between Garforth and Kippax (below):
On Monday Evening, a fund-indiator was placed on the outside wall of the Kippax Council Offices, and was raised by Mrs A.E. Bayliss of Sherburn to £20,000 to indicate the amount Kippax had raised. Tuesday was Children’s day, with concerts by the Infant School children, the Girl’s school hosted competitions, gift stalls and a beetle drive, and there was a Children’s fancy dress parade (above):
The winner of the competition, Eric Ellis, got to raise the indicator to £31,000 that evening. Wednesday was Sports Day, with Allerton Bywater Council School beating Kippax Council School. There was an exhibition of War Photographs and children’s posters in the Leeds Road Methodist School, and other events included bowls tournaments for men and women, a tennis tournament and a dance. On Wednesday evening, Dr. Mathieson raised the indicator to £48,000. Billy West and his Boys paid a visit to Kippax on Thursday, from the Castleford Theatre Royal to put on a dance to raise the total to £58,000. A Drill and Parade by the Home Guard, an A.F.S. display, and incidents staged by the Civil Defence Force took place on Friday. Kippax put on a variety-style show on the Saturday, with impressions and interviews on microphone. On 6th June 1941, County Councillor Ezra Taylor, Castleford, raised the indicator beyond the target, to show Kippax had broken its target on the final day of the Garforth Urban Council War Weapons Week (below):
In July 1941, Kippax heard back from its former vicar, Rev John Edward Cowgill (1892-1970, pictured above right), who was then Rector of Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire, and had been vicar in Kippax from 1929 to 1932. He explained that two of his four children had been evacuated with their school to Toronto, Canada: Katherine Mary, born 16th September 1929, and Julia Mary Cowgill. His daughter Katherine had been the first baby born at Kippax Vicarage since the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Reverend Cowgill had been born in Shireoaks, Nottinghamshire, and was the son of a Clergyman. He had also served in the First World War with the Lincolnshire regiment. He was wounded in the Battle of the Somme, and was subsequently invalided out of the Army in 1917.
The fines for breaking the Black-out rules continued, with Maria Hellens (aged 80) fined 4s in August 1941. A fortnight later John William Walton, Ethel Wilkinson and James Bleasby were all fined 20s. Violet Clayton and Alice Jacob were fined 10s in February 1942 for the same offence. February 1942 was also Warship Week, another fund-raising effort. Miss Alice Miriam Gough (1889-1943) Headmistress of Kippax Council School was presiding over the efforts as Chair of the Kippax Savings Committee. Kippax had a slogan competition which was won by 11-years old N. Swales, with “Victorian your Victory”, as Victoria was was name of the Minesweeper Kippax was hoping to adopt through the fund-raising. Garforth District had a £40,000 target, and again exceeded the target within the week, through a similar set of events as hosted during War Weapons Week:
In June 1942, Reverend Charles Ottley Ellison explained in the Kippax Parish Magazine that the Ministry of Works and Building Funds were taking the church railings for scrap metal, but had allowed them to retain the churchyard gates.
In October 1942, Kippax Blacksmith William Gosling opened the 1942-3 Men’s Guild session with a talk on patriotism, which mentioned that a fellow Blacksmith, Benito Mussolini was a disgrace to the craft!
On 27th October 1942 at 15:45, a Mustang AL998 affliated to the 169 Squadron aircraft made a forced landing near Kippax due to engine failure. The pilot, Richard Vivian Garton (1916-1985) was undertaking aerobatics at the time of the engine failure. He suffered a fractured skull as a result of the accident and was admitted to Fullwood Hospital, Sheffield. The aircraft was badly damaged and was not repaired. In the mid-1990s air historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast traced a witness to this incident and with permission of the landowner they located small fragments of the aircraft on the surface to confirm the crash location.
Fund raising efforts for the War continued. In October 1942, Eleanor Bickerdike, Dorothy Garlick, Betty Robinson, Eva and Margaret Simpson, Una Firth, Hilda Farrar, Annie Bickerdike, Margaret Rhodes and Pauline Stoker of the Kippax Parish Council Sunday School raised £8 1s 9d from a sale of goods mostly of their own making, held at the vicarage, and donated the money to the Prisoners of War fund.
In February 1943, Lady Divisional Superintendent H. Benson and Ambulance Sister L. Townend were awarded the ribbon of long service for their ambulance work, and Section Commander W. Hartley, Section Leader C.C. Parkin and Special Constable W.M. Rhodes were all given Special Constable Long Service Awards.
The following month, Joan Wallis, a Kippax schoolgirl received a letter from the Prime Minister’s wife at No.10, thanking her for selling lavender satchels for the Aid to Russia Fund, and raising 10s.
The Home Guard, ‘C’ company, 13th Battalion, made up of men from Kippax, Great Preston, Bowers Row, Allerton Bywater, Swillington and Ledston, and under the command of Major F.W. Peacock D.C.M., paraded down Kippax High Street, headed by Micklefield Subscription Prize Band in May 1943. They marched to St. Mary’s Church and accompanied the hymns during the Service. Lieutenant Colonel H.A. Longden of the Home Guard, read the lesson. They brought an exhibition of weapons with them, which aroused much interest. Garforth District was asked to raise a further £40,000 for the R.A.F. to fund the building of Bombers. Kippax Home Guard trained in the grounds of Kippax Park Hall, which had been abandoned and was derelict:
Back in July 1941, 50 miners employed at Allerton Bywater Colliery agreed to contribute a penny for every night they were not troubled by Air Raid Sirens, to the Aid to Russia Fund, and York and Hull Air Raid victims via the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund, St. Dunstan’s and the Red Cross. By November 1943, their Secretary Sammy Cheesbrough was donating over 10,000 pennies to their chosen charities.
In May 1944, Garforth District was given a fourth target of raising £40,000 in a week. Again it succeeded, largely through its first day efforts of £10,250, and Day two was boosted by £5,000 from the Garforth Urban Council. Individual fund raising efforts still continued in May 1944. Martha Street, who was 79-years-old (pictured below) was raising half pennies for the Red Cross Penny-a-Week fund, and had collected 1,440 half pennies.
Similarly Margaret Hulme, aged 6, had collected 1,082 half pennies for the same fund. Furthermore, in October 1944, the Kippax and District Services committee reported a balance of 339 12s 11d, which they’d largely raised from house-to-house collections. They were aiming to raise £500, in order to make a £1 Christmas Donation to every man and woman serving in the Forces.
By February 1945, Kippax Working Men’s Club had raised £1,691 since opening their Fund in November 1939, and had 104 members serving with the Armed Forces. If a member had served since the start of the War, they received £21 10s each. Kippax Old Prize Band came out of retirement to entertain members for a night.
Victory in Europe was announced on 5th May 1945. In June 1945, a newly formed Kippax Welcome Home Committee, under the Presidency of Councillor A. Prince, met to discuss raising £500 to present to each returning member of the armed forces. Suggested presents were wallets, compacts for the women, and cigarette cases.
On 15th August 1945, Victory in Japan was announced, thus bringing to an end the Second World War (above). A thanksgiving service was held at the Church, and 200 villagers had tea in the afternoon to celebrate, with a band playing in the evening for a dance. Mount Pleasant arranged a bonfire, tea and concert.
Two years after the War, villagers recalled that German Prisoners of War were in Kippax, shovelling snow in the Winter for one shilling per day. Frequently, Kippax villagers called the prisoners inside, rather than see them eat their mid-day meal standing out in the cold. The Germans similarly used to help out, although it was remembered that one women who fell in icy conditions refused to let a German prisoner-of war help her back to her feet. A German prisoner helped a Kippax Villager who was having trouble with his motorcycle, and was invited to dinner as a reward. One prisoner was a miner back in Germany and assured the Kippax miners that shovelling snow for a shilling a day was a lot easier than shovelling coal.
These are the stories of some of the Kippax Home Guard.
Kippax Roll of Honour 