Foreword
In November 2018, we were able to tell the stories Kippax villagers who found themselves involved in the First World War a century ago. We now find ourselves commemorating the end of the Second World War. It is 75 years since the surrender of Germany came into effect on Tuesday 8th May 1945, and since the formal surrender of Japan on 2nd September 1945. We are pleased to be able to remember and preserve the stories of Kippax villagers who served during the Second World War. In doing so, we have relied upon personal recollections, stories passed down through the generations, and in particular the local press coverage, which described both the exploits of soldiers, and how Kippax was reacting to the War. Whilst we have a few Service records of relatives, they currently only remain accessible to the veterans or their next of kin. Once these Service Records become widely available, it is hoped we can revisit the information we have prepared on this site, and complete the stories with any new information forthcoming, and with any information which is prompted from villagers seeing these displays.
As with our First World War display, we not only wanted to remember the 30 men killed during the Second World War and listed on the Kippax and Ledston Luck War Memorial, but all our men and women who served, the villagers who supported the war effort in Kippax, and the relatives of some people living in Kippax today, who bring with them their own stories of the Second World War from outside Kippax.
Remarkably, for a small West Yorkshire village, it will be seen that Kippax played a part in all the major conflicts and theatres of the Second World War.
Kippax Armistice Commemoration Planning Group
Above: on 7th May 1945, General Alfred Jodl signs the surrender of all German forces in Rheims, France. He is flanked by Wilhelm Oxenius (left) of the Luftwaffe and Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, representing Germany’s navy.
Index of categories
Kippax Roll of Honour 