June 29, 2025
What a great and busy afternoon.
The Friends of Haworth Art Gallery and Gallery Staff hosted a viewing day of World War 1 artefacts from the gallery collections. These included dress and mess uniforms from the Royal Artillery field regiment, trench art, medals, death pennies, letters, cap badges and shell cases. Pictures of the Accrington Pals included one of Second Lieutenant Basil Arthur Horsfall VC, who was serving in the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment (the Accrington Pals) when he was killed. One group of pictures showed a soldier with a severe facial wound along with ones of his face before and after pioneering plastic surgery. Others showed soldiers marching, at their camps and with their families. One photo of the Entwistle family was poignant in that it showed parents with their eight sons, seven were serving soldiers and five of those were wounded in battle.
Reproductions of WW1 posters were fascinating especially showing women at war and their uniforms. Also on show, was a large poster showing British, French and German lines as they changed during the battle of the Somme.
Photographs from the trenches graphically showed the horror of life in the trenches and included soldiers “going over the top”.
On a lighter note, several cartoons from the era relating to soldiers and the war caused a few wry smiles.
Many thanks to all those who came along and helped set up, spent the afternoon talking to visitors, answered many questions and then helped taking down all the exhibits. Many hands made light work.
During the event, we had 55 visitors, many of whom spent a long time looking at the displays and talking to us. There were quite a few new faces amongst them, so we hope they will come again to our events.
