January
The Government intensified their efforts to enlist more men and issue measures to get the “Slackers” out of the Pits
Several Soldiers die as a result of Shells bursting in the trenches including a 21 year old and two Conisbrough men when a shell exploded and killed 7 men and a offcer
At home the area is collecting funds to help displaced Belgians and another miner is killed at Cadeby and his workmate loses fingers
There are Court cases over an illtreated wife, a gambling row and a father is censured after his daughters steal
and a eight year old dies with pneumonia and rickets after a vain search for a doctor
February
In 1917 a Conisborough Milkman relates his incredible experience after his ship is torpedoed and he survives while his comrades are drowning around him
A Denaby Sergeant writes from the scene of V.C. exploits and there’s promotion for a Gallipoli campaigner
At home a grocer commits suicide from the Bow bridge and a Conisbrough man has his gun confiscated,
The schools are closed for measles, another child is burned to death and a Denaby hairdresser absconds with 4 hair clippers and 2 razors.
March
In March 1917 a gallant Conisborough Officer died of his wounds and a muffled peal was rang from the bells he supported
There’s more honours and commissions from our villages
At home women are in the news as a woman punches a ex soldier in Denaby,
another is rough handled over a rug and a soldier’s wife gets behind with the rent
The Colliery takes more of its workers to the courts
the Fire Brigade present long term medals
and a young Denaby miner attempts to find a scapegoat but gets four months committal as reward
April
In April 1917 there are several awards
As local men receive the Military Medal and D.C.M and another soldier receives both
We learn of a Soldier’s self sacrifice and a detailed account of going over the top!
More local heroes die and there’s confirmation, 9 months later, of another death in the Great Advance
At home a Denaby Sergeant has a sad homecoming and there’s a strange death of a schoolboy
A shopkeeper is prosecuted for selling potatoes a half penny over the regulated price
And there’s another story of cruelty to a pony and a horsekeeper’s larceny
May
In May 1917 there’s a strange affair at Hill Top as a man disappears after a young girl is shot
A loyal farm servant, who was worth 3 men, died after a horse kicked him
Potatoes hit the headlines after breaches of the Maximum Price rules
and a man goes to prison for 3 months after neglecting his children
A miner is fined when he doesn’t report his damaged lamp and there are local Tribunal Cases for Military Exemption
At the Front, six more deaths are reported, soldiers are home on furlough and a soldier has his foot amputated
June
In June 1917 the War brings another 6 casualties, all from Denaby Main
The Appeals Tribunal hears many cases from our area, including a Conisborough Bantam
The Volunteers are in Camp at Thoresby and a discharged soldier is in court for assaulting a woman
General Copley is disappointed by Denaby women and there’s another DCM for a Conisbrough soldier
July
In July 1917 nine more fatalities from the Front were reported and three more from the mines at home!
and it’s the five years anniversary of the Cadeby disaster with the statement of the fund for the widows and orphans.
The Denaby munition girls are helping local institutions and there’s a school exhibition at the Large Hall, including boys models and books and the girls economy war cooking
There is a court case between the Council and the Railway Company about the refuse tip and whether to put 6 inches or 12 inches of soil on the 200 tons of privy refuse deposited each week
There’s a full account of the battle for the Mines of Messines and another of a Denaby airman in a German POW camp
August
In August 1917 seven more casualties were reported, including a widower with four children
There are more injured and missing and a Conisborough sergeant is awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field
There’s a detailed description of the battle for the Mines of Messines
and the remarkable stories of the Denaby Don Juan who was married, had a girl friend in Keighley, was courting a Swinton Girl and was left with the children after the court case !
A man broke into his gas meter then started singing in the Court Room
With more Mine Offences and Domestic problems
September
In September 1917 as the fighting in France one more intensifies we are told of another seven casualties from our area, including two 20 year olds from Conisborough
More injuries are reported and Medals awardedAn Old Denaby Airman is located as a POW, after 15 weeks and his mother’s persistence
At home there are more cases of Colliery Fines and more workers are fined for breach of contract
A Micklebring miner is sentenced to 3 months hard labour after his 2 month old baby dies at less than the birth weight
October
In October 1917 the fighting in France intensifiedand the number of casualties reported reached double figures for the month
including a 19 year old Lance Corporal from Conisborough and a 19 year old private who died in a French Hospital and the son of a Church Street fruiterer
From Denaby Main a man died who left a wife and 6 children, a sergeant with glowing epitaphs from his officers and a families only son aged 20 and with these came news of more wounded
At home another Collier dies at Denaby Main, a Denaby boxer is the Army and Navy Champion and there’s a baby week at Denaby & Conisborough
November
November 1917 was another harrowing month for the district
Four 19 year olds were amongst the notified casualties
One belonging to a family whose father was permanently blind from earlier hostilities
another died in a French Hospital adding to the list of Kilner men who had fallen
A 21 year old died with his last words; “Give mother my love”
then there were the injured with a man gassed, another in a dangerous condition and another with part of his leg blown away
Humphry ‘Bunt’ Humphries received his Military Medal from W.H. Chambers
who announced during the month that the Colliery were to pay £5,000 towards the Comrades of the Great War movement.
Further news from home was he death of another miner and that the injunction against adding to the notorious ‘tip’ near the Station had been granted – but suspended until 6 months after the war ended !
December
In December 1917 the war reached the end of another year with more casualties, injured and stories from the front
The dead included a 17 year old and a 19 year old from Conisborough
and a 20 year old, a well known footballer and a father of two from Denaby
Gas poisoning killed another Denaby man and left a further victim in hospital
There were many brave deeds awarded, including a Serbian Samaritan Cross and several Military medals
At home The Immigrant was on at the Palace, there were Lady bell ringers at the church
and Christmas day saw a benefit football match and a Cantata at the Weslyan Chapel