January
In January 1918 the King asked for a National Day of Prayer with a good response from Conisborough & Denaby
In the courts a man and woman are sent to prison for child cruelty and a Denaby man is guilty of bigamy
We have a poem from a Denaby soldier and Mary Pickford is on at the Empire
there are a number of Military Medals awarded, both at Denaby and Conisborough
and an injured soldier at Cambrai and a P.O.W. in Germany
are added to the stories of five more local men in action
February
In February 1918 shortages was a major topic as food allocations were getting smaller,
a fight broke out over a rabbit and the conservation of paper was important
A child died from ptomaine poisoning after a father left home to find work, a couple were given 6 months hard labour for cruelty to children and another youngster is burnt to death
In the great conflict recruitment is stepped up as more fatalities are reported
Presentations are made to Medal winners including the Croix de Guerre for a Denaby man
March
In March 1918 there was a lull in news in our area
Some more interesting stories of the heroics of local people
A father of five who died of wounds in France
another POW who was repatriated, suffering from malnutrition
and at home, how two Conisborough Shop Assistants are summoned for overcharging for Tobacco
A farmer has had enough and sells his Firsby stock at auction
A 16 year old is in court for breaking his ponies back and there have been 6 animals died this way this year already
April
In April 1918 many soldiers went missing and ended as P.O.W.’s
Reports were received of soldiers killed in Action, through Wounds received, Shell Fire, Pneumonia and other causes
Men taken P.O.W. , Shipwrecked by Submarine and a Soldier with three years service, wounded for the fifth time and with only one weeks leave during this time
A 22 year old daring company runner killed by a bullet and another 22 year old from the Cyclist Company and a 19 year old from Old Denaby
And Denaby Men’s deeds alive and dead are celebrated at the Big Hall
“One of the Finest Halls in Yorkshire” with 2,000 people from the “Big Town with a Big Heart”
May
In May 1918, Charlie Chaplin was on at the Empire
Absenteeism Boards were revived to combat Slackness at the Pits
At the front we have stories and pictures of another 17 men from our area who were captured or wounded or missing
men who suffered loss of leg and arm and other serious debility
Another five soldiers are confirmed dead, Including an 18 year old and a 19 year old, who was fighting gallantly when he met his death
And two former Clerks, a 21 year old and a 22 year old received the Military Medal for gallantry in the field
June
In June 1918, the war reached another stage and deaths of Soldiers in our area rose to add at least another 11 to the death toll
with young and married men leaving behind widows and children, and a Denaby Man dies of pneumonia in Italy
Many more are missing and prisoners in Germany and a marksman has three toes amputated
On a brighter front a Conisborough sergeant is awarded the Military Medal,and an Denaby Man received the D.C.M..
July
In July local casualties again were in double figures and included amongst them was
a man killed in action in France following his fallen brother
and another two injured, one of who has lost his right arm
A 21 year old is imprisoned in Germany
whilst a Conisborough sapper, after being gassed and wounded
has now had his right leg amputated above the kne
August
In August 1918 as the war drew to its climax
An officer dies while leading his platoon, a Denaby man is wounded for the third time
and a Conisbrough man receives the Croix de Guerre
At home a new invention is proclaimed to prevent explosions and there’s news of a National Kitchen for Denaby
A miner commits over 200 offences by slaughtering and selling his pig
There’s a court incident between a discharged soldier and the Denaby mine manager
Two youths are sent to Prison after a stink bomb incident and a Soldier’s wife is assaulted after an incident with children
September
In September 1918 with news of Germany in retreat
there were still stories of soldiers killed or missing,with future generations wiped out as their sons fell;
The third and last Smith brother had fallen, and the last surviving son of the Cliffe family was also killed in action and a 25 year old Conisborough man died of chest wounds
Amongst the wounded reported was a 19 year old Denaby lad with his left leg amputated
The gloom was lifted with the story of Laurence Calvert, a Victoria Cross winner, who captured a machine gun, single handed and accounted for the 7 German’s by pistol and bayonet in the attempt
October
Although the tide had turned and the end of the war was in sight, casualties were still coming in and a further 12 from our area were listed
Including a 19 year old stretcher bearer, cut down by machine gun fireand another rifleman of the same age.
A Denaby corporal who was a Military Medalist, met his fate at the hands of a “big shell”
Other men were killed leaving widows and children, never to be seen by families again
and more injured soldiers and a POW are added to the list
At home, a five year old becomes the latest burning victim,
a soldier’s wife is accused of fraud, after still claiming for a dead child
and a man is accused of desertion by a woman who has never seen him
November
The Mexborough Times proclaimed “Armageddon Ended – End of the Great War” as the Armistice was signed and the war ended
But the death toll was still mounting
with news of a Conisborough private who died on the last day of the war and the Denaby man whose wounds confirmed his death two days after
Reports of a Conisborough schoolmaster killed in action the previous month and the death of a 21-year-old soldier missing since April
For those who had survived awaited a hero’s welcome and presentations to those who had gained a Military Medal with the local cinemas full of an appreciative public
While at home the local headlines featured a shocking story of brutal parents, with a 10 year old girl with black eyes, a bruised body, poorly nourished, and caned at school for being late after having to do the housework
December
In December 1918 the Mexborough and Swinton Times” details the final year of the Great War and South Yorkshire’s part in it
We feature a list of 250 men who achieve medals in the conflict
Reports of soldiers who had fallen were still coming in, including a Tank Corps member who died from influenza on December 10, a driver who succumbed on October 27 and a 22 year old, who died four days before the war ended
Several prisoners of war return from captivity with stories of ill-treatment
At home gamblers plunge into the river before being caught and a beer retailer is fined for overpricing his stock
A Denaby deputy is killed whilst helping his workmates