history
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Harry Eastborne Sykes – military record “impeccable.”
Harry was born on 29th January 1893, the only child to Arthur and Emily Sykes (nee Brown). The couple were living at 6 Mayflower Place, Hunslet. Arthur worked as a driller – engineer, sadly, Emily died 4 months after giving birth on 14 May 1893 at Killingbeck Hospital from Smallpox. Arthur married Esther Bucktrout in… Continue reading
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The Suggitts: a story of a nephew and his uncle
“he died gloriously in the Field of Battle” and “giving his life for his Country as truly as any soldier who fell on the Field of Battle.” William was son of Tom and Eva. Tom was an engineering labourer, originally from Slingsby, Yorkshire. Tom married Eva Jordan, who was from Weatherthorpe, Yorkshire and the couple… Continue reading
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Private Albert Hudson – tortured at the Somme
Albert Hudson was born on 26 November 1892 in Leeds, to Alfred and Elizabeth. Alfred worked as a brewers draughtsman, most likely at the Tetley brewery which was one of Leeds’ largest employers and nearby to their home. On the 1901 census, Elizabeth was a homemaker and the couple had five children aged between 17… Continue reading
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How love, determination, ingenuity and water buffaloes saved the lives of 420 people in the holocaust.
Eva Ruth Arend was born in Prague to Oskar and Irma Arend on 1 April 1920, her brother came along the year after. The Arends were a wealthy family and prioritised the education of their children, private tutors ensured Eva could fluently speak 3 languages in childhood and she learnt 5 more in adulthood. Victor… Continue reading
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“The business of an explosive is to explode”: How the women of Leeds helped win the war
The story of the unsung heroes of the war, the women who worked in dangerous munitions factories. Continue reading
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Arthur Surr – Prisoner of War
Arthur Surr T/157093 278, General Transport Coy R. A. S. C Arthur Surr was born to George Edward and Laura Surr (nee Attack) on 7 November, 1919 in Holbeck, Leeds. [George worked as a clothiers stock cutter and during World War One, he attested to the Royal Garrison Artillery where he served as a signaller… Continue reading
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Alfred Place – Champion Boxer. “By his coolness and self-sacrifice Petty Officer Place probably saved the lives of the other men.”
Petty Officer Alfred Place J/3080 FAMILY BACKGROUND Alfred Place was born on 8 October, 1891, to William Place and Jane Potts Place (nee Finch), in Hunslet, Leeds. On the 1891 census, the family were living at 6 Brunch Church Street, Hunslet and William was working at a Swimming Baths, although on later census data he… Continue reading
The Stories Behind the Stones 