HOW many of these soldiers were marching off to their deaths when this photograph was taken a century ago?

The poignant snapshot of the Great War comes from the archives of Aireborough Historical Society.

Archivist Carlo Harrison said: "Now that we have commemorated the start of the First World War, lets not forget that this war raged on for four years and at this point 100 years ago it would have been only into its second year. Just about every family in our area would have been touched by this Great War by now. Some just with husbands, sons, uncles etc serving abroad, away from home, some already with the burden of loved ones lost to the fields of France."

The photograph shows soldiers parading on land outside Westfield Mills on Kirk Lane.

"By 1915 it was obvious that voluntary recruitment was not providing enough men, in July of that year the Government had passed the National Registration Act to stimulate recruitment and also to ascertain how many men aged 15 - 85 were employed as tradesmen," Carlo said.

"The findings of this census led to compulsory conscription in January 1916. Westfield Mill was one of the many local mills, pubs, clubs etc which formed fund raising drives to provide comforts and help for the families of servicemen, theirs was Westfield Mill Soldiers and Sailors Charity."

In a picture from the Ilkley Gazette's archives, taken in 1993, old soldiers remembered the dead.

First World War Sentences

Christmas gifts for soldiers and sailors of Ilkley and Ben Rhydding. Addresses still wanted for members of the armed forces.

Captain Lupton awarded the Military Cross for commanding and rallying his detachment with great gallantry under very heavy fire and being wounded in the process.

Ilkley Library is proving to be like any other public aided university: a poor man’s university. Despite the War ,the Library has increased in its general efficiency.11,049 books are in stock at the Library. However some people have behaved in an indecent way by cutting out photos from some of the illustrated magazines and papers.