PICTURED posing proudly in their uniforms so many of these soldiers would soon be dead.

The men - often little more than boys - fought for King and Country in the First World War, and many paid the ultimate price.

The pictures, from Aireborough Historical Society, show just some of the local soldiers who went off to war - and they portray the human face of the devastating conflict.

Edwin Thackray served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and died in his 20th year. A tribute underneath his photograph reads : "In memory of Corporal Edwin Thackray.The beloved son of George and Mary Thackray, of Guiseley, who was killed in action whilst in a bayonet charge somewhere in France on the 11th of May 1916. In his 20th year. Thus making the great sacrifice for Home and Motherland."

George Teale died in September 1916. Information supplied by family member David Teale to AHS says: "In 1916 he was serving with the 9th KOYLI (Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) on the Somme near Fricourt.

"It was one of the first units to achieve an advance on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Fricourt lies towards the southern part of the front on which the British attacked on 1st July 1916. The 9th and 10th Brigades of KOYLI were in the front line.

On the 16th of September the 9th Battalion were engaged in an attack on Courcette in the offensive towards Guedecourt, tanks were used here for the first time by the British Army.

"Enemy machine gun fire caused many casualties, from the 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions there were over 800 men killed or wounded including George who has no known grave as his body was never found."

George is remembered at the Memorial for the Missing at Thiepval, which commemorates all those who had died on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and who have no known grave.

George's brother Ralph also served on the Somme in 1916 - but he survived after being captured on the first day of the battle. Despite being a considerable distance apart in the build-up to the battle George and Ralph managed to keep in touch - even exchanging the Wharfedale Observer.

James Hartley is one of the many who lost their lives in the 1914-1918 conflict.

Private Hartley, who was in the 21st Divisional Cycling Company, was the son of Mr and Mrs Hartley, of Harrogate Road, Rawdon. He was killed in action in France in January 1916.

A picture of John Ibbitson was sent to AHS by Paul Aireton, with the words 'Killed in action in France July 14th 1916, Pte John Ibbitson, West Yorkshire Reg (Leeds Pals) aged 39 years. Eldest and dearly loved son of Edwin & Mary Ibbitson, Heatherfield, Yeadon Nr Leeds."

A poignant photograph taken on Tuesday August 4, 1914 shows scores of member of the Guiseley Company of Territorials waiting on the station platform after being ordered to join their regiment at its headquarters in Skipton.

The Wharfedale and Airedale Observer reported: "Long before the hour of the march to the railway station crowds began to gather in Victoria Road, at the tram terminus and along Station Road, and by nine o'clock these thoroughfares were packed by a seething mass of the inhabitants, anxious and desirous of giving the Territorials an enthusiastic send-off."

One photograph, donated to AHS by Jan Jones, shows wounded soldiers sitting with their nurses at Woodlands Hospital in Rawdon. Injured soldiers in another picture were also at Woodlands. Some of these men would have returned to the battlefield and been killed.