Wakefield Museums and Castles

Sepia monochrome postcard

What is it? A sepia monochrome postcard.

How old is it? Date written in bottom left corner of 19.7.15 and postmarked 20 July 1915.

Why is this object important? The postcard shows the town of Merris in northern France and was posted on Active Service. Stamped ‘Passed by Censor No 1564’.

Where was it found/discovered/made? It was sent to Mrs G. Shaw, Fern Bank Cottages, Sandal, Wakefield.

What is it made of? Card.

Dimensions: Length 138mm, width 90mm.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.

Women working at E. Green & Son Ltd factory

What is it? Black and white photograph.

How old is it? Dated 1914-18.

Why is this object important? This image shows the work undertaken in a Wakefield factory with women filling shell cases by hand.

The factory was E. Green & Son Ltd, Calder Vale Road, Wakefield.

What is it made of? Paper.

Dimensions: Length 185mm, width 255mm.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.

Photograph of clerical staff at Pontefract Barracks

What is it? Black and white postcard.

How old is it? Dated 1917.

Why is this object important? The image shows a group of ladies who were Clerical staff at Pontefract Barracks. One lady is Miss M Williams, she is standing second from the right. It shows the fashions of the time for women both clothes and hairstyles.

Where was it found / discovered / made? The image is thought to have been taken on site at Pontefract Barracks but we cannot be sure.

What is it made of? Paper.

Dimensions: Length 90mm, width 120mm.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.

Food ration book

What is it? Food ration book.

How old is it? Dated 1918.

Why is this object important? This document shows us the foods rationed in 1918. It is stamped with the retailers that the owner of the book, Francis E. Judge, would visit to buy her rations: Butcher, W. H. Hill and for butter and sugar MacGirr and Co, Northgate, Wakefield. It also give the address of Francis as 19 Southgate in Wakefield.

What is it made of? Card.

Dimensions: Length 138mm, width 117mm.

Who would have used this? The person named on the document was the only person who could receive the rations listed.

How would object work? The ration book would be handed to the shop keeper to be marked upon receipt of goods. People had to register with a specific shop to receive their rations. They would only be able to get goods from the shop listed in the ration book.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.

Belgian refugees commemorative plaque

What is it? A wooden plaque.

How old is it? It is dated 1914 – 15.

Why is this object important? This carved wooden plaque commemorates the evacuation of Belgian Refugees to Wakefield during the First World War. It is carved with the message "Belgian Refugees Sandal 1914 - 1915” and “L’union fiat la force” (unity makes strength).

Dimensions: Diameter 423mm, depth 30mm.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.

Photograph of soldiers and nurses in Park Lane Auxiliary Hospital

What is it? A sepia monochrome photograph.

How old is it? Dated between 1914-18.

Why is this object important? The image shows us soldiers recovering in a Wakefield hospital and some of the nurses who cared for them. There are two young girls dressed as nurses sat in the forefront of the image. There are also a couple of young boys to the right at the end of a bed. The children were possibly visiting family on the ward.

Park Lane Auxiliary Hospital was set up with 100 beds in the County Hospital. It treated soldiers injured in the First World War. The County Hospital had opened in 1899 to treat ‘the sick poor of the working class’. 1,192 soldiers were treated at the Auxiliary Hospital.

What is it made of? Card.

Dimensions: Length 136mm, width 87mm.

Where is it now? The object is part of Wakefield Museums collections.