LEEDS'S MILITARY LEGACY

The City of Leeds has a rich and varied military heritage and this book charts that heritage from Roman times to the end of the Second World War. The City came into its own in the English Civil War when it was a target for both Royalists and Parliamentarian armies and had a flirtation with the conflict of the 18th century Jacobite Uprisings and its regiments were mobilised in the industrial and social unrest caused by Chartism and Luddism. Leeds responded enthusiastically and the call to arms for volunteer regiments in the 19th century amid fears of French invasion and French-style popular revolution. Some of its most famous regiments find their origins at this time - Leeds Volunteers, Leeds Rifles and the 1st Leeds Yorkshire West Riding Artillery Volunteer Corps; 2nd West Yorkshire Royal Engineer Volunteers and the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own). Local industry, not least brewers Joshua Tetley, supported this with a ready supply of horses and men. The Second Boer War saw Leeds Regiment serve with distinction, winning one VC, but it was in the First World War where Leeds men and women excelled themselves in patriotism and bravery and sadly sacrifice and slaughter. Military uniforms were made in their tens of thousands, while the heroines of the Barnbow Munitions Factory turned out even more munitions. 37 of the Canary Girls and two men tragically died working for their country in three fateful explosions. The Second World War was met by the people of Leeds with similar fortitude and regiments and an RAF squadron fought with distinction. Here are rare nostalgic archive photographs of RAF Yeadon (Leeds-Bradford Airport), the Blitz of 1941, 609 Squadron, Yeadon Lancaster factory, Leeds as a garrison city and current military research in Leeds. Also a look at conscientious objectors, agriculture, anti-Semitism, zeppelins and more. Packed with archive photos and a colour plates and map section. 128pp in softback.