The booklet is dedicated to the memory of the men from
Our Lady & All Saints Parish, Otley
who died in the First & Second World Wars

May they & their families remain in our thoughts and prayers

The booklet ‘Our Lady and All Saints War Memorial and Roll of Honour 1914-1918, 1939-1945’ was launched by Coun. Ray Smith at a very well attended Remembrance Sunday Exhibition held in St Joseph’s School Hall on Sunday 14^th November. The booklet gives biographical details of all the men on the Our Lady and All Saints War Memorial and Roll of Honour who died in World War 1 and World War 2. It was the result of collaboration between Chris Power, a member of the Parish History Group, volunteers at the Museum particularly Bill Mulholland, other members of the Parish History Group and  members of the  Brogan and  Duffissey  families.

The genesis of the idea for this exhibition came out of a conversation at Otley Museum between Chris and Meryl Auty and Linda Waite, when he was compiling the booklet. They pointed out that the Museum had been donated the medals of Ordinary Seaman Bernard Brogan, one of the men on the Our Lady and All Saints War Memorial and suggested the  exhibition to run alongside the launch of the  booklet.

The Museum prepared individual information files on every man on the OLAS War Memorial and Roll of Honour. These included individual biographical details; census information and material relevant to each man from their collection. They also brought along scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings from WW1 and WW2 together with relevant material from their photographic collection as well as artefacts linked to both Wars. They mounted specific displays on the Duffissey family and Pte Pat Devaney MM in  relation to World War 1 as well as  a display on the OLAS Peace Procession of 1919 and the dedication of the OLAS War Memorial in 1922.

In relation World War 2 as well as newspaper and Illustrated London News material there was a handling display on the Home Front, photographic material on the Otley A.T.C. and a special display of museum artefacts related to Ordinary Seaman Bernard Brogan.

The OLAS Parish History Group featured memories of Nellie Almond, Bertie Andrews, Nora Finlay, Beryl Foote, Edna Hart, Frank McManus, and Rita Walter, who had lived through World War 2 either in Otley or overseas.

There were specific displays of information on George Clifford Sweeting who served in WW1 and Joe Handley who served in WW2 as well as written and photographic material on the Constable family and the priests who worked in the parish in WW1 and WW2. St Joseph’s School provided extracts covering the war periods from its log book and photographs were displayed of group of pupils from St Josephs as far back as 1893.

It is estimated that over 300 people visited the exhibition.

The booklet is available to buy from Otley Museum, Wellcroft House, Otley Cycle Club, Crow Lane
 at a price of £1-00.  All proceeds to the museum.
 

The History Group of Our Lady & All Saints, Otley in co-operation with Otley Museum have helped in the production of this booklet.
Special thanks should be given to Bill Mulholland whose expertise and research on World One casualties has been invaluable.
I would also like to ackowledge the advice, support and help of Ellen (Nellie) Almond, Meryl Auty, Ron Dickenson, Nora Finlay, Sheila Hopper,
Pat Marshall, Frank McManus, Jean McManus, Mary Morgan, Tim Morgan, Fr. Tom O'Connor, Steve O'Neill, Jean Smith and Kathleen Young.
I also want to remember Linda Waite.  Her work at the Otley Museum and her support for and contribution to the exhibition accompanying  
this booklet was outstanding.  Sadly Linda died before the exhibition.

Chris Power MBE

Click here to go to photographs