Battle of the Somme film to be screened again in Keighley

The Men of Worth Project has arranged screenings at Keighley Library on Saturday October 22 and on November 19.

The October screening will begin at 10am and will be followed by an open session hosted by one of the Men of Worth’s volunteer historians.

Andy Wade will remain at the library until 4pm to give out free advice about researching family members who served in wartime.

The Men of Worth Project was set up to research the stories of all Keighley people who have served in past conflicts, including the First and Second World Wars.

Mr Wade is giving a talk this month to the 41 Club at the Bronte Hotel, Haworth, about local men who fought in the Somme battles and the research carried out by the Men of Worth.

Mr Wade said: “I will be giving a similar talk to Haworth and Worth Valley Rotary Club members on November 8 at Newsholme Manor in Oakworth.

”We will be repeating the Somme film and open session on Saturday, November 19 as this marks the end of the Somme Offensive on November 18, 1916.

“Our long-term library exhibition Somme 100 - Keighley's Men will come to an end on this day as well.

“This date will be the last chance to see the Somme film and we will be returning the disc to the Imperial War Museum shortly afterwards.”

The back of the Somme, which lasted from July to November 1916, began with the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army with 57,740 casualties including 19,240 killed.

The movie, filmed while the battle was still raging, was the first feature-length documentary about war and changed the way both cinema and film was perceived by the public.

In the year of the film's release around 20 million people, almost half the population of Britain at the time, watched it, many hoping to see the image of a loved-one or friend.

The Men of Worth Project recently showed the film at the Picture House on the exact 100th anniversary of the day it was first screened in Keighley, attracting around 75 people.