ORGANISERS of a First World War heritage initiative say they are delighted with the information being uncovered.

The lottery-funded Farnhill World War 1 Volunteers Project is researching the lives of village men who volunteered to serve in the conflict.

Co-ordinator Graham Taylor told a public event, held at the village institute on Friday to outline the venture, how information from different sources was being used to piece together the volunteers' lives and show what village life was like at the time.

And he explained how people could get involved, such as by helping out at events, conducting research through old newspapers or online and by preparing material for the web.

"There's something for everyone – whether it's helping now and again or on a more regular basis," said Mr Taylor.

"Previous experience is not required, as support and training can be provided."

The event heard that newspaper reports, school log books and parish minutes had already revealed how the local war effort got underway – with village ladies knitting huge volumes of socks and mittens.

Children at Kildwick School also gave their support, sending 36lb of parkin to a sale at the Albert Hall in London to raise funds for soldiers and prisoners of war.

To deter Zeppelin attacks, all but one of Farnhill's streetlights were turned off and Kildwick Scout troop was asked to guard the local reservoir.

There were tales of bravery too.

Lance Corporal Ambrose Bower was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action on the Somme, for "going into the German trenches and obtaining bombs" when his own men's supplies ran short.

Photos showing some of the volunteers in uniform were displayed.

Amongst them was Private Percy Walmsley, whose life was outlined by his great niece Helen Moran, a member of Farnhill and Kildwick Local History Group.

Private Walmsley first served in the 1/6th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment and later transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment, known as the Green Howards.

He was rescued twice in one day from the English Channel, in November, 1915.

Suffering from trench-foot, he was returning home on board the hospital ship Anglia when he had to jump overboard after it hit a mine and sank.

And then a passing ship which rescued men from the sea also sank after being struck by a torpedo.

"It's incredible to think Percy survived and lived into his nineties and it shows how important the project is in making sure the volunteers' stories before, during and after the war are researched and recorded for posterity," said Helen.

The project is being run by Kildwick and Farnhill Village Institute, supported by an £8,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund through its First World War: Then and Now programme.

Information gleaned from the research will be made available through talks, events and a website on which biographies of the men will be published.

Anyone wishing to participate or who has photographs, documents or other information of interest is asked to e-mail farnhillww1volunteers@gmail.com.

For more details, visit farnhill.co.uk.