KEIGHLEY’s leading military historian will reveal secrets of the Keighley Riots of 1914 in his latest talk.

Andy Wade’s free talk at Cliffe Castle Museum in Saturday August 25, will tie in with the museum’s Great War exhibition which runs until November.

Mr Wade, founder of Keighley soldiers’ group Men of Worth Project, is an expert on the riots against the town’s German pork butchers in the summer that the First World War broke out.

He said: “On August 29 and 30, four German butcher's shops in High Street, Church Street, South Street and Low Street were smashed up by a crowd of about 2,000 people after an altercation between labourer Thomas Kelly and butcher Karl Andrassy in his shop at 40, High Street.

“The Andrassy, Hoffman, Stein and Shulz butchers' shops were all smashed and looted by the crowds. The ringleaders were sent to jail for three months with hard labour and several others were bound over to keep the peace.

“Karl Andrassy and his family left town immediately and never returned, Karl being interned as an enemy alien the next year for the remainder of the war.

”The principal ringleader on Saturday 30th August 1914 was William Darcy who had incited the crowds, strutting about in front of them, saying 'Who will join Sergeant Major Darcy's Army?'. The 'Darcy's Army' nickname stuck with his family for many years afterwards.

“Darcy's own criminal record makes for very interesting reading and I'll be sharing details of it during the talk.”

The talk will be at 1pm in the Education Room at Cliffe Castle Museum at 1.00 pm on Saturday August 25.

People are advised to reserve a seat because places are already running out. Call 01535 618231 to book.

Visit bradfordmuseums.org/whats-on for further information about the talk and exhibition.