PAINSTAKING work by military historians and tradespeople has brought the bravery of Cross Roads soldiers back into the light.

Men of Worth Project volunteers have spent six years recreating the memorial for men from the village’s Primitive Methodist Sunday School who fought in the First World War.

The replica memorial, which features both names and photographs of many men, may go on show at the Memorial Hall in Cross Roads Park.

Five photographs are still missing, but Men of Worth members hope present-day relatives may be able to supply replacements.

The work began in 2011 when the Men of Worth Project carried out a survey of all war memorials in the Keighley area removed from churches and other buildings because of their closure.

One of these was from Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Sunday School, and was known to have been given to Keighley Reference Library, but had gone missing since.”

The Men of Worth discovered photographs of the original memorial which, when magnified, showed up details of each man.

Mr Wade said: “In 2015 came the breakthrough when library staff were looking in some Methodist archive books and found the original photographs.

“The assumption was that the picture mount had disintegrated because of water damage and the staff at the time had salvaged the photos.

“With the original photographs we made the decision to see if we could make a replica using copies of the original photos and get business people in the town to assist in the making of it.”

Robert Riley of R & J Riley Joiners agreed to build the frame, while MJ Framing on High Street cut and made the mount for the photographs and assembled the sections. Local woman Sheila Butler carried out calligraphy for the men’s names.

Men of Worth members used computers to remove evidence of water damage from the pictures.

Everyone involved in the project was last Saturday invited to a gathering at MJ Framing to see the finished product.

Mr Wade added: “Representatives of the library attended, who were very appreciative of what we had achieved. Cllr Tito Arana of Haworth Cross Roads and Stanbury Council attended accepted the completed memorial on behalf of his district.

“Men of Worth Project would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the people and businesses that helped to bring this piece of history back to life.”