Wednesday, December 31, 2014

George Kellett's World War One Diary: December 1918

Throughout 2014 have been tweeting entries from a World War 1 soldier’s 1918 diary. You can follow George Kellett’s diary entries on Twitter @WW1_Diary.

This is the last month's diary entries.

For George Kellett's November diary entries please see our previous blog: November 1918 


Sunday 1 December 1918
ED again today

Wednesday 4 December 1918
Left Malonne for Sclayn

Thursday 5 December 1918
Left Sclayn for Huy

Friday 6 December 1918
Left Huy for Ouffet  about 22 kilos

Saturday 7 December 1918
Left Ouffet for Soumagne about 23 kilos

Sunday 8 December 1918
Left  Soumagne at 9am for Becco about 8 or 9 kilos

Monday 9 December 1918
Left Becco for Longfaye a march of 23 miles

Tuesday 10 December 1918
No march today a day of resting

Wednesday 11 December 1918
Left Longfaye at 8am Elsenborn

Friday 13 December 1918
Left Kesternich for ?

Saturday 14 December 1918
Arrived at Duren

Tuesday 15 December 1918
Making bread sticks for the company.  Went down town after went in a cafĂ© for a supper where they had a violin and piano.  Had a good time.

Thursday 17 December 1918
Out for a short march from 10am to noon

Wednesday 25 December 1918
Had dinner in the gym a jolly good food.

Saturday 28 December 1918
No parade standing by to make Rifle Racks for the barracks

Sunday 29 December 1918
No parade again today but have not started work yet.  Went to church service in the town tonight with Cpt Palmer.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmases, hectic though they may be, are actually a doddle compared to the traditions of old. Medieval people celebrated all 12 days of Christmas, from December 25 through to Epiphany – the day the three kings turned up with gifts for the newborn Jesus – although they did not usually feast every day. Some households had their big feast on Christmas Day. For others it was the first of January or the 6th, depending on local custom.

"The Twelve days of Christmas" song was first published in 1780,  without music.  The tune we all know coming much  later in 1909.

We have introduced 12 objects from our collections into Wakefield Museum's displays (please note, the museum is now closed until 9am on 5th January).


'A partridge in a pear tree'  - Partridge from natural history collection


"Two Turtle Doves" - Unmarked, Dunderdale stoneware teapot


"Three French hens" - Christmas card decorated with image of hen and roses.
"Four Collie Birds" - Blackbird from the Waterton Collection - the word 'collie' coming from collier, meaning black


"Five gold rings"- 500 year old ring with wording 'I'm all yours' in medieval French from Sandal Castle

"Six geese a-laying" - Painted wooden fan made with goose feathers

"Seven swans a-swimming" - Valentine card given to Frances Eliza Waddington c. 1880


"Eight maids a-milking" - Milk can produced 1910-15 with  J.C.B. trade mark

"Nine ladies dancing"  - Victorian lady's dance card and pencil made by Faber -  dated 24th February 1876

"Ten lords a-leaping" -   A ceramic bust of Lord Derby


"Eleven pipers piping"  - Wooden pipe with metal ring top and bottom


"Twelve Drummers Drumming" - Tin drum used by  Professor Stafford who taught Punch and Judy in the 1950s


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Roman 'Christmas' event at Castleford Museum

 A special event  at Castleford Forum Museum this Saturday - Saturnalia.

Saturnalia is the best-known Roman festival which ran from  17th to 23rd December.
It was a time of gift-giving, feasting, and time to  decorate the house with greenery - sound familiar?



Come to Castleford Museum between 10 and 3pm this Saturday to find out how the Romans celebrated!  Meet a Roman soldier, hear some Roman stories and make yourself a Roman mosaic coaster to take home - the perfect last-minute Christmas gift!








Friday, December 12, 2014

A Vintage Christmas!

Need some inspiration for a Christmas party?   Tired using the same old decorations?   Just got too much time on your hands?

Have a look at this 1950s publication from our collection, and party with style!



Who  doesn't have room in their heart for a Jolly Snowman?

I'm sure you've all got time to sew together pieces of red crepe paper to make a Father Christmas hat!

Head on a plate, anyone?

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Much-loved painting of Pontefract Castle to be seen in a different light!

One of Pontefract Museum’s most well-loved paintings is to undergo vital restoration work ahead of a new Civil War exhibition.

The painting of Pontefract Castle by Alexander Keirincx, which has been part of Wakefield Council’s art collections for 50 years, was taken off display today to undergo specialist conservation treatment and be glazed to protect it for the future.
The Keirincx comes off display


Packed by a specialist art and museum transport service -  the painting leaves for conservation


Following conservation work, the Keirincx painting will be on display at The Hepworth Wakefield before its appearance in a new Civil War exhibition at Pontefract Museum in Spring 2015.

Cllr Les Shaw, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “This is one of the most popular and well-loved paintings in the Museum and the restoration work will ensure it can be enjoyed by people now and by future generations.”

While at The Hepworth Wakefield, the painting will be part of a display celebrating the unique heritage of Wakefield and the wider region.

The newly refreshed painting will be display at The Hepworth Wakefield from Saturday 24th January 2015.

Then it will return to Pontefract Museum as the star attraction for the Civil Wars in Yorkshire exhibition from mid-April 2015.

The new exhibition is funded by the Arts Council England, and will explore the Civil Wars in Yorkshire. With unique civil war objects from the museum’s collections this will be a fitting display for the return of the Keirincx  which will take pride of place.

Keirincx’s painting of Pontefract Castle gives a rare and priceless insight into the past before the Castle was demolished by order of Parliament in 1649. This once grand castle was nicknamed the ‘key to the North’ and according to the National Gallery, the painting is the best example of a painting of a British castle in existence.