We are always looking for objects with a strong local story to add to our collection. Although our museums have been sadly closed for most of the last year, behind the scenes we have still been busy acquiring exciting items. One recent addition is this top notch example of Horbury leatherwork from the First World War (1914 – 1918). It shows another way that the town contributed to the war effort.
Bandolier, 1916, made by William Sykes Ltd. in Horbury |
It is a 1903 pattern used by British soldiers during the First World War.
Soldiers wearing bandoliers in the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons. They are P.H. Charlesworth, A. Beilby and Mr Cooper, 1914 - 1918 |
Soldier in the Royal Artillery with a bandolier, 1914 - 1918 |
The bandolier is stamped with the name Sykes and the year
1916. Sykes refers to the local company, William Sykes Ltd. At the time, the company was on its way to becoming one of the largest sports
manufacturers in the world. Skilled leather and wood workers made all manner of
bats, balls, rackets, pads and gloves for every kind of player, amateur and
professional, all from Sykes’ Yorkshire Athletic Manufactory in Horbury.
They also adapted their skills to make equipment for the
military. As early as the Boer War (1899 – 1902), Sykes fulfilled orders for the
War Office. As well as sports equipment for basic training, they made kit such
as this bandolier and other leather strapping worn by soldiers.
By the Second World War (1939 - 1945), the
Sykes workforce of a thousand local people produced an array of equipment, from bayonets and ammunition
boxes to sand goggles and skis. The factory made over a million sets of wooden
rifle furniture at a peak rate of 11,000 sets a week.
Workers making rifle furniture at Sykes' Albion Mill in the Second World War |
The bandolier is the first example of William Sykes Ltd's First World War work that we’ve ever seen and acquired. It will become part of our Playmakers collection, which represents and celebrates the incredible contribution to international sport made by skilled workers in Horbury from the late 1800s to late 1900s.
Sykes produced a vast range of goods for a huge variety of
different sports. When the company later became part of the Dunlop Slazenger
group, Horbury remained the centre of production and innovation. Thousands of
people enjoyed playing sports using Horbury-made goods. Equipment developed
locally starred on the world stage at major sporting events. Many elite sports people chose pioneering
Horbury products to help propel them to the top of their game.
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