Remembrance Day: George Kellett and Arthur Cox

 On November 11, 1918, Wakefield-born soldier George Kellett wrote in his diary:

"We heard that an Armistice had been signed but we keep hearing explosions and cannot tell whether it is gunfire or not"

George’s diary is a valuable insight into an ordinary soldier’s experience of the First World War. 

We’ve put together an interactive learning resource based on his diary entries.

George Kellett in uniform during the First World War.
He would have been in his early 20s during the War.

George survived the war and was demobilised (taken out of active service) on January 21st 1919.

He went home to marry his childhood sweetheart Emma.

A postcard from George to Emma, which reads: 21st January 1919 - Demobilised today. Don't write until you hear from me. Best love, George xxx

Unfortunately, many soldiers were not as lucky as George.

We’re also remembering Sergeant Arthur Cox, from Thornes Lane, Wakefield.

A Sergeant with the Royal Field Artillery, Arthur earned the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

A hand-tinted photograph of Sergeant Arthur Cox

Unlike George, Arthur was an experienced soldier, having previously risen to the rank of Corporal with a volunteer regiment, the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons. 

He had fought in South Africa during the Second Boer War and been honoured with the Freedom of Wakefield.

Arthur sadly died just a few weeks after the government announced his Military Medal award in the London Gazette. 

Arthur Cox's medals, with the Military Medal (top left), other service medals, and his memorial plaque in the centre.

Arthur was killed in action on 29^th July 1917 ahead of the 3^rd Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. 

He is buried at the Godeswaersvelde British War Cemetery in France, near the Belgian border. 

After the Armistice, Arthur’s widow received a photograph of his grave, his posthumous service medals, and a memorial plaque. Sometimes called the ‘Widow’s Penny, these plaques were sent to the next of kin of all fallen soldiers. Arthur’s family proudly displayed the plaque surrounded by his medals from both wars. 

The photograph of Arthur's grave at Goedeswaersvelde British War Cemetary, sent to his widow after the Armistice

Sargeant Cox's grave in more recent years, now with a headstone.
Photo shared with thanks to Clare Ledger-Potter, Cox's great-granddaughter.

Today, we are remembering Arthur, George, and all of those who have served in the armed forces.

Click here to read George's 1918 diary entries and find out more about his experiences.

New Interactive World War 1 Resource: George Kellett's Diary

What lessons can we learn from World War 1? 

How do you teach World War 1 to a child?

How do you teach about Remembrance Day?

We’ve put together an interactive resource based on the diary of Wakefield-born soldier, George Kellett, ready-made for use in lessons or for homework.

For KS2 upwards and packed full of photos, videos, objects and an interactive map, view it here!

A photo of George Kellett in his soldier's uniform

D-Day landings, Wakefield, George Kellett & Peggy Taylor

We've revisited this blog ahead from 2014 ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings!

Discover Wakefield's role in the D-Day landings. Learn about the part played by local people Peggy Taylor and George Kellett, among others.

6 June was the 70th anniversary of the Second World War Normandy landings, known as D-Day.

Despite being far from the action Wakefield played a crucial role in the success of the operation.  

Drake & Warters

Some of the landing craft used in the D-Day landings were built in Wakefield.  The Landing Craft Assaults were made at joinery & shop fitters company Drake & Warters Ltd in 1943.

The first LCA to be made at the factory was the 1144.  This is an image of it being launched:

There's more information about Drake & Warters involvement in the production of the LCAs on Heritage Daily.

Peggy Taylor

Drake & Warters also employed 800 women and girls to enable them to meet the order.  

A British Pathe newsreel survives that shows the factory and introduces some of the workers.

One of the girls working at the factory and who features in the newsreel was Peggy Taylor, a former cinema usherette.

We'd love to know if Peggy Taylor or her family are still living in Wakefield.  If you think you know Peggy then please contact us at museums@wakefield.gov.uk.

George Kellett

George Kellett was born in 1894 in Wakefield. He worked as a joiner, and served in the Duke of Cornwall regiment in the First World War. 

He wrote a diary throughout 1918 detailing his experiences of serving in the war in France and Belgium. 

After the First World War, George returned to his work as a carpenter and joiner. At some point he became a Drake & Warters employee. He was still working there in 1943 when the company were busy producing the landing craft, and so it is very likely he was also involved in their production. 

George Kellett was a trusted and longstanding employee of Drake & Warters and is mentioned in a Wakefield Express newspaper article dating from April 1950, celebrating the firm's Silver Jubilee:

'Most of the people working there are local and many have been there since its formation.  “They are the people that made the business” says Mr Drake.  Six of them, Fred Mundy, George Kellett, Joseph Trantor, Ernest Blakey, John Beck and Edwin Thresh were presented with silver tankards…The firm’s employees are proud of their efforts in the Second World War… These included the building of 72 invasion craft in as many weeks'

This is an image of Drake & Warters staff from around 1930 - we believe that George Kellett is on the middle row, eighth in from the left.

Click here to read through George Kellett's First World War diary.