CHRISTMAS 1914 will always be remembered as a day of unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front and one of its most enduring images is the no man's land football match.

But York also produced a remarkable picture that day; This one of soldiers from the West Yorkshire Regiment celebrating seasonal festivities at the Merchant Adventurers Hall.

York Press: Members of the Leeds Rifles, the 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment celebrating Christmas 1914 at the Merchant Adventurers Hall in York (13361664)

The grainy black and white photo has intrigued staff since it was discovered a few years ago says Lauren Marshall, the Hall's Manager. Who were the soldiers? What were they doing at the Hall and how did they hang those enormous garlands from the roof?

After a recent trawl through the Hall's vast archive the answer was finally revealed in a tatty unassuming document bound with string. Entitled Merchants Co. Tenancy Agreement with the Secretary of State, 1914, it is a signed contract which agrees the Hall could be used as a troop billet for the princely sum of £2.8/6 a week.

Up to 50 men were accommodated in the building and they were allowed to use the Great Hall and Undercroft. The photograph identify the men as coming from the Territorial (Leeds Rifles) 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment or “Kitchener’s Army” as many territorial forces were dubbed.

Unearthing the documents has now solved the mystery of what they were doing at the Merchant Adventurers Hall and provides a glimpse into their unique Christmas there 100 years ago. Although, says Lauren, the mystery of how those garlands were put up may never be solved.

"Apart from the text on the photo we previously had no inkling what it was about. The hall has been hired out for hundreds of years, with archives going back to 1356, so we were looking for six months within the history of a building that''s been around for 658 years."

Less of a conundrum is how the soldiers were expected to conduct themselves in such an ancient building and city.

Another newly discovered document is a set of special orders that would have been pinned to the front door of the Hall. It contains a list of do’s and don’ts, such as prohibiting smoking in any part of the building, curfew at 10.30 and a command that “Singing or shouting whilst marching through the streets of York is strictly forbidden.”

We could do with one of those now.

However, and despite the strict instructions, it is clear from the photo that the soldiers made themselves at home. Aside from reading and studying papers, one man is clearly enjoying a pipe in the Court Room, now part of the Great Hall.

"The archives also contains a long list of repairs that were required in the Hall including a number of broken window frames and lamps, leading to the suspicion that football may have been played in the Hall," says Lauren.

We also now know that those billeted were members of the Regiment's Band and to commemorate the centennial anniversary of their Christmas in blighty before heading off to France, the Yorkshire Volunteers Brass Ensemble Concert will play at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on December 11.

"After finding out that a version of their predecessors still exists, we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to have them play at the hall 100 years after the soldiers were billeted here," says Lauren.

For them it was probably an adventure; their first Christmas away from home and I suspect for many, their last one in England."

Tickets for the Yorkshire Volunteers Brass Ensemble Concert at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Thursday December 11 are on sale at £10. For more information please contact Lauren Marshall on 01904 654818.

 

  • Known as the Leeds Rifles, the 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment was formed in the summer of 1914 before moving to Selby, Strensall and then York in October.
     
  • In April 1915 the men set off for France and played an active part in some of the most notorious battles of the First World War including the Battle of the Somme and Passchendaele.