Friday, May 7, 2004

100 years ago: An amusing story was told, with all seriousness as a new recruiting drive started, of a recruit with a North Yorkshire Volunteer Battalion. His company was out for field training one evening with the local lieutenant and when, having done fairly well, the company was halted at a roadside hostelry for a refresher, the men were told to put their rifles down and take it easy. The recruit had been told that he was not to speak on parade, and when for a few quiet words on the coming camp the officer fell the men in without arms, a queer look was seen on the lad's face, but he said nothing. Later when "pick up rifle" was given it was seen that the recruit's was missing. Then it came out that, careful of his weapon, he had placed it on the back flap of a trap which had been standing at the hostelry door, and that he had seen the trap drive off with his gun and yet dare not risk unknown penalties by making a remark. What punishment he got, if any, for losing his rifle was not recorded.

50 years ago: The last run of the Northallerton to Hawes railway passenger service through Wensleydale was "something like an Irishman's wake." There were meetings between old friends, beer was drunk, and refreshments were served. The Gateshead-built engine had a laurel wreath round its funnel and there were black crepe streamers on the rear coaches, and flags were at half-mast along the route. At Ainderby Steeple the vicar of Ainderby arrived at the station with his wife as though to greet a funeral, and a local undertaker arrived shortly afterwards in sombre garb and top hat to complete the scene.

10 years ago: The Yorkshire Air Museum landed its first German aircraft, a full-sized replica of a Messerschmitt, scourge of Britain's Second World War fighter pilots. It was put on display at the museum at Elvington, near York, after a museum member took six years to make the aircraft, although he still had the wings, wheels and propeller to fix and the body to paint in Luftwaffe insignia. It would then be housed in a new hangar, which should be on the site within the next two years.

Updated: 16:47 Thursday, May 06, 2004