Hull Corporation 1914-1918 Memorial

In August 1914, 178 Hull Corporation or Council staff enlisted in the Great War. Many were former soldiers, reservists or members of the Territorial forces. All were Volunteers. One was a widower, 92 of the 178 men were married and had dependent wives and children. There were also many single men, who supported their family, in various ways and in one case, lived at home with two blind parents. To encourage enlistment, the Council offered to make up the wages of staff who enlisted and paid 2 shillings a week for every dependent child. The Corporation also promised servicemen their jobs back when they returned.

The above 40 men were the first Council Staff to enlist and die in the war. There is no Official Memorial or Plaque to them, at the Hull Guildhall, (as there are for Hull Teachers, and Council Staff killed in the Spanish Civil War). However, their stories can be found in the Council War Minutes and Archives at the Hull History Centre. You can also search each name on this website for more information, on what they did and where they lived, etc.

Many more Council Staff enlisted during the course of the war, particularly when compulsory conscription was introduced in 1916. Therefore the list above will be updated, over time.

Not included above are the 27 Hull Teachers, from the Hull Education Department, killed in the 1914-18 war. Their stories are told here https://ww1hull.com/clergymen-2/