IT is a place made famous by its fairies.

When cousins Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright took photographs of fairies dancing on the banks of Cottingley Beck between 1917 and 1920 their images fooled scientists and intellectuals alike, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The girls later admitted faking the photos but the fascination with the myth and legend surrounding their stunt lives on.

It was around the same era that Britain was embroiled in the Great War. The aforementioned fairies probably injected some light into the darkness around that time when Cottingley, like many other similar sized villages, were waving their men off to war.

According to Clive Harrison’s ‘A Village at War - A Commentary on life in the village of Cottingley 1914-1919, at least 171 men joined the armed forces from the village. Sadly 31 didn’t return.

Clive looks at life in the village while the men went to war; how the women and young people used some of their time in raising funds or collecting goods and material for the soldiers, both active and wounded, and refugees.

He talks about Cottingley Sewing Party hosting a social in the school room at Cottingley Town Hall in 1915. The sewing party were also instrumental in turning out socks for the soldiers.

Parcels of clothing and other items were also distributed to the men.

By Christmas 1916 the number of men on active service increased rapidly indicative of the number of parcels sent to Cottingley men - Clive discovered.

The collections continued throughout 1917 and were reported each week in the Keighley News.

During the war years, education in Cottingley continued as normal with some exceptions.

In August 1914 school attendance was poor due to the prevalence of whooping cough. In 1917 and 1918 chicken pox and measles affected attendance and outbreaks of influenza struck twice in 1918.

Interestingly, in January 1915 pupils assembled to watch as the Bradford Pals Battalion left Bradford en route to Skipton by road.

Other significant occasions brought extensions to the school holidays. In December 1917 Christmas came early for the children when their headteacher declared a “Special Order of the Day” re Cambrai victory and the prowess of the 62nd West Riding Division giving them an early start for their Christmas holiday. In May 1918 pupils had half a day off school when King George V and Queen Mary visited.

Cottingley children also contributed to the war effort sending gifts to the soldiers, and in 1916 there was a treat in return for the youngsters whose fathers were serving in the armed forces - a visit from Father Christmas bearing gifts including reading books and boxes of bricks as well as a new coin, an apple and orange.

Clive’s tome also talks about the importance of the Red Cross during the war years. In March 1916 Mrs Brailsford of Bradford gave a lecture at the Town Hall on Red Cross work in France. Her lecture gave an account of various incidents which occurred during her stay in France and or hardships endured by Red Cross workers.

For many villages like Cottingley life went on, but its inhabitants were mindful of their menfolk who were no longer with them.

Clive’s book is a fascinating and interesting look back into how the war impacted on local communities and how those left behind rallied round to support in a shining example of community spirit.

‘A Village at War - A commentary on life in the village of Cottingley 1914-1919 is printed by efour Print and Finishing Services supporting people with learning difficulties.

It costs £6.99 (including postage). Email: harrisonhistory@talktalk.net