THIS Sunday, people will gather at Bradford's Cenotaph for one of the most poignant Remembrance Sunday events in living memory.

And, as the city pays its respects to the fallen during this centenary year, a major new exhibition about Bradford's part in World War One will be going on show at City Hall on the day itself.

The display, created by the Bradford World War One Group, combines wartime photographs with original articles from the Bradford Daily Telegraph to tell the story of the beginning of the Great War, 100 years ago.

Through eight separate banners, the display explains how the outbreak of war affected every part of life in Bradford, from the local men who enlisted to the impact on the city's trade with Germany.

Each of the display panels is based on articles from the Bradford Daily Telegraph between August 3 and early November 1914.

One of those who put the exhibition together was the secretary of the Bradford World War One Group, Tricia Platts.

She said: "Each panel is based on articles from the paper, with some additional research so we can say what the background to the headlines was."

One panel explains how the Bradford Mechanics' Institute served as the recruiting station for the Bradford Pals, and recruits from the first few days came from 106 different trades and professions.

Another panel shows how official news about early casualties couldn't always be relied on, as ill-preparedness of the War Office meant there had been little time for secure communications to be put in place.

Captain CH Ackroyd, son of the Bradford woolcombing family, was described as "the first known Bradfordian to fall in battle".

In fact, he had been taken as a prisoner of war and was repatriated in 1919. He died in Suffolk in 1960 at the age of 73.

Members of the public can view the display in City Hall's Banqueting Hall throughout the day on Sunday.

It is just part of the events planned for the city centre that day.

At 11am, military veterans, uniformed organisations, civic leaders and members of the public will be paying their respects at the cenotaph at the annual Service of Remembrance.

The main entrance to City Hall will then be opened as the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Gibbons, hosts tea and refreshments.

People can look at the Bradford World War One Group's exhibition in the Banqueting Hall.

Then at 3pm, a moving performance of poetry and prose from the First World War will be given.

It is being held as a fundraiser for the Honour The Pals Appeal, which is raising money for a fitting memorial in France for the Bradford Pals who died during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Bradford Civic Society and Ilkley Playhouse have joined forces to put together the performance, which was created for this year’s Ilkley Literature Festival.

They then decided to put on the second performance specifically as a fundraiser for the Honour the Pals Appeal.

Civic Society chairman Alan Hall, who compiled the readings which make up the performance, said the Bradford World War One Group's exhibition would create a fitting backdrop to the performance.

He said: "I have spoken to Tricia Platts, who is organising it, as she is as Civic Society member as well as being the secretary of the World War One Group. She asked me if it would be ok, and as far as we are concerned, it would add to it.

"If they are round the outside, it would actually enhance what we are doing."

The performance combines classic poetry from the likes of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon with less well-known readings.

Performing the readings are actors Kay Vann, Maggy Warren, Jan Thomas, James Kingsley and Nick Pennington.

Tickets will cost £5 each on the door — and the organisers hope the performance will raise more than £500 for the Honour The Pals Appeal.

The appeal is being run by the Telegraph & Argus and Bradford Council, with the support of the Bradford World War One Group.

From Tuesday, November 11, the Bradford World War One Group's exhibition will go on display at the Bradford Mechanics' Institute Library in Kirkgate.

People will be able to view it during normal opening hours, from 9.30am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and from 9.30am to noon on Saturdays.

The last entry will be half an hour before closing time.