Clowne At War, World War I

This booklet tells the story of WWI through the lens of Clowne, a small North Derbyshire village that was celebrating a royal visit in June 1914—just days before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered events leading to war. Like much of the country, Clowne saw a huge early response, with an estimated 300–400 local men volunteering over the next five years.

Produced by Clowne Local History Society and based on research by Rita Mellor (with added names and background), it focuses on the 105 men and boys named on the Clowne War Memorial (aged 17–38), who served in 30 different regiments/services across theatres including Gallipoli, France and Belgium, in battles such as Mons, Ypres and Passchendaele. The book includes photos sourced from newspaper archives and military records, with ongoing research continuing and further names still being identified. Publication was supported by Cllr Natalie Hoy, Derbyshire County Council and Capital Refractories of Clowne, with strong support from Barlborough Heritage and Resource Centre; family histories for the 105 men are available on Ancestry (subscription required) for booklet purchasers.