A POIGNANT tribute is to be paid to Silsden men who gave their lives on the First World War battlefields.

More than 90 wristbands – each bearing the name of a soldier from the town killed during the conflict – will be distributed during this year’s Remembrance Sunday service in Silsden, on November 11.

The initiative is being staged jointly by Silsden’s local history group and the team organising the town’s remembrance commemorations, including the Royal British Legion and churches.

St James’ Church vicar, the Rev David Griffiths, who will lead the service at Silsden war memorial, said: “On the centenary of the armistice, these wristbands will have very special meaning for the town.

“Each name has its own story and we hope those who receive a wristband will feel more greatly connected to a son of Silsden from the past, who is worthy of our remembrance.

“This is a very personalised way, at such a historic anniversary, of recognising every life that was lost in that terrible war.”

Janet Thomas – who has created and handmade the wristbands in individual styles with Janet Phillis, a fellow director of the locally-based craft collective, Many Hands – said: “It has been a real privilege to be asked to make them.

“I have thought and wondered about each soldier as I added the name to a wristband.

“It has been a very poignant task indeed.”

Another new feature of the Silsden Remembrance Sunday service this year will be the reading out of all the names of the town’s fallen.

The task will be performed by groups of Scouts, Guides and church members.

The traditional laying of poppy wreaths is being organised by Royal British Legion officers, who are also co-ordinating the annual parade, which will leave Wesley Place for the memorial gardens at 10.45am.

Other events to commemorate the armistice are being held in the town throughout that weekend.

On the Saturday, November 10, the local history group is staging a special coffee morning.

The event – at the town hall from 9.30am – will include an exhibition, Silsden’s Story in the Great War.

The exhibition was first displayed in the town in 2014, a century on from the start of the conflict.

It was shown initially at the town hall in August that year and got a second showing during the remembrance weekend.

The exhibition had been on display at Bradford Mechanics Institute following an invitation by the city’s World War One Group, and was acclaimed as “inspirational”.

There were numerous requests for a repeat display.

And on the evening of November 10, the highly-acclaimed Follow the Fleece theatre company – from Bradford – will be at the town hall to perform its play, To End All Wars. The production begins at 7.30pm.