A PROUD LOCAL HISTORY
This book examines Barrow’s contribution to the Great War, the men from the surrounding Lakeland area who fought in the conflict and the role of local women. There’s also background information on the area’s iron ore deposits, historical landmarks like the Furness Railway and the renowned shipbuilding industry. Amongst the famous boats to have come out of Barrow’s shipyards was HMS Vanguard, which fought in the battle of Jutland at the outbreak of World War One.
The Mayfly (or the Won’t Fly as Sir Winston Churchill called it) built by Vickers at Barrow along similar lines to the very early Zeppelins, was launched in 1911 and was also the first British built rigid airship. Barrow has gone from strength to strength since those early days and is now kept busy by producing Astute submarines for the Royal Navy. One of the town’s long-standing traditions is for local people to turn out when a new submarine is launched.
This book is also a reference guide to local war dead, war heroes, lost heroes, recipients of the Victoria Cross and memorials with the names of those commemorated (including people whose names were unwelcome on memorials). Barrow’s War Memorial in Barrow Park was unveiled in November 1921 by Field Marshall Sir William “Wullie” Robertson and records close to 600 names of those who fought and died in the First World War.
