Here are just a few of the many stories which have been told of both the men who fought for our Country and of the village’s activities during various wars.
Medieval Pool
In 1539 the men of England were called to be on stand-by for a possible war with France. The Township of Otley produced their Muster Rolls. This consisted of a list of local volunteers who also had to provide their own equipment. The more well-to-do was an archer and an able person who could provide a harnessed horse, whilst the willing peasant could only supply his able self and a *billhook”. Mention is made in our archives of the men below who came from Pool.
James Yngland (“Archer, horsed and harnessed, abyll person”); Thomas Rawlyngson; Richard Dunwell (“Archers having no harness, abyll persons”); William Dunwell (* “Bylman Horsed harnessed, Abyll person”); Richard Yngland (“Billman having no harness, Abyll person”).
* A billman fought with a long stick with a hook shaped blade. (hence “billhook”). In this case it was used to pull a rider from his horse. It was also used as a farming tool. The archer would use a longbow.
(Full list of Otley Muster Roll in Otley Museum O/O/dc10)
Boer War (1899 -1902)
Arthur Foster is among the 3rd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry returning from South Africa in 1902
Although not born in the village Arthur Foster arrived in Pool in 1934. His home was on the now demolished Old Post Office Row, locally named “Fatticake Row”. At his death in 1967, aged 84, he was quoted as being one of the last remaining soldiers who had fought in the Boer War. He enrolled in 1897 and after attaining the rank of Corporal was discharged in 1902. His boat journey to South Africa had taken four months. He was a crack shot and won many awards at Bisley including the Queen’s Cup in 1909. He fought in WW1 and was a member of the Air Raid Precautions Unit in WW2 also a member of the Pool Branch of the Royal British Legion. Being a keen cricketer was selected to play for the Army during the first tour of the South African team. His cricket interests continued and he played for Pool village, later becoming an umpire. After being employed as a forester on various estates, the final one being the Harewood Estate, he worked at Pool Paper Mill for twenty four years, retiring at the grand age of 78.
In June 1902 Pool School acknowledged the signing of the peace agreement between England and the Transvaal and Orange Free State by declaring a half day’s holiday.