In this talk Rob Bell covers a wide context of the First World War and moved to the immediate impact of the shelling of Scarborough; U boats and the suspension of fishing plus Zeppelins and the diversion of cargoes as the vast majority of the men of Hull worked as dockers or in the fishing industry - no work, no pay with the army as a sole option to go for. 

Rob traces the specifics of the East Yorkshire Regiment Regulars and Territorials before the launch of the Hull Pals culminating in the tragedy of Oppy Wood. Finally, with references to Smith & Nephew’s success with bandages; Tolkien’s recuperation in Hull and Holderness and as an inspiration for Lord of the Rings with the backdrop of lost momentum on the docks carrying into the Depression years Rob explores the longer-term impact of WW1 on the local economy.