The Second World War began in September 1939 when the German Leader, Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. Britain and France went to war to help Poland, but by July 1940 German armies had overrun most of Europe, forcing the British Army to evacuate from Dunkirk to England.

Hitler’s powerful air force could now bomb cities in Britain from airfields in France, Denmark and Norway. The most important targets in Yorkshire were Sheffield, because it made steel, guns and bombs, and Hull, because it was an important port.

 The targets in Wakefield included the industrial areas along the River Calder and the canal. Even the sports manufacturer Sykes of Horbury was a target, because it had changed over to war work, shown by the women in this photograph making rifle parts.