SKILLED workers from blacksmiths to farmhands made up the Wolds Wagoners – a group of local men drafted in to serve whichever army unit needed them during the war, driving the wagons, writes Hannah Bryan.

Among them was Westow man, Sunley Grice, who joined the war as a Wolds Wagoner in 1913 at the age of 21.

Joining with him was his brother, John Williams, and his step-brother, John Simpson.

Sunley Grice was the 27th Wagoner to be signed up from the area where he had been working as a farm worker in Westow.

Carrie Pillow, of Flaxton, and her family have kept detailed documents of her great, great uncle’s journey as a Wolds Wagoner and even have possession of his original badges.

“My mum kept a lot of information on him and we still have some of the beautiful postcards that he and his brothers used to send to each other,” Carrie said.

“They really were beautiful, with embroidered edges and they are lovely to look at.” Sunley Grice came from a large family of four brothers and three sisters and his proud achievements are still remembered in the family today.

Carrie said: “We have kept two of his original badges as well – we kept everything we could.

“Eventually, they will go in to Wagoners’ Museum at Sledmere, Driffield.”

Sunley Grice was a member of the Worcestershire Regiment but died in action at Flanders on April 17, 1918, at the age of 26.

Carrie said: “They would have been thinking that it was a wonderful chance to see the world and he made it all the way to 1918, so he was very nearly at the end.”

A memorial for the Wolds Wagoners runs along the B1253 through Sledmere.

The carvings around the circular monument tell the story of the men who were a part of the Wolds Wagoners, from when they were working the land right up until they made their way to war.