New wartime documentary reveals Yorkshire family's link to deadly attack

A new First World War documentary with strong links to Yorkshire is bringing to life the events of a devastating bombardment (Image: Mick Child)

A new historical documentary with strong links to Yorkshire is bringing to life the events of a devastating wartime attack.

The Hartlepools Bombarded tells the story of the First World War bombardment of the Hartlepools, which took place on December 16, 1914, when German warships attacked the North East coast.

Produced by Forge Photography and Film Production Limited, the film has strong links to Yorkshire, both on and off screen, and explores the human stories behind the shells.

A key contributor to the film is 12-year-old Maisie Maddison from Shipley, who researched her family’s connection to the bombardment and introduces audiences to the story of her great-grandmother Annie, who survived the attack as a child.

Yorkshire’s involvement extends to the cast and production team.

Lily Johnson from York appears as a character based on Annie Neacy, Maisie’s great-grandmother, while Jay Brown, who studied alongside Mick Child on the MA Media Production programme at York St John University, served as first assistant director.

The original score was composed by York musician Harry Leaf, lead singer of the band Slurp.

It was recorded on a baby grand piano at the parish church of St Lawrence in York, chosen for its acoustics and its memorial windows to First World War casualties and Normandy veterans.

Mick Child, writer and director, said: "When we first discussed this film, I imagined something lasting around 12 minutes, using material we had already filmed for The Baby Killers.

"Then the Tees Valley International Film Festival stepped in and offered its support, and suddenly the possibilities became much greater.

"Every time we returned to Hartlepool, another story emerged, and another person offered to help.

"Before we knew it, our little 12-minute film had grown into something approaching 40 minutes.

"What has made this film possible has been the extraordinary generosity of people.

"Historians have shared their knowledge, museums and heritage organisations have opened their doors, actors and crew have travelled from across the North East and Yorkshire, and families have trusted us with their stories."

The project grew from an initial 12-minute concept, using footage from Forge’s earlier documentary The Baby Killers: 1914 Bombardment of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, which opened the Tees Valley International Film Festival in 2024.

Mr Child added that the film is ultimately about people, not just military history.

He said: "For me, this film isn’t really about the calibre of a gun or the movement of a warship.

"Those things are important, but ultimately it is about the people underneath the shells."

The Hartlepools Bombarded will premiere at 11am on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at ARC Stockton Arts Centre, opening the Tees Valley International Film Festival.

Plans are underway for additional screenings, including in York.