Yorkshire Regiment Officers Died
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Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War A Memorial Roll of the Officers of Alexandra Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment Who Died 1914 – 1919. Compiled by Robert Coulson (1952 – 2008) Page 1 of 246 Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War During the Great War the strength of the Yorkshire Regiment rose to twenty four battalions, twelve of which saw service in such diverse theatres as France, Flanders, Italy, Gallipoli, Egypt, Russia and India. Over 7500 officers and men gave their lives for their country serving with the regiment and on July 13th 1921 their memorial in the form of a Celtic cross was unveiled at the top of Frenchgate in Richmond, North Yorkshire. At the same ceremony Sir Edward Bulfin KCB, CVO handed over a memorial book in the parish church to the rector, Canon Nevill Edgerton Leigh containing the names of the fallen. From the first to die, Lt Richard Walmesley, who was killed in action at Ypres on October 21st 1914, to the last, Captain Tom Bailey who died in northern Russia on April 2nd 1919 this is my attempt to put together the stories of the Yorkshire Regiment officers who fell during the Great War. Over ninety years have now passed since the beginning of the “war to end all wars” and over two years since I began the task of compiling this roll. It is inevitable that there will be some mistakes and omissions in such a venture and all I can ask is that the reader will beg my pardon and be assured that I have gone to great lengths to ensure accuracy in every entry. I would also ask understanding in that over this passage of time, much as I regret it the information on some few of the men is sadly only brief. Bob Coulson Normanby, Middlesbrough March 2005. Robert Henry Coulson died on 8 November 2008. His papers were donated to the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, and the work below comes from these papers. Page 2 of 246 Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War 2nd Lt Robert Bernard Abrahams – 4th Battalion. A solicitor before the war, Robert Abrahams worked for Roberts, Abrahams and Co in London. He joined the London University Officer Training Corps in July of 1915 and was commissioned with the 4th battalion in September 1915. Robert Abrahams lost his life during the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916. In late August and early September the 4th battalion were involved in training exercises in the Millencourt area. On September 10th they were called into brigade support at Shelter Wood and on the evening of September 14th the battalion moved up into their assembly positions in Eye and Swansea trenches for an attack the following day. They had to move up over open ground as the communication trenches were so crowded. The Germans opened fire on the battalion and caused some forty casualties. 2nd Lt Robert Bernard Abrahams was killed in this action on September 14th 1916 aged 24. He was the son of Lewis and Millie Abrahams of 6 Stafford House, Maida Hill in London. His body was never recovered and he is remembered today on the Thiepval Memorial high on the old Somme battlefield. 2nd Lt Horace Acomb – 2nd Battalion attached to 2nd Devonshires. Horace Acomb was born in the city of York in 1894. He served with the 2nd battalion of the Yorkshires but was attached to the 2nd battalion of the Devonshire regiment when he was killed. The Devons had been involved in the early stages of the Somme battles and were then moved up to the Loos sector in late July 1916. 2nd Lt Horace Acomb was killed in action on August 21st 1916 aged 23 after a mine explosion in the Hulluch area as the battalion worked to clear the saps and dig out their buried comrades. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Acomb of 3 South Parade, York. Horace Acomb’s grave can be visited today at Vermelles British Cemetery to the south west of the village on the road to Mazingarbe. Page 3 of 246 Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War 2nd Lt Peter Aitchison – 2nd Battalion. Peter Aitchison was born on August 10th 1894 and saw service during the war from 1914 to 1917 with the 2nd Dragoons, Royal Scots Greys. With them he saw action at the battles of 2nd Ypres, Loos, where he was wounded and on the Somme. He was commissioned in January of 1918 and posted to the 2nd Yorkshires on May 2nd when the battalion were at Ouderdom. 2nd Lt Peter Aitchison was killed in action just six days later on May 8th 1918 in fighting at Voormezeele during a heavy, four hour bombardment by German artillery. Lt Aitchison was 23 years old and he is remembered today on the Tyne Cot Memorial close to the Passchendaele Ridge, his body never being recovered. He was the son of George and Mary Aitchison of Perthshire and the husband of Helen Frances Aitchison of 16 South Road, West Hartlepool. Lt Col Walter Lorenzo Alexander – 2nd Battalion. Walter Alexander was born at Erindale Co Carlow on September 8th 1872, the son of George and Susan Alexander and was educated at Denstone College and Sandhurst. A career soldier he was appointed 2nd Lt in May 1892, Lt in July 1896, Captain in December 1900, Major in February 1908 and Lt Colonel at the outbreak of the Great War. He landed with the 2nd battalion at Zeebrugge on October 6th 1914 where they were almost immediately in action during the 1st Battle of Ypres where he was wounded on October 29th. When recovered he rejoined the battalion as its commanding officer on December 23rd 1914 and was with the battalion at the battle of Neuve Chapelle in March of 1915. Lt Col Walter Alexander was killed in action on May 14th 1915 during the Battle of Festubert at the age of 42. Accompanied by Major Stansfeld they had moved up a communication trench to visit “C” and “D” companies in the front line when Lt Col Alexander was killed by a shell fragment believed to be from a British gun. Mentioned in Sir John French’s despatches,he was the husband of Mrs Mabel Alexander of the Thatched Cottage, Northam, Sussex. His grave can be seen today in Le Touret Military Cemetery four miles north east of Bethune. Quote from a letter written after his death, “All ranks loved, respected and honoured him” Page 4 of 246 Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War 2nd Lt Benjamin Sydney Appleyard – 2nd Battalion. Benjamin Appleyard was born in Bradford on May 3rd 1891. He served in the ranks of the West Yorkshire Regiment fighting on the Somme in 1916 where he was wounded in action at Guillemont. He was commissioned in August 1917 and was wounded again at Lens in November of that year. Benjamin Appleyard was posted to the 2nd Yorkshires on May 16th 1918 while the battalion was at Mazingarbe. 2nd Lt Benjamin Appleyard was killed in action during the battalion’s assault on Epinoy on September 29th 1918 at the age of 27, the battalion suffering heavy gas shelling and machine gun fire that day. 2nd Lt Appleyard was the son of Mr J A and Mrs Jane Appleyard of 233 Hall Lane, Bradford. His grave can be seen today at Chapel Corner Cemetery, Sauchy-Lestree close to Marquion to the east Arras. Lt William Appleyard – 6th Battalion. A university man, William Appleyard entered Clare College at Cambridge in 1912. He was one of the original territorial officers of the 6th battalion on the Army List in late 1914. He sailed with the battalion from Liverpool on July 3rd 1915 aboard HMTS Aquitania bound for the Dardenelles campaign. They landed on the island of Lemnos on July 10th and then moved to Imbros on July 20th for two weeks of training and acclimatisation. The 6th battalion were involved in the landings at Suvla Bay on August 6th and moved from the beach to assault Lala Baba hill, mention is made of Lt Appleyard marshalling his platoon during this attack. Lt William Appleyard was killed in action on August 22nd 1915 as the battalion suffered heavy casualties in the advance on Scimitar Hill inland from Suvla. Lt Appleyard’s body was lost to the battlefield and he is remembered today on the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli Penninsula. Page 5 of 246 Yorkshire Regiment Officers Who Died in the First World War Lt William Harold Armitage MC – 9th Battalion. William Armitage was not one of the original party of the 9th battalion who landed in France in August of 1915 but joined them in a draft later in the year. He was awarded the Military Cross for an action in early January of 1916 when in preparation for a trench raid he led out a party to cut the enemy wire. Although exposed to German searchlights which brought heavy fire down on them the wire was successfully cut. The raid itself was also a success and Captain Thompson who led the attack and Lt Armitage were both awarded the Military Cross. In March 1916 the battalion took over part of the line on the Souchez River and during April and May they were involved in the Angres sector where Lt William Harold Armitage MC was killed in action on May 22nd at the age of 24. He was the only son of William Henry and Eleanor Armitage of 34 Rutland Park, Clarkehouse Road, Sheffield.