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12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
12th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) was raised at York on the 16th of September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New army and joined 63rd Brigade, 21st Division. The Division concentrated in the Tring area, training at Halton Park before winter necessitated a move into local billets in Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Wycombe and Maidenhead. In May 1915 the infantry moved to huts at Halton Park. On the 9th of August they moved to Witley Camp. They proceeded to France during the first week of September, landing at Le Havre and marched across France to going into the reserve for the British assault at Loos on the 26th of September suffering heavy casualties. On the 16th of November 1915 the Battalion transferred to 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
In 1916 they took part in The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to The Somme for The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 They were at Arras, seeing action at Battles of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They moved north to the Flanders and were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road and Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres. Then moved south and were in action at The Battle of Cambrai. On the 17th of February 1918 the 12th West Yorks was disbanded in France, the troops amalgamating with the 8th East Yorks to form the 10th Entrenching Battalion.
12th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) was raised at York on the 16th if September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third New army and joined 63rd Brigade, 21st Division. The Division concentrated in the Tring area, training at Halton Park before winter necessitated a move into local billets in Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Wycombe and Maidenhead. In May 1915 the infantry moved to huts at Halton Park. On the 9th of August they moved to Witley Camp. They proceeded to France during the first week of September, landing at Le Havre and marched across France to going into the reserve for the British assault at Loos on the 26th of September suffering heavy casualties. On the 16th of November 1915 the Battalion transferred to 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
In 1916 they took part in The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to The Somme for The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 They were at Arras, seeing action at Battles of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They moved north to the Flanders and were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road and Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres. Then moved south and were in action at The Battle of Cambrai. On the 17th of February 1918 the 12th West Yorks was disbanded in France, the troops amalgamating with the 8th East Yorks to form the 10th Entrenching Battalion.
Sep 1914 21st Division was established in September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Third New Army, K3. The units of the Division initially concentrated in the Tring area
In May 1915 the infantry moved to huts at Halton Park, the artillery went to Aston Clinton (One brigade staying at Berkhamsted) and the RE to Wendover. Rifles were received in late June 1915 and after firing their first course the infantry moved from 9 August to Witley Camp. Lord Kitchener inspected the Division on the march on 12 August.
Advanced parties embarked for France began on 2 September and the main body began to cross the Channel five days later. Units moved to assemble near Tilques, completing concentration on 13 September. The Division's first experience was truly appalling. Having been in France for only a few days, lengthy forced marches brought it into the reserve for the British assault at Loos. GHQ planning left it too far behind to be a useful reinforcement on the first day, but it was sent into action on 26 September, whereupon it suffered over 3,800 casualties for very little gain.
mid Sep 1914 21st Division at Halton Park At the outbreak of war, Halton Park in Buckinghamshire was offered to the War Office by Alfred de Rothschild for use as a training camp. The first division to arrive was the 21st Yorkshire Division comprising; 8th East Yorkshire, 10th Green Howards, 14th Northumberland Fusiliers, 8th Lincolns, 12th West Yorkshire, 10th York & Lancaster and 9th and 10th KOYLI. They had their Divisional HQ at Aston Clinton House. Halton House was lent to the RFC who also trained in the grounds.
15th Nov 1914 21st Division move to billets for winter In November 1914, 21st Division left Halton Park and moved into billets for the winter. The 10th Green Howards departed for Aylesbury on the 15th of November.
22nd May 1915 21st Division return to Halton Park 21st Division returned to the huts at Halton Park in April and May 1915 having spent the winter in billets. 10th Battalion Green Howards returned to the camp on the 22nd of May.
19th Sep 1915 Exercise
27th Sep 1915 In Action for 36 Hours
25th October 1915 On the Move
29th October 1915 Orders
8th November 1915 Orders
11th Nov 1915 Reliefs
4th Jan 1916 Reliefs Complete
5th Jun 1916 Reliefs 
9th Apr 1917 In Action
26th September 1917 Attack Made
16th Apr 1918 18th DLI report from Borre "Reorganisation. Warned to be ready to move at an hours notice.
1. To man the Hazebrouck defences.
2. To exploit any success obtained in an attack by two French divisions to take place at 6pm from Kemmel to the neighbourhood of Strazeele.
The 15th W Yorks amalgamated with us forming the 93rd Composite Battalion with our own HQ commanded by Lt Col Lowe MC."
18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1
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Those known to have served with12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Boden William. Pte. (d.21st Jul 1916)
- Brady Alfred Henry Basil. Pte. (d.17 Aug 1916)
- Collins Frederick. Pte. (d.11th May 1917)
- Daly Simeon Thomas. RSM. (d.13th Apr 1917)
- Daniells Frank. Capt.
- Gibson James. Pte (d.3rd May 1917)
- Green John. Pte. (d.14th July 1916)
- Hainsworth Arthur. Pte. (d.15th April 1918)
- Heaton Joseph Copley. Pte. (d.11th July 1916)
- Hollingsworth Archibald John. Sgt. (d.3rd May 1917)
- Holmes Herbert Henry. Pte. (d.12th Jul 1916)
- Horler Ernest. Pte. (d.17th Feb 1918)
- Johnson MM. DCM. William Foster. Cpl. (d.19th May 1918)
- MacDonald Harry. Pte. (d.4th Nov 1916)
- Mayes Ernest. Pte.
- Phillips Frank. Pte. (d.23rd July 1916)
- Quigley Christopher. (d.26th September 1915)
- Riley Michael. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1916)
- Rooke Albert Edward. Pte (d.24th Jul 1916)
- Scott M.M Edward Butler. L/Cpl (d.24th July 1916)
- Shaw Sydney Thomas. 2nd Lt. (d.11th May 1916)
- Srodzinsky George E.D.. L/Cpl.
- Turnbull Henry. Pte. (d.23rd July 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Frederick Collins 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.11th May 1917) Frederick Collins served with 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
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Pte. Herbert Henry Holmes 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.12th Jul 1916) I have been doing my Family Tree, and to our surprise, we found that Herbert Holmes (my 2nd Great Uncle) served in the First World War.
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Christopher Quigley 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.26th September 1915) Christopher Quigley is my great grandfather. I would love a picture of some kind. He was killed in action his memorial is at Loos memorial in France.
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2nd Lt. Sydney Thomas Shaw 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.11th May 1916) Second Lieutenant Sydney Shaw served with 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and was attached to the 10th Battalion when he died of wounds on 11th of May 1916. He was 24 years old. Sydney was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.
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Pte. Arthur Hainsworth 6th Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment (d.15th April 1918) Arthur Hainsworth was born in Leeds on 17th August 1893, the eldest of four children of Fred and Ethel Hainsworth. After school, he became an apprentice compositor in the printing industry. He married Alicia Jupp from Burley in Leeds on 27th November 1915.
During the war, Arthur enlisted in the 16th Btn West Yorkshire Regiment. He was transferred to the 12th Btn West Yorks and served with them in France until the battalion was disbanded after suffering heavy casualties on the Somme during the German counter-offensive of March 1918. He was transferred again to the 6th Dorsetshire Regiment and served with this unit until 15th April 1918, when he was killed, aged 24, by a German gas attack in the vicinity of Englebelmer. He is buried at Martinsart British Cemetery.
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Pte. Frank Phillips 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.23rd July 1916) Frank Phillips was 24 yrs of age. His name is on the Thiepval Monument. His younger brother went to war also as a shoe smith and was killed in April 1918. Their other brother survived the war, badly injured and mentally scarred, he died in 1978.
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Capt. Frank Daniells 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment  My Great-grandfather, Captain Frank Daniels was born at Holcombe, Somerset in the 3rd quarter of 1869. As a young man he worked as an agricultural worker before enlisting into the Army at some time during the late 1800s as a career soldier. We know that he married Clara Ann Hughes in the first quarter of 1893 and lived in East Claydon, Winslow in Buckinghamshire and by 1897 he was posted to Gibraltar where my grandmother, Alice Maude Daniels was born.
His first military deployment was with the “Leeds rifles†(West Yorkshire Regiment) we suspect serving as a Colour Sgt during the 2nd. South African Boer War, 1900 to 1902, although we have no further details of his involvement in this campaign.
Following his return from overseas active service in South Africa we suspect he lived between East Claydon and Carlton Barracks where he became a military gymnastics instructor. The details on his competition medals identify him in 1905 as being a Colour Sergt. in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the West Yorkshire Regiment. We also know in the same year the family was posted to Belfast where my great uncle, Harold Vincent Daniells was born.
In the 1911 census, the family is listed as living at the East Claydon address with Frank Daniells as an army pensioner and hedge senior. With the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the then retired Colour Sergt. Frank Daniells, now aged 45, is offered a Captaincy and re-enlisted into the Army, we suspect, into the 12th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment. This is supported with 2 pieces of evidence, firstly because the 12th Battalion were based and trained at Halton house training camp, in Buckinghamshire, close to East Claydon and the inscription written in pen inside of his Sam Browne belt, appears to read ‘‘Capt. F Daniells†“12 W York’s RGTâ€.
The West Yorkshire Regiment 12th Battalion was raised in York on the 16th of September 1914 and joined the 63rd Brigade of the 21st Division. The Division was concentrated in and around the Leighton Buzzard and Tring area, training at Halton Hall and then to Witley camp before mobilizing to France in September of 1915. They saw their first action that year as reserve to the British assault at Loos and in 1916 saw action on the Bluff and St Eloi Craters before entering the Somme for the Battle of Albert, the battle of Bazentin, Longueval, Delville wood and the Battle of Ancre Heights. During 1917 their action was at Arras before moving Northwards into Flanders. In 1918 they saw action at the battle for the Menin road and The third battle of Ypres before moving southwards for The battle of Cambrai.
The only family information that we have relating to his service is that at some point he suffered from shell-shock and had to be dragged out the trenches and saved by his men. Unfortunately none of his service records are available so we do not Know at which point this happened. Upon his return to England we know that he was living in Wing, Buckinghamshire as detailed on his War badge approval form, issued by the War office 28/01/1918 before moving to Braystone house and then to Mentone Avenue in Aspley Guise where he lived out his life until he passed away in 1935, aged 66.
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Cpl. William Foster Johnson MM. DCM. 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.19th May 1918)  William Foster Johnson is a little-known war hero. Awarded a bar to the D.C.M in 1917 for single-handedly tracking down and killing a German sniper 'dressed in British uniform', Cpl. Johnson was also the holder of the Military Medal. Yet little else is known about him.
He was my grandfather's uncle and his life and death weren't talked about. I have his medals and a dozen of the most delicate, embroidered postcards send back from France with pencil messages such as 'we are fighting like the very old lad,' or simply, 'Happy Christmas.' I would love to know more - where he was killed, what action he saw, but the facts are elusive.
His battalion was disbanded in February 1918. Keeping his original number, we can surmise he was transferred to another Battalion within the regiment but we don't know where he served in the final months of his life, where he was mortally wounded, whether he was killed outright (I suspect not) or survived as a casualty only to die of his injuries a few days later. All we know is that he is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.
Editors Note:- The Roll of Individuals entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal indicates that he was 'Killed in Action' whereas other entries refer to 'Died of Wounds', 'Presumed Dead' or 'Discharged'. From this, it would appear that he died, outright, on the battlefield.
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Pte. Harry MacDonald 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.4th Nov 1916) Pte. Harry McDonald served with the 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. He was executed for desertion on 4th Novmber 1916 aged 34 and is buried in Louvencourt Military Cemetery, Louvencourt, France.
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Pte. Ernest Horler 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.17th Feb 1918) Pte Ernest Horler served with the West Yorkshire Regiment,12th Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 17th February 1918 aged 26 and is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France.
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Pte. John Green 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (d.14th July 1916) John Green served with the 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), he was aged 22 when he died on 14th July 1916, he was the son of John and Agnes Green (nee Thirlwall) of 10 Spencer Street Jarrow. On the 1911 census, John Green age 17 Ships Rivet Heater in Shipyard is listed as living with his parents John and Agnes Green and family at 13 Milton Street, Jarrow. he was born, lived and enlisted in Jarrow.
John is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.
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Pte. Michael Riley 12th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.28th Mar 1916) Michael Riley, Private 17339, enlisted at Jarrow and, after previous service in the East Yorkshire Regiment (Service No.15325), served in the 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. He was killed in action age 20 on the 28th March 1916.
He is remembered at Elzenwalle Brasserie Cemetery. VI.B.4. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals also that he was killed in action.
Michael was born in Boldon 1896, son of Anthony and Catherine Riley nee Gilfoy of Jarrow.
An Ancestry search of census records for 1911 shows the family living at
Gillespies Building, Bolden Colliery, Durham with Catherine(43) a widow, described as a washerwoman. she had beeen married for 20 years having 10 children, 7 of whom survived. There are 5 children, all born in Boldon Colliery, recorded at this address, 3 sons and 2 daughters all of school age except Michael who is 15 and working as a screener coal miner above ground.
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Pte. Ernest Mayes 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment Shipley Family of Patriots. Four Brothers and Two Sisters’ Husbands
Four sons and two wives by marriage of Mr and Mrs J Mayes of Shipley is a record of patriotic service of which all concerned may well feel proud. Of the four sons one has paid the supreme penalty. Appended are particulars:
- Pte. William Henry Mayes, West Yorks, Born 1886 Bradford is the eldest son. He joined up shortly after the outbreak of war, and after having been wounded and suffering from shell shock he was again at the front.
- Pte. Ernest Mayes, West Yorks, Born 1888, Reg. No. 38206, 12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales) Received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, was killed in action 13/12/1917. Remembered with honour at Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, France. He had been in the army about two years. He was married and was previously in the employ of Messers Parkinson of Shipley.
- Pte. Albert Mayes of the West Yorks, born 1891, three years service in the Army and has been once wounded. Had quite a colourful time, served in the army with one or two absences for which he forfeited pay.
- Pte. Norman Mayes the youngest son, born 1899, Bradford. Joined the West Yorks and afterwards transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He was in the army about three years.
- Pte. J Armitage (regiment un-known) of Bolton Woods served twelve months including Palestine. He was previously in the employ of Messrs. Fattorini and Sons, Bradford and is the son-in law of Mr and Mrs Mayes.
- Pte. J W Yarker, West Yorks, another son-in law,was in Kings Own Light Infantry, received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Was promoted to Lance Corporal but requested to be reduced back to private. He was gassed twice and received a bullet wound to the leg. John William Yarker was in the reserve army from 1913 which was officially disembodied in 1920. There are two absences on his war record.
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