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5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry were a unit of the Territorial Force with their HQ in Frenchgate, Doncaster. They were made up of A (Pontefract) Coy, B (Doncaster) Coy, C (Doncaster) Coy, D (Goole) Coy, E (Featherstone) Coy, F (Doncaster) Coy, G (Conisbrough) Coy, and H (Castleford) Coy. They were part of the 3rd West Riding Infantry Brigade, West Riding Division. When war broke out in August 1914, the units of the Division had just departed for their annual summer camp, they were at once recalled to their home base and mobilised at once for war service, moving to Doncaster. In November they moved to Gainsborough and in February 1915 to York to prepare for service overseas, those men who had not volunteered for Imperial Service transferred tp the newly formed 2/5th Battalion. They proceeded to France, from Folkestone landing at Boulogne on the 12th of April 1915 and the Division concentrated in the area around Estaires. On the 15th of May the formation was renamed 148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. Their first action was in the The Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915. In 1916 They were in action in the Battles of the Somme. In 1917 they were involved in the Operations on the Flanders Coast and the The Battle of Poelcapelle during the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 2nd of February 1918 they transferred to 187th Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, absorbed the 2/5th Btn and were renamed 5th Battalion. They were in action during The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of the Tardenois, The Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of the Selle, The capture of Solesmes and The Battle of the Sambre. At the Armistice the advanced units had crossed the Sambre and reached the Maubeuge-Avesnes road. The Division was the only Territorial formation to be selected to enter Germany and took over the area around Schleiden in December.
1/5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
- August 1914 : in Doncaster. Part of 3rd West Riding Brigade, West Riding Division.
- Moved on mobilisation to Doncaster and in November 1914 to Gainsborough.
- Moved on to York in February 1915.
- 12 April 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
- 15 May 1915 : formation became 148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division.
- 2 February 1918 : transferred to 187th Brigade in 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division and absorbed 2/5th Battalion Renamed 5th Battalion
12th Apr 1915 3rd Monmouths relieved by 5th KOYLI The 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment was relieved by the 5th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and went into billets in Ypres. This gave the men a chance to explore this famous old city, although seriously damaged by shelling there was still a thriving café trade and many shops that stock not only wine and cigars but also useful items such as batteries for electric torches and solidified fuel.
17th Apr 1915 Hill 60 Blown up On the 17th April the news came to the resting soldiers of the 3rd Monmouths, that Hill 60 had been blown up and captured by the 13th Brigade. Parties from the 1st and 3rd Monmouthshire Battalions had helped in this by virtue of their expertise in mining operations. A detachment of 40 men under Lieutenant Lancaster had been sent to join the new unit, the 171 st Tunnelling Company in February. As expert mineworkers, from the Valleys above Abergavenny, they had distinguished themselves and the Battalion was justly proud. But amongst the rejoicing they had to leave Ypres and return to the trenches. British guns were in action on both sides of the Zonnebeke Road and it was a relief for them all to turn off the cobbled road, go across country and reach Frezenberg before the Germans retaliated. The battalion relieved the 5th King's Own and finding things much as before they carried on with their every day routine. They would remain in the trenches for the next 17 days.
5th May 1915 Hard Fighting May 5th opened with a still more severe bombardment and the front line troops were reported as being in a very exhausted condition. Early in the morning C Company was called upon to reinforce the 2nd East Yorks on the south of the road. Captain Steel led half of C Company up to reinforce the front line. As they topped the ridge they were caught by German machine gun fire and suffered terrible casualties. Captain Steel was a doctor in civilian life and he set about attending the wounded as well as leading the advance. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross. One of the men in his company, Private AM Mitchell, wrote home:
"Words utterly fail me to say what a hero Captain O.W.D. Steel was during that fearful struggle. From every person I meet they tell me the same tale. Under heavy shell and maxim fire he went out and fetched in wounded, bandaging them and if he doesn't deserve the VC no man on earth ought to get it."
An hour later A company (under Captain R.A. Lewis) also tried to reinforce the front line and again suffered terrible casualties. Private I. Skidmore was awarded the DCM for attending to the casualties until he was so badly wounded himself that he could not carry on.
18th of May 1915 Battalion placements
4th October 1915 Reliefs
1st July 1916 Terrible Losses 
18th of September 1916
27th of September 1916
28th of September 1916 Attacks Made
19th Mar 1917 Trench Raid
21st Mar 1917 Occasional Shells
22nd Mar 1917 Trench Raid
23rd Mar 1917 Trench Mortars
4th June 1917 Entertainment
14th June 1917 Horse Show
30th Oct 1917 Patrols
1st Nov 1917 Inspection
2nd Nov 1917 Training
3rd Nov 1917 Orders
3rd November 1917 7th Tank Regt. practiced with the Infantry.
4th Nov 1917 Orders
5th Nov 1917 Demonstration
6th Nov 1917 Orders
7th Nov 1917 Orders
9th Nov 1917 Reliefs
11th Nov 1917 Reliefs
12th Nov 1917 Reliefs
24th Nov 1917 Shelling
25th Nov 1917 Shelling
27th Nov 1917 Reliefs
29th Nov 1917 Reliefs
1st Mar 1918 Raid
2nd Mar 1918 Prisoners Taken
3rd Mar 1918 Raid
4th Mar 1918 Quiet
5th Mar 1918 Patrol
6th Mar 1918 Shelling
7th Mar 1918 Information
8th Mar 1918 Artillery Active
9th Mar 1918 Counter Attack
10th Mar 1918 Quiet
11th Mar 1918 Trench Raid
12th Mar 1918 Balloon
13th Mar 1918 Trench Raid
14th Mar 1918 Shellfire
15th Mar 1918 Artillery Active
16th Mar 1918 Artillery Active
17th Mar 1918 Raid
18th Mar 1918 Shelling
19th Mar 1918 Quieter
20th Mar 1918 Shelling
21st Mar 1918 Gas
22nd Mar 1918 Enemy Quieter
23rd Mar 1918 Enemy Quieter
24th Mar 1918 Prisoners
25th Mar 1918 Raids
26th Mar 1918 Orders
27th Mar 1918 Reliefs
28th Mar 1918 Quiet
29th Mar 1918 Quiet
30th Mar 1918 Reliefs
31st Mar 1918 Quiet
1st Apr 1918 Reliefs
2nd Apr 1918 Intermittent Shelling
3rd Apr 1918 Reliefs
4th Apr 1918 Quiet
5th Apr 1918 Reliefs
6th Apr 1918 Reliefs
7th Apr 1918 Raid
8th Apr 1918 Prisoners
9th Apr 1918 Orders
10th Apr 1918 Attack Made
11th Apr 1918 Rearguard Action
12th Apr 1918 Line Holding
13th Apr 1918 Line Holding
14th Apr 1918 Attack Made
15th Apr 1918 Attacks Made
16th Apr 1918 Attacks Made
17th Apr 1918 Attacks Made
18th Apr 1918 Attacks Made
19th Apr 1918 Snow
19th Apr 1918 Reliefs
8th Nov 1918 Attack Made
9th Nov 1918 Attack Made
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ashton Sam. Private
- Bailey George Horace. Pte (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Beresford James Gilbert. Pte (d.30th Mar 1918)
- Binnie Arnold. Pte. (d.21st Jul 1918)
- Brain DMC Arthur. Cpl. (d.10th Jul 1917)
- Burkinshaw Frank. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1918)
- Burton Matthew. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918)
- Cooke William. Pte. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Darling Bert Harper. Pte. (d.14th Jul 1917)
- Dodd Frederick. L/Cpl. (d.4th October 1916)
- Douglas John James Wilton. Pte. (d.4th Nov 1918)
- Hopkinson R. Pte. (d.16th February 1916)
- Ingham Fred. Pte. (d.2nd August 1917)
- Merrill William. Pte.
- Pearson Athelstan. 2nd Lt. (d.13th June 1917)
- Ringham William John. Pte.
- Scaife John Thomas. Pte. (d.19th Mar 1917)
- Senior William. Private (d.9th Oct 1917)
- Speight Walter. Pte. (d.10th June 1917)
- Turton Fred. Pte. (d.26th July 1918)
- Warner Frank. Pte. (d.27th March 1918)
- Westwood William Howell Powell . Cpl. (d.3rd May 1917)
- Whittaker Albert William. Pte. (d.15th Apr 1918)
- Whittaker Albert William. Pte. (d.15th Apr 1918)
- Wilson John H.. Pte. (d.21st April 1918)
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 5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from other sources.
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Pte. Albert William Whittaker D Coy, 5th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.15th Apr 1918) Albert Whittaker (my paternal great uncle) was the son of Miriam and the late Frank Whittaker, who lived in Allerton Bywater, Castleford, West Yorkshire.
He saw action in France and was killed in action and was laid to rest at Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. Aged 26.
Remembered with honour.
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Pte James Gilbert Beresford 2nd Btn 1/5th Btn 2/4th Btn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.30th Mar 1918) Died of wounds.
He was in the 1/5th Yorks L.I, 2/4th Yorks L.I and 2nd Yorks L.I.
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Pte. Matthew Burton 5th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.27th Mar 1918) Matthew Burton served in France and was killed by a machine gun bullet on 27th of March 1918. It was reported that he was buried by his cousin, Pte. Snow. He is buried at Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2.
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Pte. John H. Wilson 19th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.21st April 1918) John Wilson was killed in action on 21st April 1918. He had transferred to 5th Btn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly being with the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers, verified by the 19th Battalion records.
He is buried in Gommecourt British Cemetery No 2, Hebuterne. No Family details are shown on CWGC records.
From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.
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Pte. Albert William Whittaker 5th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.15th Apr 1918) Albert Whittaker is buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery and Extension in Northern France.
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Pte. William John Ringham 12th,6th,5th,9th,1st Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Unfortunately, Private William John Ringham's service record (or a pension record) was not available through Ancestry.com resources; accordingly, it is likely this his records were destroyed during the Second World War. On his Medal Rolls Index Card, there is no secondary service number listed (i.e., Labour Corps), thus Private Ringham probably served in the Infantry throughout his time in the Army. On his Service Medal and Award Roll, there is a little more information. For example, Private Ringham served in FIVE different battalions, listed in order: 12th, 6th, 5th, 9th and 1st. Based upon www.1914-1918.net, "The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)", it is likely that he served primarily in France, but may have also served at Salonika. Back to Private Ringham's Service Medal and Award Roll - he transferred into "Reserve Z." status on November 9, 1919, suggesting that he was not disabled during the Great War. For his service, Private William John Ringham was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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Pte. Walter Speight 8th Battalion, 13 Company, 6 Platoon Kings Own YorkshireLight Infantry (d.10th June 1917) Walter Speight enlisted on the 1st of February 1912 and joined the 5th Battalion. K.O.Y.L.I.
Extracts from his Soldiers own diary:
2nd time out 1917 Battle of Messines.
27 April 1917: Left Folkstone, England for Boulogne, France
28 April: Left Boulogne, France for Etaples (15 Miles March)
29 April - 12 May Training in Etaples
13 May: Landed near the Front line at Abeele rest camp
16 May: posted to KOYLI B Company 6 Platoon 3 Section (all decent boys!)
17 May: Training for Attack near Watou
20 May: Sent to rest Billets too ill with Flu Temprature 100.2
24 May: Left rest Billets for railway dugouts behind the front line
25 May: Night Working party St Peter’s Street
26 May: Trenches first left of Hill 60 very hot quarters. Man Named “Smith†who came out with me was killed
27 May: Bombardment
28 May: Bombardment continued 7 Casualties
29-30 May: Straffing pretty freely both sides
31 May: Going to M camp near Poperinge (NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN)
1 June: 3am Exciting night dodging shells under gas clouds (good days rest)
2 June: spent most of the day writing letters
3 June: Day in Poperinge buying presents for family
4 June: Went to Assembly trench waiting for time to mount
5 June: Assembly trench off St Peter’s Street (nothing Doing to pass time)
There are no More details in the Diary. Walter
died of Wounds on the 10th of June.
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Pte. Fred Ingham 1st/5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.2nd August 1917) Fred Ingham was born in 1879 and grew up in Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire. He married Esther Foster from Denholme, and they had two sons, Granville (my husband's grandad) and Ernest. He was a gas inspector when he joined the war. He died on 2nd August 1917 but we have no idea of the circumstances of how or why.
All we know is that he was killed and missing in action. We only discovered the Nieuport Memorial in Belguim a couple of years ago with his name on it. We had found, after the death of Granville, a black and white photo of the memorial. Until I found the memorial on a website we had not realised its significance. We believe that Fred's wife was sent this picture after the memorial was dedicated to those who died.
Granville had no recollection of his father at all. He must not have visited home in all the years in the war until his death and Granville was only young when he left. There has never been a photo found of him.
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L/Cpl. Frederick Dodd 1/5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.4th October 1916) Frederick Dodd is my wife's great uncle. We found him when researching her family. None of her living relatives knew about him. Since finding him we have able to contact more distant relatives and now have photograph of him in service uniform. He is now remembered by all.
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2nd Lt. Athelstan Pearson 5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.13th June 1917) Second Lieutenant Athelstan Pearson was killed in action on 13th June 1917 while serving with the 5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
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Pte. Bert Harper Darling 2nd/5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.14th Jul 1917) Bert Darling was the brother of my granddad who was only seven when Bertie, as he was known, died of wounds on 14th July 1917 aged 19.
Bertie is buried in Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension.
He served with the 2nd/5th Btn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
I would like to know what battle(s) he took part in prior to and during when he was evacuated to the casualty clearing station at Achiet-Le-Grand.
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Pte George Horace Bailey 1/5th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.1st Jul 1916) I have George Bailey's memorial plaque. It has been handed down to me from his wife who never had children of her own, but looked after my mother during and after the second world war. She was a wonderful woman and was in all, apart from blood, a massive part of our family. As she and George never had children she treated us as her own. She married George at a very young age, probably due to the fear of not seeing each other again with him going to war. As George has no next of kin that I know of, I feel honoured to take the place of his great-grandson and remember him for the sacrifice he gave for me.
I would love to know more about him and his pals, if anyone has anymore information.
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Pte. Frank Burkinshaw 5th Btn KOYLI (d.3rd Nov 1918) Frank Burkinshaw is buried in Ruesnes communal cemetery in France. I would love to find a photo of Frank.
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Pte. John Thomas Scaife 5th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.19th Mar 1917) John Thomas Scaife died aged 22, born in Jarrow in 1894, he enlisted in Wakefield. He is buried in Rue-Du-Bacquerot No. 1 Military Cemetery and is commemorated on the Hartlepool War Memorial
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Pte. John James Wilton Douglas 5th Btn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.4th Nov 1918) John James Wilton Douglas died aged 29. The son of Annie Diana Douglas of 11 Seaford Road, Hove Sussex, he was born in Southwick Sussex and lived in and enlisted at Jarrow. On the 1911 census, John James Wilton Douglas age 17 Apprentice Ship Painter in Shipyard is recorded as living with his parents John and Elizabeth Bond and family at 48 York Street, Jarrow.
He was the husband of Lydia Turner (late Douglas nee Fromhold) of 47 Clayton Street Jarrow.
John is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow, he buried in Ruesnes Communal Cemetery.
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Pte. Arnold Binnie 5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.21st Jul 1918) Arnold Binnie, Private 51922, enlisted at Jarrow and served with the 5th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 5/92117 of the 7th Training Reserve Battalion He died age 19 on the 21st July 1918. He is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow and his Grave Memorial Reference is at Soissons Memorial. His medal card shows the award of the War and Victory Medals.
Arnold was born in Gosforth and lived in Jarrow, son of Elizabeth Anne Binnie (nee Short) of 50 Dee Street Jarrow and the late Wilson Binnie.
William Allison age 11 at School is living with his widowed mother Elizabeth Binnie and family at 20 Russell Street, Jarrow on the 1911 census.
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Cpl. Arthur Brain DMC 1/5th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.10th Jul 1917) Arthur Brain was awarded the D.C.M for saving three comrades under heavy fire and keeping the line together under heavy bombardment as stated in the London Gazette, he is buried at Adinkerke in Belguim, it says died 19th July on the CWGC website but on his grave it says 10th July 1917.
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Private Sam Ashton 5th & 3rd Btns Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry This is an enquiry as I have been trying to research my Great Grandfather’s War record (what he did, where he went, did he take part in any battles) for 2 years now and seem to be getting nowhere. I am getting old now and only me in my family seems to be interested in finding out. The following two addresses are the only details I have and I know for sure that my Great Grandfather was in Germany at the end of WW1. E. COY. 3rd K.O.Y.L.I. No 9 Hut HEDEN Racecourse. Nr. HULL and 5th K.O.Y.L.I. No.6 Con CAMP. N. Coy. B.E.F. FRANCE. Please could someone help and tell me some history? I have researched in the National Archive, read books etc, but I still cannot figure the history of these Battallions. There is a family rumour that Sam was a sniper but i am not sure at all about this.
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Private William Senior 1st / 5th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.9th Oct 1917)
Would like to find out the military record of my relation.
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