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49th (West Riding) Division    49th West Riding Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as a result of the Haldane reforms in 1908 and was one of 14 Divisions of the peacetime Territorial Force. 1914 The units of the Division had just departed for annual summer camp when emergency orders recalled them to the home base. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5th of August 1914 and moved to concentrate in the South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area by mid August 1914. 1915 49th Division was prepared for overseas service and entrainment began on 12th of April. Divisional infantry sailed from Folkestone to Boulogne while all other units went from Southampton to Le Havre. By the 19th of April the Division had concentrated in the area of Estaires - Merville - Neuf Berquin. The Division then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements: 1915 The Battle of Aubers Ridge The defence against the first Phosgene attack 1916 The Battle of Albert - Somme The Battle of Bazentin Ridge - Somme The Battle of Pozieres Ridge - Somme The Battle of Flers-Courcelette - Somme 1917 Operations on the Flanders Coast (Hush) The Battle of Poelcapelle - Third Battles of the Ypres 1918 The Battle of Estaires - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Messines - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Bailleul, in which the Division defended Neuve Eglise. - Battles of the Lys The First Battle of Kemmel Ridge - Battles of the Lys The Second Battle of Kemmel Ridge - Battles of the Lys The Battle of the Scherpenberg - Battles of the Lys The pursuit to the Selle The Battle of the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy The Battle of Valenciennes - Final Advance in Picardy The Division was resting at Douai on the 11th of November 1918. Demobilisation began in early 1919 and the service of the Division came to an end on 30th of March when the final cadres left for England. 49th Division was reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. Divisional Order of Battle of the 49th (West Riding) Division. 146th (West Riding) Brigade 1/5th Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/6th Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/7th Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/8th Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment left January 1918 146th Machine Gun Company formed 27 January 1916, moved to 49th Btn MGC 1 March 1918 146th Trench Mortar Battery formed 12 June 1916 147th (2nd West Riding) Brigade 1/4th Btn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/5th Btn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment left January 1918 1/6th Btn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/7th Btn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 147th Machine Gun Company formed 26 January 1916, moved to 49th Btn MGC 1 March 1918 147th Trench Mortar Battery formed 12 June 1916 148th (3rd West Riding) Brigade 1/4th Btn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1/5th Btn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry left February 1918 1/4th Btn, York & Lancaster Regiment 1/5th Btn, York & Lancaster Regiment 148th Machine Gun Company formed 6 February 1916, moved to 49th Bn MGC 1 March 1918 148th Trench Mortar Battery formed 12 June 1916 Divisional Troops 1/3rd Btn, Monmouthshire Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn in April 1915, left August 1916 19th Btn, the Lancashire Fusiliers joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn August 1916 199th Machine Gun Company joined 19 December 1916, left 29 October 1917 254th Machine Gun Company joined 26 Nov 1917, moved to 49th Bn MGC 1 March 1918 49th Battalion MGC formed 1st of March 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops C Sqn, 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars left 8 May 1916 F Sqn, North Irish Horse briefly between April and June 1916 West Riding Divisional Cyclist Company left 26 May 1916 Divisional Artillery CCXLV (I West Riding) Brigade, RFA CCXLVI (II West Riding) Brigade, RFA CCXLVII (III West Riding) Brigade, RFA broken up 28 February 1917 CCXLVIII (IV W. R.) (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 18 October 1916 West Riding Heavy Battery, RGA a Battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left the Division to join VIII Brigade, II Group HA on 24 April 1915; returned to Division 13 May 1915, and finally left on 28 June 1915, rejoining VIII Brigade 49th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA W.49, V.49 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed by 17 May 1916; V absorbed W by 7 June 1917; left for X Corps on 7 February 1918 X.49, Y.49 and Z.49 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed by 4 April 1916 from former 34, 37 and 48 TMB's; by 9 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have six 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 1st West Riding Field Company left for 29th Division on the 6th of February 1915. 456th (2nd West Riding) Field Company 458th (2/1st West Riding) Field Company joined June 1915 57th Field Company joined July 1915 49th Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 1st West Riding Field Ambulance 2nd West Riding Ambulance 3rd West Riding Field Ambulance 49th Sanitary Section left for XI Corps 2 April 1917 Other Divisional Troops 49th Divisional Train ASC retitled from the West Riding Divisional Transport and Supply Column, and the units also retitled as 463, 464, 465 and 466 Companies ASC 1st West Riding Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 49th Divisional Ambulance Workshop absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 4 April 1916 243rd Divisional Employment Company joined 16 June 1917 4th Aug 1914 Orders 6th Aug 1914 Concentration 7th Aug 1914 Reservists 10th Aug 1914 On the Move 18th Aug 1914 Move 20th Aug 1914 Reinforcements 4th Sep 1914 On the March 14th Apr 1915 On the Move 14th Apr 1915 On the Move 15th Apr 1915 On the Move 15th Apr 1915 On the Move   16th Apr 1915 On the Move 16th Apr 1915 Inspections   17th Apr 1915 On the Move   17th Apr 1915 Route March   18th Apr 1915 Route March   18th Apr 1915 Instruction   19th Apr 1915 Instruction   19th Apr 1915 Instruction   20th Apr 1915 Instruction   20th Apr 1915 Instruction   21st Apr 1915 Instruction   21st Apr 1915 Instruction   22nd Apr 1915 On the March   22nd Apr 1915 Change of Billets   23rd Apr 1915 In Billets   23rd Apr 1915 First Loss   24th Apr 1915 In Billets   24th Apr 1915 On the March   25th Apr 1915 Instruction   25th Apr 1915 Working Parties   26th Apr 1915 Instruction   26th Apr 1915 Reliefs   27th Apr 1915 Instruction   27th Apr 1915 Heavy Shelling   28th Apr 1915 Instruction   28th Apr 1915 Heavy Shelling   29th Apr 1915 Instruction   29th Apr 1915 Shelling   30th Apr 1915 Heavy Shelling   30th Apr 1915 Fear of Attack   1st May 1915 Stand To   1st May 1915 Clothing   2nd May 1915 On the March   3rd May 1915 In Billets   4th May 1915 In Billets   5th May 1915 Reliefs   6th May 1915 Quiet   8th May 1915 Orders   9th May 1915 Bombardment   10th May 1915 Bombardment   11th May 1915 Rumour   12th May 1915 Some Shelling   13th May 1915 Attachment 13th May 1915 Mining Suspected   14th May 1915 Artillery in Action   15th May 1915 Instruction   15th May 1915 Reliefs   16th May 1915 In Billets 17th May 1915 In Billets   17th May 1915 Orders 18th May 1915 In Billets   18th May 1915 Orders Received 19th May 1915 In Billets 19th May 1915 Report 20th May 1915 Working Party 21st May 1915 Isolation 28th Jun 1915 Attachment Ends 30th May 1915 Instruction 5th Jun 1915 Quiet 7th Jun 1915 Working Parties   8th Jun 1915 Working Parties   9th Jun 1915 Working Parties   10th Jun 1915 Working Parties   11th Jun 1915 Relief Complete 12th of June 1915    12th Jun 1915 Quiet 13th Jun 1915 Quiet 14th Jun 1915 Trench Mortars 15th Jun 1915 Working Party 16th Jun 1915 Casualties 17th Jun 1915 Enemy Aircraft 19th Jun 1915 Working Parties   20th Jun 1915 Working Parties   21st Jun 1915 Working Parties   22nd Jun 1915 Working Parties   23rd Jun 1915 Reliefs 24th Jun 1915 Orders 24th Jun 1915 Working Parties 25th Jun 1915 Orders 26th Jun 1915 Relief 27th Jun 1915 On the March   28th Jun 1915 Equipment 29th Jun 1915 On the March   30th Jun 1915 On the March 5th Sep 1915 Lights Dropped 6th Sep 1915 Holding the Line 18th Sep 1915 Attachment 21st Sep 1915 On the Move 29th Sep 1915 Shelling 11th Oct 1915 Change of Billets 24th Oct 1915 Shelling 27th Oct 1915 Inspection 31st Oct 1915 Inspection 1st Nov 1915 Field Artillery in Action   5th Nov 1915 Orders Received   6th Nov 1915 Shelling   7th Nov 1915 Shelling   9th November 1915  in Billets 11th November 1915 Somersets Relieve 7th Rifle Brigade   3rd Feb 1916 Reorganisation 10th of February 1916  MG Coys Join 4th of March 1916 Heavy Snow   5th of March 1916 Relief Completed   25th of March 1916 Hostile Aeroplanes   1st of June 1916 Lively Shelling   16th of June 1916 A Drying Day and a Plan   20th of June 1916 Boche Working Feverishly   22nd of June 1916 Moves are Planned   30th of June 1916 Positions During Bombardment   1st of July 1916 Somme Battle Begins   1st of July 1916 In Thiepval Wood   2nd Jul 1916 Attack and Counter Attack 26th Jul 1916 Band plays 10th September 1916 Diary 1st Mar 1917 On the Move 2nd Mar 1917 On the Move 3rd Mar 1917 On the Move 4th Mar 1917 Artillery Relieved 5th Mar 1917 Reliefs 6th Mar 1917 Change of Command 7th Mar 1917 On the Move 8th Mar 1917 Enemy Mine Fired   9th Mar 1917 Enemy Aircraft   10th Mar 1917 Quiet 11th Mar 1917 Under Shellfire   12th Mar 1917 Under Shellfire   13th Mar 1917 Under Shellfire   14th Mar 1917 Under Shellfire   15th Mar 1917 Artillery Bombardment   16th Mar 1917 Trench Raid   17th Mar 1917 Trench Raid   18th Mar 1917 Trench Raid   19th Mar 1917 Trench Raid   20th Mar 1917 Patrol 21st Mar 1917 Occasional Shells   22nd Mar 1917 Trench Raid   22nd Mar 1917 Boundary Changes 23rd Mar 1917 Trench Mortars 24th Mar 1917 Under Shellfire   25th Mar 1917 Enemy Attack 27th Mar 1917 Snow   28th Mar 1917 Quiet 1st June 1917 Dinner 2nd June 1917 Training 3rd June 1917 Church Parade 4th June 1917 Entertainment 5th June 1917 Reliefs   6th June 1917 Working Parties   7th June 1917 Working Parties   8th June 1917 Fighting Patrol   9th June 1917 Fighting Patrol   10th June 1917 Reliefs   11th June 1917 Recce   12th June 1917 Fighting Patrol   13th June 1917 Reliefs   13th June 1917 Horse Show 14th June 1917 Horse Show 15th June 1917 Reconnaissance 16th June 1917 Working Parties 17th June 1917 Reliefs   18th June 1917 Patrol   19th June 1917 Patrol   20th June 1917 Barrage   21st June 1917 Observation   22nd June 1917 Observation   23rd June 1917 Reliefs   25th June 1917 Training   26th June 1917 Training   29th June 1917 Reliefs   30th June 1917 Patrols   1st Nov 1917 Inspection 2nd Nov 1917 Training 3rd Nov 1917 Orders 4th Nov 1917 Orders   5th Nov 1917 Demonstration 6th Nov 1917 Orders 7th Nov 1917 Orders 8th Nov 1917 On the Move 9th Nov 1917 Reliefs 10th Nov 1917 Reliefs 11th Nov 1917 Reliefs   12th Nov 1917 Reliefs   13th Nov 1917 Some Shelling   14th Nov 1917 Shelling   15th Nov 1917 Reliefs   16th Nov 1917 Shelling   17th Nov 1917 Prisoners   17th Nov 1917 On the Move   18th Nov 1917 Shelling   18th Nov 1917 Training   19th Nov 1917 Prisoners   19th Nov 1917 Training   20th Nov 1917 Communications   20th Nov 1917 Training   21st Nov 1917 Orders   21st Nov 1917 In camp   22nd Nov 1917 Orders   22nd Nov 1917 Training   23rd Nov 1917 Quiet   23rd Nov 1917 Training   24th Nov 1917 Shelling   24th Nov 1917 Training   25th Nov 1917 Shelling   25th Nov 1917 Shelling   25th Nov 1917 Orders Received   26th Nov 1917 Artillery Active   26th Nov 1917 On the March   27th Nov 1917 Reliefs   27th Nov 1917 Instruction   28th Nov 1917 Reliefs   28th Nov 1917 Instruction   29th Nov 1917 Reliefs   29th Nov 1917 Instruction   30th Nov 1917 Shelling   30th Nov 1917 Instruction   1st Dec 1917 Instruction   2nd Dec 1917 Instruction   3rd Dec 1917 Instruction   4th Dec 1917 Recce   5th Dec 1917 Reliefs   6th Dec 1917 HQ Moves   7th Dec 1917 Improvements to Camp 8th Dec 1917 Orders 9th Dec 1917 Reliefs   10th Dec 1917 New Position   11th Dec 1917 Trench Work   12th Dec 1917 Orders   13th Dec 1917 Reliefs   13th of December 1917 Move   14th Dec 1917 Harassing Fire   15th Dec 1917 Harassing Fire   16th Dec 1917 Shelling   16th of December 1917  17th Dec 1917 In Action   17th of December 1917  18th Dec 1917 Shelling   19th Dec 1917 Harassing Fire   20th Dec 1917 Hard Frost   21st Dec 1917 Hard Frost   22nd Dec 1917 Accurate Shelling   23rd Dec 1917 Reliefs   24th Dec 1917 Reliefs Complete 24th Dec 1917 Ammunition   24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 25th Dec 1917 Snow   26th Dec 1917 Raid Fire   27th Dec 1917 Shelling   28th Dec 1917 Reliefs   29th Dec 1917 Quiet   30th Dec 1917 Quiet   31st Dec 1917 Harassing Fire   19th of January 1918 Orders 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 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   1st Apr 1918 Reliefs   2nd Apr 1918 Intermittent Shelling   2nd Apr 1918 Shelling   3rd Apr 1918 Reliefs   3rd Apr 1918 Patrols   4th Apr 1918 Quiet 4th Apr 1918 Patrols   5th Apr 1918 Reliefs   5th Apr 1918 Reliefs   6th Apr 1918 Reliefs 6th Apr 1918 Quiet   7th Apr 1918 Raid   7th Apr 1918 Trench Raid   8th Apr 1918 Prisoners   8th Apr 1918 Trench Raids   9th Apr 1918 Orders 10th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack 10th of April 1918 Under Attack   10th Apr 1918 Attack Made   11th Apr 1918 Attacks Repulsed   11th of April 1918 Quiet...and then...   11th Apr 1918 Rearguard Action   12th of April 1918 Enemy Advances   12th Apr 1918 Line Holding   13th Apr 1918 Gaps in the Line   13th of April 1918 Under Heavy Attack   13th Apr 1918 Line Holding   14th Apr 1918 Fall Back   14th of April 1918 A Counter-Attack   14th Apr 1918 Attack Made   14th of April 1918 Operations Orders   15th Apr 1918 Question of Withdrawal   15th of April 1918 A Quiet Day   15th Apr 1918 Attacks Made   16th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack   16th of April 1918 French Support Arrives   16th Apr 1918 Attacks Made   17th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack 17th of April 1918 HQs Move   17th Apr 1918 Attacks Made   18th Apr 1918 Plans 18th of April 1918 Relief for Some   18th Apr 1918 Attacks Made   19th Apr 1918 Reliefs 19th Apr 1918 Snow   19th Apr 1918 Reliefs   20th Apr 1918 Reorganisation 20th of April 1918 Order Alteration   21st Apr 1918 Defensive Plans 24th of April 1918 Rest and Reorganisation   25th of April 1918 Another Busy Day   26th of April 1918 Allied Counter-Attack   28th of April 1918 Admirable Behaviour   29th Apr 1918 Terrific Bombardment  At 3am., the enemy opened a terrific bombardment on the front line and back areas. The bombardment on the front line was continued until 7am., when the enemy attacked in great force along the whole front of the 25th., 49th. and 21st. Divisions. Everywhere he was completely repulsed and enormous casualties inflicted on him. The bombardment of the back areas continued until almost 10am. and was of great intensity, many gas shells being used. Captain B. G. Buxton MC, 6th D of W West Riding Regt was wounded, but battalion casualties altogether were exceptionally light. The remainder of the day was comparatively quiet. Casualties on this day for 6th D of W West Riding Regt were: Captain B. G. Buxton (Wounded), 265413 Company Sergeant Major T. W. Limmer (Wounded), 527782 Corporal C. H. Brown R. A. M. C. (Killed in Action), 266239 Corporal C. Horner (Killed in Action), 268056 Corporal E. Joynes (Killed in Action), 267889 Lance Corporal J. Smith (Wounded), 268398 Private S. Archer (Killed in Action), 205267 Private R. H. Armitage (Wounded), 267484 Private N. Birkenshaw (Wounded), 267485 Private A. Brannan (Wounded), 201878 Private H. Briggs (Wounded(, 266160 Private C. Brown (Wounded), 266840 Private J. T. Butterworth (Killed in Action), 267460 Private A. E. Cartwright (Wounded), 13713 Private J. Dinsdale (Wounded), 267981 Private H. French (Wounded), 300129 Private L. Gallon (Killed in Action), 242719 Private S. Garland (Wounded), 267864 Private W. Haigh (Wounded), 26144 Private R. A. Hallett (Wounded), 267516 Private W. R. Hirst (Wounded), 29958 Private M. Hodgson (Wounded), 24039 Private E. W. Hollis (Wounded), 26570 Private H. Jackson (Killed in Action), 267779 Private A. Lancaster (Wounded), 29444 Private J. H. Lunt (Wounded), 201488 Private W. Mitchell (Wounded), 10851 Private W. Pickersgill (Wounded), 265145 Private F. A. Pickles (Wounded), 265528 Private G. Proctor (Killed in Action), 41197 Private R. Riddell (Killed in Action), 242206 Private H. Robinson (Wounded), 29807 Private J. W. Stringer (Wounded), 41143 Private J. Teaster (Wounded), 24356 Private A. Walters (Wounded), 265114 Private W. Watson (Wounded). 29th of April 1918 Under Fire Again   30th of April 1918 Reliefs and Attacks   30th of April 1918 Aeroplanes Active 30th of April 1918 Reports   1st of May 1918 Dispositions   16th Sep 1918 Attachment Ends 21st Aug 1918 Attachment If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 49th (West Riding) Division? There are:360 items tagged 49th (West Riding) Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 49th (West Riding) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Bentley John. QMS. Bonner George William. Pte. 1st/6th Btn. (d.26th Apr 1918) Burton Charles. L/Cpl. 1/4th Btn. (d.14th April 1918) Fogg George William. Pte. 1st/6th Btn. (d.11th Oct 1918) Kaye Joseph. Pte. 5th Btn. Kelsey Arthur Robert. Partridge Heber William Henry. Sgt. 1/6th Bn. Roberts Robert. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.8th Oct 1916) Watson John. Sgt. 8th Btn. (d.10th Dec 1917) 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 The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? 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Royal Field Artillery Arthur Kelsey was my grandad who fought in WW1 in 49th West Riding Division. He was an Artillery Observer on the front line and gave co-ordinates of the enemy from the trenches. He used to relate stories of how one day, he was to give the co-ordinates of two German soldiers who were having a shave and a cigarette outside a building when in Belgium, over a telephone hand held receiver that he would wind up to relay the message. The next voice stated, "head down Arth", there was a loud whoosh, bang and the two Germans were no longer there, totally obliterated. He recalled, when in the trenches, a young German soldier jumped into it one day, they both looked at each other in a startled manner, then Arthur plunged his bayonet into the young German's chest and stared in disbelief at the dead young man. He stated how young he looked and felt really sad at what he had done, but it was war and it was him or my granddad. He was the most gentle man you could ever meet and this must have been a horrific encounter for him to have undertaken. How these men in WWI recovered from this trauma it hard to comprehend. He was sent home before the war ended having been gassed by mustard gas, but he never really spoke must of how he felt as a soldier in the great war. I hold a fairly comprehensive list of his postcard's sent from his locations in the war to reassure my grandma that he was alive and well. He died in his 93rd year in 1987. Jackie Morton Add to this record. 242167 L/Cpl. Charles Burton 1/4th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.14th April 1918) Charles Burton was born in Huddersfield and at the time of his death his wife, Mary Sarah nee Chadburn and infant daughter Alice lived in Pontefract. He served in the 1st/4th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. They were part of 148th Brigade which were themselves part of the 49th (West Riding) Division from May 1915. The Division fought through the Somme and Passchendaele into 1918 and Charles was killed in action on the 14th April 1918 during the many battles near Ypres. His name is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Add to this record. 234220 QMS. John Bentley Royal Field Artillery John Bentley (born 22nd March 1890) joined the RFA in France in 1915 as a bombardier and was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant. He may have been in the 49th (West Riding) Division, which saw action at The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, The Battle of Pozieres Ridge, and The Battle of Flers-Courcelette (all phases of the 1916 Battles of the Somme). After the war he returned to his job as a school headmaster and he and his wife Elsie had three children. He died aged 84 in March 1974 in Todmorden, Yorkshire. He didn't talk much about his time in the trenches. However, his son David related these stories: In a skirmish during the Great War, presumably after the officers had been killed, an NCO colleague of Dad's, surname Julian, countermanded the orders which led to a successful result. However, to avoid a court martial for insubordination, Julian was promoted straight to Lieutenant Colonel Julian. On an occasion when Dad was coming home on leave he found himself at a railway station in Manchester in the middle of the night. The driver of a coal train saw him, stopped, asked him where he was going, and as the train was going through Todmorden anyway, invited him to ride in the engine. Approaching Todmorden, the driver stopped the train by the row of houses where Dad lived for him to alight. When Dad knocked at the door of his house, his father, Sam Bentley wouldn't let him in until he'd undressed outside because, as with all soldiers from the trenches, he was infested with lice. One dark night he heard some movement close by his trench, and clobbered this Jerry over the head with his rifle butt only to discover that he'd brained a badger - and as a keen naturalist he was most upset about it. Penny Add to this record. 220359 Pte. Joseph Kaye 5th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment My Grandad Joe Kaye joined up on the 18th November 1914. He was severely wounded at the Somme and finally invalided out on the 14th July 1918. He had the War medal, the Victory medal and the Silver war badge. He finally succumbed to the effects of his wounds in 1937. I never had the honour of meeting him. This link contains a film of the battalion during an inspection in 1915. Bill Kaye Add to this record. 218502 Pte. George William "Sonny" Fogg 1st/6th Btn. Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment (d.11th Oct 1918) I grew up with the story of Uncle Sonny who had gone off to fight in the war and had never come back. He gave his mother a small, gold and sapphire ring to ease their parting. I have his ring now - it has been passed through the family as has his story. My grandmother didn't know what had happened to her brother, and where, or if, he was buried, only that he had been lost, killed in a battle somewhere in France. I spent many hours looking for him with little to go on, only the assumption that his name must have been George - the same as his father, hence the "Sonny" nickname. When I found Sonny's service record I was so excited that I didn't even notice the "Killed 11/10/18" scrawled across it in chinagraph pencil. Having this information, I was able to track him through the War Graves Commission. My first visit to his grave in Wellington Cemetery Rieux en Cambresis was one of the most moving moments of my life. I am so happy to have found him, only sad that it was too late for my Grandmother to know, but time enough for me to share his story with my own children. It is a comfort to us all to know that his sacrifice is recognised and that he is remembered in such a beautiful and peaceful place. He will be remembered in our hearts too. 34137 Private George William (Sonny) Fogg served with the 1st/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment during WW1 and died age 20, on the 11th October 1918. He is buried in Wellington Cemetery Rieux en Cambresis. He was the son of George James and Harriet Eliza Fogg, of 22, Fellows St., Haggerston, London. Tracey Murphy Add to this record. 216100 Sgt. John Watson 8th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.10th Dec 1917) John Watson, Sergeant 20343, enlisted at South Shields in February 1915 and served in the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. He died age 20 on the 10th December 1917 and is remembered at Jarrow Library and is buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. John was born in Jarrow 1897, son of Mary and the late Charles Watson of Jarrow. In the 1891 census Charles(28) and Mary(21) living at 12 Frederick Street Jarrow, seem to be the most likely family but unable to find in any later census returns as Charles may already have died by 1901. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 215857 Pte. Robert Roberts 6th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.8th Oct 1916) Robert Roberts served in the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and died on the 8th October 1916. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and at His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. Robert was born in Jarrow 1890, son of Hugh and Alice Roberts. In the 1911 census, Robert(21) is single and an assistant Pork Butcher living at 31 Staple Road, Jarrow, home of Henry and Charlotte Abel (Germany Residents). His sister Alice(23) single, is also resident as a Domestic Servant. In the 1901 census the family is living at 68 Stead Street, Jarrow with his mother Alice(52) widow, 5 children and 2 boarders. The 3 sons are Henry(25), John(23) both labourers in the shipyard and Robert(11) at school. The two daughters are Jessica(17) a domestic servant and Alice (13) at school. The boarders both work as labourers in the shipyard. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 214709 Pte. George William Bonner 1st/6th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (d.26th Apr 1918) George William Bonner, Private 42710, enlisted in Jarrow and served with the 1st/6th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). He died age 31 on the 26th April 1918. He is commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph (west face) Jarrow and on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. George was born in Jarrow son of Elizabeth Bonner and the the late Robert Bonner. George William Bonner age 25 Labourer in Tube Works is living with his widowed mother Elizabeth Bonner at 78 Monkton Road back, Jarrow on the 1911 census. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 213278 Sgt. Heber William Henry Partridge MM. 1/6th Bn. West Riding Regiment 26616 Sgt Heber William Henry MM enlisted in the 16th Battalion, The West Riding Regiment and served throughout World War 1. His unit was raised in Halifax as Part of the 2nd West Riding Brigade, West Riding Division. It moved, on mobilisation, to coastal defences near Hull and Grimsby. It was then relocated on 5 November 1914 in billets at Doncaster. The unit landed at Boulogne, France on the 14th April 1915. On the 15th May 1915 it became 147 Brigade in the 49th (West Riding) Division. His Battalion fought with 147 Brigade at the Somme, Paschendale and many other WW1 locations. His home address was in Keighley, West Riding, Yorkshire. He was born about 1879 and in the 1911 census is shown as head of family with his wife Minnie and 5 children. His occupation is given as Wood Sawyer. He died in 1957 aged 78. Annette Smales Add to this record.

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