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The York & Lancaster Regiment



The York & Lancaster Regiment is named after area it recruited from, the landed properties in Yorkshire owned by the Duchy of York and the Duchy of Lancaster, not the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire as is often assumed.

Regiments of the The York and Lancaster Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918.






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April 2012

    Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site.

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Those known to have served with The York & Lancaster Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918.

Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site.

The 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 get in touch.



850

Edgar Simms 7th Service Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment (Pioneers)

My grandfather, Edgar Simms, served with the 7th Service Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment (Pioneers) from 1915-1917. He did survive the war, but 44 of his pals in A company did not return. My husband and I have found the final resting place of those who have known graves and in September we are returning to the Somme area to place poppy crosses on all of the graves in the area. Next year, we shall visit Belgium and place the rest of the crosses on the graves in the Passchendaele area and the final crosses at the Menin Gate during the 90th anniversary of that battle. If anyone has family members with graves in either area we will be more than happy to visit the graves and place a poppy for them.



500647

James Davies Yorks & Lancs Regt

The above post card was sent to my Grandmother from her husband. His regiment was the Yorks and Lancs, number 1538 He finished his army career in the Labour corps due to shrapnel in his legs and came home after the war. I am sure that one of these is Grandad James Davies.



143047

Pte. John Schneider 1st/4th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment (d.9th Oct 1917)

My Great Uncle Private John Schneider was killed during the attack on the 9th October 1917 at Battle of Poelcappelle. His memorial is on panel 125-128 Tyne Cot Memorial.

I believe he had previously been injured and spent some time in a hospital. Whilst there he knitted a belt which has been handed down to me. It has knitted on it his initials J.S, the initials Y & L for his regiment and the regimental badge, the union jack flag, a flag which is red with a small union jack in the top left corner, and the initials S P H which I believe to be the initials of the hospital. All my efforts to trace the hospital have failed, can anyone please assist?



205191

L/Cpl. John Cook 9th Btn. Yorks & Lancs Regt (d.30th Sep 1918)

My great-uncle, Jack Cook, had volunteered in the early days of the war and by summer 1916 was in the 9th battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment. On Midsummer’s Day 1916 the great artillery bombardment opened on The Somme. In theory the German front line was to be so pulverised that the British troops, whom Haig seems to have considered incapable of little more than obeying simple instructions, could walk across and occupy the enemies positions.

On the night of 29-30 June 1916, Jack's battalion moved forward to their assembly position. They had to wait over a day, but then July 1st dawned fine but misty, and at 6.25 the final bombardment began. At 7.30 all along the line of 15 divisions men went over the top, each carrying 66lb of kit, and expecting little if any resistance. In reality, as John Keegan in 'The Face of Battle' so elegantly shows, there was a race on for the top of the German front lines. Whoever arrived first had won: the loser would face annihilation. The awful reality was that that the Germans had largely survived the bombardment and were able to bring their machine guns to bear upon the advancing infantry struggling with the barbed wire that had also defeated everything the artillery could throw against it.

Unusually the wire in front of the 70th Brigade was completely cut and the first and second German lines on Thiepval Ridge were captured, with some troops even reaching the third line. Meanwhile the 9th York and Lancaster’s were coming up in support. By then the German barrage was intense: one of the four companies losing 50% of its men before it left its assembly position. Ahead and to both left and right was severe machine-gun fire but the first wave gained the German line. By 10 am. all communication between British lines and the brigade headquarters had ceased since every telephone wire was cut and it was impossible to stand-up in no-man’s-land.

During the night they were relieved. Out of 25 officers and 736 other ranks of the 9th York and Lancs who went into action, 22 officers and 556 men were casualties in the bloodiest day the British Army has ever known, with 31 581 killed, wounded or missing. Behind them was the sound of countless men lying out in no-man’s-land, described by one survivor like 'enormous wet fingers screeching across an enormous pane of glass'. Some of the wounded screamed, some muttered, some wept with fear, some called for help, other shouted in delirium or groaned in pain. Their Brigade Commander wrote, 'I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry and determination of officers and men. Artillery could not stop them, but with nothing on their flanks save German machine guns, with the support exhausted and German reinforcements coming up, they fought for over six hours in positions won by them from the enemy, until they died'.

My grandfather was also to take part in the Somme with his regiment, the Northumberland Fusiliers, a little later. In his own words, 'at daybreak, 14th July the barrage of constant very heavy shell fire lifted and our men went over to take the village of Bazentin-le-Petit from the occupying Germans. The stretcher bearers follow and we left at intervals of one minute, knowing that our journey would not be in vain. Before my particular stretcher had reached the village we saw Number One coming back but with only two men carrying. The third man had been hit in both legs and the fourth shot though the throat (a particularly disturbing event for the company for this man had had a clear premonition of his own death, apparently so unusual that my grandfather clearly remembered it 50 years later).

'The village was now the centre of a bitter battle which was often hand-to-hand with the Germans putting up stiff resistance. Pratt (a chum since he joined up in early 1915) was going forward with his section when they were held up. He could not be dissuaded from going forward alone to clear a house which had already cost us dear when he was killed outright.

'By mid morning the scene at the dressing station was pitiable in the extreme with Captain Glyn (the M.O.) and Corporal Burns (his dresser) working without a moments relaxation as we brought in a stream of wounded. There were no priorities here as they lay where we put them (outside) in their dozens to wait their turn. Those who were known to have no possible chance of recovery had to be put into a nearby dugout to wait a merciful death. Captain Mellish VC,(the Chaplain) gave them the comfort only such a man as he could.

Walking wounded went straight off under their own strength to reach some aid in the back area, but many must have died on the way for the whole area was shell ridden. The gun crews worked ceaselessly loading and firing, paying no regard to the hail of shells seeking them out and bursting all around. The horse-driven ammunition columns rode up at full gallop, discharging their loads and turning about to bring still more from the rear.

'There was no time for panic. Carrying one man shoulder high we heard a large shell coming very close indeed. I actually saw it plunge into the ground almost at my feet and burst. We walked on out of the black cloud of smoke, hurling earth and metal unscathed...

He then described how their sergeant, a hard-bitten pre-War veteran, had been reduced to tears to have to bring out a very badly wounded lad of sixteen who started crying for his mother.

'To add to our emotional worries we noticed a tall figure running around in circles alone and in a very exposed place. I ran over to him; he was dazed but knew me. "Cooky, where are the others. They can't go on like this, its sheer hell and we'll never get them back again. Poor Tim (the man shot through the throat), he knew all the time what was going to happen by his dream and went in like the man he was.... He got to his feet and I walked him back to the dressing station. He left for hospital and it was not for some weeks that he overcame his shell-shock.

'Withdrawal on the 19th to the divisional reserve brought a letter from home to tell me that Jack had been wounded on the first day of the battle and had returned to England. Later I was to learn that he had been shot through the body almost immediately he left the trench. The bullet had missed his spine by fraction of an inch yet he walked down to the first aid post alone. It was not expected that he would ever be A1 again but such was his strength that he later returned to his battalion.



1205712

A/Capt. George Noel Bisatt 6h Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment

My great uncle George Bisatt, from Fishlake in Yorkshire was a railway clerk living in Sheffield when war broke out. He joined the 12th Yorks and Lancaster Regiment, The Sheffield Pals and served on The Somme. He was commissioned into the 6th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, in June 1917 and saw action in the Third Battle of Ypres. He was the battalion Adjutant in 1918. Does anyone have any information or a photo of of him?

At the end of the war he led the party who returned to Bradford to collect the colours, does anyone have a better copy of the photo of the handing over ceremony, as printed in the History of the 6th Battlion?



1439

2nd Lt Ernest Henry Austin Lucas 8th Btn. The York & Lancaster Regiment (d.7th Jun 1917)

Ernest Lucas was born on the 10th of December 1890, the son of William Austin Lucas and Louisa Lucas. He worked for London County Westminster and Parr's Bank before the war. He enlisted into the Artists' Rifles in June 1915, and was commissioned into the York and Lancaster Regiment in November 1915. He was posted to the 1/5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment in France in January 1916. He was wounded in action during the Battle of the Somme whilst attacking German trenches at Thiepval on the 6 July 1916.

On his recovery, he was posted to the 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, and was listed as missing on the 7th June 1917 at Messines. On the 18 April 1918 he was listed officially as having been killed in action on the 7 June 1917.



205994

Private Charles "Yorkie" Hoyle Yorks & Lancs

My father joined up in January 1917 at the age of 17. The first time he tried, aged 16 he was told 'Join the scouts sonny',

He was made a Corporal quite quickly as he had a carrying vioce - so he said, but went absent without leave when he realised he would not be sent to France but stay in England training troops on parade ground duty.

He lost his stripe and was sent to France. He was in Ypres, Cambrai and also went to Germany at some stage. I don't know the dates.

He was a Runner in France as he was good at cross country running. He stayed on in the army after the war and was sent to Persia (I have his Medals) then to India. I have some interesting photos. I would like to know where his regiment went and when.



205605

Pte. John William "Jerry" Wiggins 14th Battalion York & Lancs Regiment

Jerry Wiggins a miner enlisted on the 5th January 1915, he served in the Middle East from December 1915 to March 1916 before being transferred to France.

He went over the top on the 1st July 1916, the first day of the Somme, he was carried out of no mans land by an unknown colleague, he received gunshot wounds to arm, scalp, chest and thigh shrapnel to shoulder, ring and little finger on right hand gone.

After 10 months in Fulham military hospital he was discharged from the Army, no longer physically fit for service. He went back to the mines in Cudworth Barnsley, he raised 10 children but died aged 61 in 1951.



205463

Pte. George Smith 10th (Service) Btn. York & Lancs Regt. (d.12th Aug 1917)

He went to france in 1915. He might have been with some engineers with some more of the battalion near a place called White Sheets, when there was a lot of shelling. He was wounded and was transferred to no: 53 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of wounds on the 12th of August.

This would be the 3rd battle of Paschendale. He was buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetry Extension (nord).



207432

Pte. Charles Radley 7th (Service) Btn. York & Lancaster (d.30th Jun 1918)

My Great Uncle Charles Radley enlisted in 1914 when he was 17 yrs old. The only details I have are that he died of wounds on the 30th June 1918 in "France & Flanders" and he is buried in the Herissart Communal Cemetery. I have photographs of the cemetery and his grave. There is a memorial to him and others in Adwick village where he came from.



207465

CSM. Matthew James Aithwaite 2nd Btn. B COY York and Lancaster Regiment (d.21st Sep 1916)

Matthew enlisted in Feb 1900, he served as a Private in B coy 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. On 9th September 1914 he landed at St Nazaire as part of 16th Brigade in 6th Division.

Matthew reached the rank of Company Sergeant Major during WW1 and fought a battle to take The Heidenkopf on the 18th of September 1916. The York and Lancasters (16th brigade) also the 14th Durham Light Infantry (18th brigade)and the 1st West Yorks (18th brigade) took The Heindenkopf and helped to secure 7 German machine guns and took 140 prisoners.

Matthew was wounded on the 18th Sept and died on 21st Sept 1916. He died of a gunshot wound to the neck. Matthew is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France Plot: I. H. 1.





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Letters from the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War

Bill Lamin


Harry Lamin was born in Derbyshire in 1877 and left school at thirteen to work in the lace industry, but by December 1916 he had been conscripted into the 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment and sent to war. Harry's letters home to his family describe the conflict with a poignant immediacy, even ninety years on, detailing everything from the action in battle to the often amusing incidents of life amongst his comrades.Throughout the letters, Harry's tone is unwaveringly stoical, uncomplaining and good-humoured. "Letters From The Trenches" is a fitting tribute to the unsung heroes of the Great War who fought and endured and returned home, and the one in six who did not. The letters describe the war through the eyes of those who really lived it, bringing the horrors and triumphs to life for the twenty-first-century reader. Edited by Harry's grandson, Bill, "Letters From The Trenches" tells the moving story of a brave, selfless and honourable man who endured everything that the war


Beneath Hill 60 [DVD]


BENEATH HILL 60 tells the extraordinary true story of Oliver Woodward, the legendary Australian metal scientist. In 1916, Woodward faced the most difficult decision, ultimately having to separate from his new young love for the deadly carnage of the Western Front. On treacherous territory, behind the German enemy lines, Woodward and his secret platoon of Australian tunnelers face a suicidal battle to defend a leaking, tunnel system. A tunnel packed with enough high explosives to change the course of the War.
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Beneath Hill 60 [DVD]




Hill 60: Ypres (Battleground Europe)

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The shell-ravaged landscape of Hill 60, some three miles south east of Ypres, conceals a labyrinth of tu nnels and underground workings. This book offers a guide to the memorials, cemeteries and museums at the site '


Beneath Hill 60 [Paperback]

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'Ten seconds, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one - fire! Down goes the firing switch. At first, nothing. Then from deep down there comes a low rumble, and it as if the world is spliting apart...' On 7th June 1917, nineteen massive mines exploded beneath Messines Ridge near Ypres. The largest man-made explosion in history up until that point shattered the landscape and smashed open the German lines. Ten thousand German soldiers died. Two of the mines - at Hill 60 and the Caterpillar - were fired by men of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, comprising miners and engineers rather than parade-ground soldiers. Drawing on the diaries of one of the key combatants, "Benealth Hill 60" tells the little-known, devastatingly brutal true story of this subterranean war waged beneath the Western Front - a stygian battle-ground where men drowned in viscous chalk, suffocated in the blue gray clay, choked on poisonous air or died in the darkness, caught up up in vicious hand-to-han
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