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The York and Lancaster Regiment
The York and Lancaster Regiment was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments, the 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment and the 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment. The Regiment is named after the areas it recruited from, not the counties but
the lands owned by the Duchy of York and the Duchy of Lancaster, an area known as Hallamshire which is in South Yorkshire.
Battalions during the Second World War.
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 5th Battalion
- 6th Battalion
- 7th Battalion
- 8th Battalion
- 9th Battalion
- 10th Battalion
- The Hallamshire Battalion
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On our 12th Anniversary we would like to thank all those who have contributed to this project.
Research your own Family History.
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June 2011 - 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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We are aware of the issue with missing images, this is due to the redesign of the website, images will reappear as soon as the new version of the page is completed, thank you for your patience.
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If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes.
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List of those who served with the York and Lancaster Regiment during The Second World War
Select a story link or scoll down to browse those stories hosted on this website
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Kenneth "Larry" Wright 1st Batalion York & Lancaster Regiment Kenneth Wright was my Grandad, sadly I never new him as he died when my mum was only 13 and I was not born until she was 24. I know little about him, and although I never knew him I feel proud of him. He was born in 1926 and was called up in April 1944, and he made Sargent in 1947. He was in the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was shot in the leg in Germany. That is all I know of him. I have many photos of him with others from the same regiment and I would like to find out more if possible, so if anyone knew him please get in touch. Thank you. |
Pte. William Joseph Reid 2nd Btn. Yorks & Lancs Rgt. My father, Joe Reid, did not talk much about his wartime experiences except for praising the Australians, Kiwis and soldiers from the Black Watch. I have always wanted to know what my Dad did in the war and would like to correspond with anyone who knew him or the movements of his regiment.
He joined up as a regular in August 1933 with the 2nd Yorks and Lancs after being in the TA for three years. I know he was in India in 1937 and Sudan when the WW2 broke out. I also know that he went over to Crete in 1941 but had to evacuate for obvious reasons. It's really this period that I am at a loss to. He got badly shot on HMS Ajax and was captured by the Germans. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag XV111a in Germany as POW 6301.
My father sadly died in 1988 and had a good life but if any of you remember him and would like to get in touch, please feel free to email me. |
Pte. William Joseph "Soapy Joe" Reid 2nd Btn, D Company Yorks & Lancs My father Joe Reid, joined the 2nd York & Lancs Regiment in September 1932 as a regular after being in the Teritorial Army for two years. My father like most of the heroes of any campaign did not talk about his experiences. So I am putting together my account of his involvement in the second World War to the best of my knowledge. Up until the outbreak of the war, my father's regiment during the 1930's were mainly on garrison duties in Sudan and India.
When the war broke out his regiment was in North Africa and by all accounts they had had it rough for twelve months. His regiment made up the 14th Infantry Brigade along with the 2nd Black Watch and the 1st Leicestershire Regiment. These three regiments, in my opinion, were very professional and tough. They were in the thick of all the action such as Crete, Palestine and the break out from Tobruk on Operation Crusader. How on earth my father survived the Tobruk breakout I don't know because these three regiments took a right pasting from the crack German forces. My father got shot in this campaign and was captured by the Germans. My father never said a bad word about the Germans because I think they patched him up good and proper before he was interned in Stalag XV111A for the rest of the war.
With the benefit of hindsight I have come to the conclusion that being captured by the Germans may not have been a bad thing from my point of view, as I dont think I would have been born. This is because the three regiments went onto to form the special force know as the Chindits and it is common knowledge what those brave soldiers achieved. My father returned home after the war and worked at Kirkstall Power Station in Leeds until he retired in 1977. He enjoyed his retirement but sadly died in 1988 at the ripe old age of 73. I loved my father but I wish he had told me more, but there you go. |
Arnold Whiteley York & Lancaster Regiment My Grandfather Arnold Whiteley served in the Yorks a7 Lancs regiment and contributed to the book "Polar Bears From Sheffield". It's about the York and Lancaster Regiment during WW2 and contains stories and photos from many that were in the regiment. I went to Rotherham Library to find a copy but there wasn't one. A member of staff took my contact details and by the time I had got home the man that wrote the book had contacted me. He came to the house with a copy of the book (apparently he had sent copies to all that contributed but my grandfather moved home about this time so never received it). He also left a copy of the recording he took when he interviewed him which contained a lot of sad memories which he never shared with any family members. It's a good read and would recommend anyone to get it if only to have as a family keepsake. |
L/Cpl. Ernest Whitfield 2nd Battalion. York and Lancaster Regiment I have been handed down, what I would describe as a death plaque, it is about Lance Corporal Ernest Whitfield of the York and Lancaster Regiment. It was a shock to me as I never knew this person existed, however I was aware that two of my father's brothers was killed in action in WW2. The only thing I am aware of is that Ernest was killed sometime during WW2. I would like to tidy up this piece of history.
Editor's Note: The CWCG website records L/Cpl Ernest Whitfield aged 23, son of Harry H. Whitfield and Ada Whitfield as being killed on the 25th of May 1941 during the campaign in Greece and Crete, he has no known grave and is remembered on the Athens Memorial |
Polar Bears From Sheffield Donald William Scott
The story of the York and Lancaster Regiment during WW2, contains stories and photos from many that were in the regiment. More information on:
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Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?
If so please let us know.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
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Polar Bears From Sheffield
