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1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) was stationed at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield in August 1914 when war broke out, on the 7th August they moved to Dunfermline then six days later they transferred to Cambridge. They proceeded to France, landing at St Nazaire on the 10th of September 1914, with 18th Brigade in 6th Division to inforce the BEF on the Aisne.
They remained on the Western Front throughout the conflict, seeing action the the Battle of the Somme, at Hill 70, on the Lys and the Hindeburg Line. After the Armistice, 6th Division were selected to join the occupation force and they moved into Germany in mid December, being based at Bruehl by Christmas 1918.
7th Aug 1914 1st West Yorks move to Scotland 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment leave their base at Lichfield and move to Dunfermline to assist in the defence of the River Clyde.
20th Sep 1914 Men taken Prisoner
20th Sep 1914 In Action
16th Jun 1915 Attack Made 
16th Jun 1915 In Action
16th Jun 1915 Preparations
7th Aug 1915 Choose to Take on Again
8th Oct 1915 Instruction
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
20th of March 1918 Sports Cancelled
26th Apr 1918 Enemy Advance
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment? There are:5245 items tagged 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment available in our Library
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 with1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Anderson James Mackie. Pte. (d.26th Nov 1943)
- Ashton John. Pte. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Ashton William Francis. L/Cpl. (d.17th Jan 1917)
- Atkinson A.. L/Cpl. (d.2nd Mar 1915)
- Barker Harold Marshall. Pte. (d.19th May 1916)
- Bell Thomas. Pte.
- Brooke Herbert. Pte. (d.24th September 1918)
- Buckley Fred. L/Cpl. (d.20th Sep 1914)
- Burberry Frederick. Pte.
- Chapman Alfred Marshall. Pte. (d.2nd Mar 1916)
- Corp MC. Benjamin. Captain (d.18.9.1916)
- Drury William Henry. Pte.
- Elliott Walter. Pte. (d.26th June 1915)
- Farr Harry T.. Pte. (d.18th Oct 1916)
- Form William. Cpl. (d.22nd Dec 1916)
- Foster Albert. Pte.
- Fraser John William. L/Cpl. (d.19th Sep 1918)
- Gill Arthur. Pte. (d.21st Dec 1915)
- Gleadow George E.. Sgt. (d.6th Apr 1917)
- Greg Adam. Pte. (d.16th Oct 1916)
- Harney MM. Thomas Joseph. Pte. (d.25th September 1916)
- Heslop F. 2nd Lt (d.26th Apr 1918)
- Himsworth Charles Edward. Pte. (d.26th August 1916)
- Hobson Joseph. Cpl. (d.14th Mar 1915)
- Howes Louis Harold George. Pte. (d.16th October 1916)
- Jones Frederick Victor. Pte. (d.27th April 1918)
- Kirk Ernest. Pte. (d.6th March 1915)
- Kitson Henry. Pte. (d.18th Sep 1916)
- Kitson William Henry. Pte. (d.18th Sept 1916)
- Lay George . Pte.
- Lindsay Thomas. Pte. (d.9th Jan 1916)
- Livsey Herbert. Pte. (d.22nd July 1917)
- Marshall Philip Messenger. Pte. (d.15th Mar 1915)
- McNulty William Henry. L/Cpl. (d.20th Sep 1914)
- Mitton Arthur. Pte. (d.24th September 1918)
- Newton Edward Alexander. Pte.
- O'Brien Alexander. Pte. (d.12th Oct 1916)
- Oliver Edward C. Rfn (d.2nd Jul 1916)
- Parker Robert Winder. Pte. (d.20th Sept. 1914)
- Renton Arthur. L/Sgt (d.17th Sep 1918)
- Roper William. Pte. (d.17th Sep 1916)
- Scott James Stanley. Private (d.12th Feb 1916)
- Simpson Ernest William. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1916)
- Slack Thomas Elliott. Cpl. (d.29th Jan 1915)
- Ward James. Pte. (d.6th Oct 1915)
- Ward John Thomas. Pte. (d.23rd July 1916)
- Ward John Thomas. Pte. (d.23rd July 1916)
- Wells John Henry. Pte. (d.16th Oct 1916 )
- Wright Henry. Pte (d.24th Sept 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 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our
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Pte. Herbert Livsey 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.22nd July 1917) Private Herbert Livsey no. 58620 1st. Battalion West Riding Yorks, 173 company Machine Gun Corps was killed on 22nd July 1917. I need whereabouts of his memorial in England.
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Pte. Albert Foster 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Albert Foster served with 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during WW1, he was a regular soldier and was in Malta before the Great War.
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Pte. Thomas Joseph Harney MM. 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.25th September 1916) Thomas Harney was my granduncle. I know very little about him except that he was awarded the Military Medal but was killed before he received it.
He served with the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment in WW1 and died 25th of September 1916 aged 22 years. I can't find him listed on any memorial apart from Thiepval Memorial in France. Son of Patrick and Mary Harney of 15 St. Thomas's Rd., Fairbrother's Estate, South Circular Rd., Dublin.
His brother also served during the war and survived but suffered the effects of gas.
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Pte. Charles Edward Himsworth 1st Btn. C Coy. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.26th August 1916) Pte Charles Himsworth was killed by a shell during trench digging detail in the village of Englebelmer the British had taken from the Germans. However, a German soldier had stayed in the clock tower and would move the clock hands to alert that troops had gone back to the trenches, they would then shell them. Records say that on 26th of August 1916 one man was wounded, this was Charles and he died of his wounds at a dressing station. He is buried in Knightsbridge CWGC Mesnil Martinsaart. He was 34 years old from Rotherham and left a widow Martha and son George.
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L/Sgt Arthur Renton 1st Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (d.17th Sep 1918) Arthur was my great grandfather. He left a little boy and girl at home., The girl was my grandmother and she used to take me to the War Memorial and I now have his photo.
He lies now in Chapelle British Cemetery Holnon Aisne
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Rfn Edward C Oliver 1/7th Leeds Rifles Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regimet (d.2nd Jul 1916) Edward Oliver was my grandfather whom I never got the chance to meet. Also the father of my dad who also never got to know him.
But we know more after the research that I have done over the years and also visiting Thiepval Memorial.
I would like to be able to put his name forward for recognition on the list.
Sadly I have no photos of him.
Thank you.
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L/Cpl. William Henry McNulty 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1914) Lance Corporal William McNulty served with the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
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Pte. Frederick Burberry 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Frederick Burbery signed his attestation Paper on the 18th of Feb 1907 to join the Army and was assigned to the West Yorkshire Regiment. Regimental No. 8376. He was an Officer's servant (valet) for 3 years and of good character.
He married Selina Barker on the 16th of August 1913
A Court of Inquiry 9 October 1909 found that:
On the 13 September 1909 Private Frederick Burbery, was on army manuoeuvres on a bicycle with other members of his unit, when the front wheel broke off and he was thrown over the handlebars hitting his head and bleeding from his ear. Found not to be at fault.
Fred was mobilized on the 5th of August 1914, and went to France on the 8th of September 1914,
He was reported missing killed in action in Sept 1914 according to his soldier's papers. But he was later reported as a POW in Oct 1914. Taken prisoner 20 September 1914 and confirmed held at Kessel POW camp, from ICRC and was released and arrived on 9th January 1919 to the UK.
He was transferred to 46th Labour Corps, Regimental No. 27086, and received back pay of 64 pounds 6 shillings and 6 pence, which was used to purchase Saving Certificates (84).
He was discharged on the 31st of March 1920
and received his war medals, the 1914 Star and clasp Aug - Nov, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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L/Cpl. Fred Buckley 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1914) Fred Buckley was not his real name, his name was Abraham Wolstenholme. He lied about his age as he thought he would not have to enlist. He was a married man with three children; Lydia was his wife, and the children were Eva, Marjorie and Betsy (known as Bessie).
His name on the Dewsbury War Memorial is A Wolstenhome, but his name on but his name on the Memorial on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial is Fred Buckley. He was my Great Grandfather
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Pte. John Thomas Ward 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.23rd July 1916) John Ward was the Brother of my Husband's Grandma.
John Thomas Ward, or John T as he was sometimes known, was a soldier at the time of his marriage to Miss Lillian Link in February 1916. A few months later he was injured in Flanders and died of wounds on 23rd July 1916. He is buried in Abberville Communal Cemetery in Somme, France.
He was posthumously awarded the British War and Victory Medals on 31st of March 1920. According to that medal roll, John Thomas also served in the 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
It would be great to find out more information about John Thomas, so we could know more about him. I have no photos.
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Pte. John Henry Wells 1st Btn, C Coy West York Regiment (d.16th Oct 1916 ) Private John Wells was killed at Mealte in Picardie, France.
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Pte Henry Wright 1st and 6th Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (d.24th Sept 1918) Henry Wright was my Grand Father Born 1880 in Sheffield. He died age 38 leaving 5 Children, my father was the youngest.
I have no photos of him and would be grateful if anyone who knew him could help with anything about him. My father told me he was big 6ft+ and being a grinder he would carry a grindstone by himself.
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Cpl. Joseph Hobson 1st Battalion, A Company West Yorkshire Regiment (d.14th Mar 1915) Joseph Hobson was an Ex regular soldier who was called back into service having reached the rank of Cpl serving in India.
He had been awarded the India general service medal 1908.
He joined his Battalion on 27th September 1914 landing at St Nazaire.
He was involved in various actions including attack on village Bleu, driving enemy back near Le Verrier, trenches Rue de Bois, trenches east of Armentieres.
Joseph was 27 years old when he was killed by a shell fired into billets at Houplines. He is buried in Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension.
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Pte. Arthur Gill 1st Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (d.21st Dec 1915) Arthur Gill was the Brother of my Grandfather Norman Gill.
He was 20 at the time of his death, is interred at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
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Pte. Harry T. Farr 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.18th Oct 1916) Harry Farr was executed for cowardice 18/10/1916 age 25 and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France. His crime was "mis-behaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice". He simply refused to return to the trenches while suffering from "shell shock". After two years on the Western Front he was so badly affected that he spent five months in hospital. Despite this he was found guilty at the court-martial and executed in Northern France.
Private Farr's widow, Gertie Batstone was informed of his death but learnt only later of the manner of it. Soon after, her war pension was stopped.
Gracie Harris, who was three years old when her father, Harry Farr, 25, was shot, was given the honour of unveiling the 10ft statue sculptured by Andy De Comyn. Mrs Harris, an 87-year-old widow from Harrow, north London, said: "1 am very proud and very grateful that now we have somewhere we can come and pay honour to those soldiers who I consider were wrongly executed.
"Most were suffering from post traumatic stress, which today is recognised as an illness."
Mrs Harris's father, a regular in the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in November 1914.
By May 1915 he had been admitted to hospital suffering from shell shock and was treated for the next five months.
However, during the Somme offensive of 1916 he was ordered to take rations to the front line.
As he approached amid the exploding shells that were falling on the trenches he refused to go forward.
He was tried and found guilty of desertion at a court martial and sentenced to death.
Mrs Harris did not find out until she was 40. "My mother was too ashamed to tell me but it explains a lot of things that made my mother very sad over the years."
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Pte. Ernest Kirk 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.6th March 1915) Ernest Kirk was executed for desertion 06/03/1915 and buried in Chapelle-d'Armentieres Old Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d'Armentieres, France.
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L/Cpl. A. Atkinson 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.2nd Mar 1915) L/Cpl A. Atkinson served with the West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 2nd March 1915 aged 24 and is buried in Chapelle-d'Armentieres Old Military Cemetery in La Chapelle-d'Armentieres, France.
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Sgt. George E. Gleadow 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.6th Apr 1917) Sgt. George Gleadow served with the West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 06th April 1917 and is buried in the Berlencourt Communal Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais, France.
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Pte. Philip Messenger Marshall 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (d.15th Mar 1915) Philip Messenger Marshall served with the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). He was aged 28 when he died on 15th March 1915. He was born in Hebburn in 1886 and was the Hhsband of Jessie Marshall (nee Brodie). He enlisted in Jarrow.
Philip is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow.
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Pte. Adam Greg 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.16th Oct 1916) Adam Greig served with the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) he was aged 22 when he died on 16th October 1916.
Son of Alexander and Ann Greig he was born, lived and enlisted Jarrow. Adam Greig age 15 Milk Boy is recorded as living with his parents Alexander and Ann Greig and family at 31 Wellesley Street, Jarrow on the 1911 census.
Adam is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
He is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow and on the Monkton Memorial in Monkton Village, Jarrow.
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