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8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
8th Battalion, (Leeds Rifles) West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), a territorial battalion was based at Carlton Barracks, Leeds in August 1914 when war broke out. On the 10th of August they moved to Selby, and end of the month to Strenshall, in late October they moved to York. In March 1915 they moved to Gainsborough before proceeding to France, sailing from Folkestone on the 15th of April 1915, landing at Boulogne with the 146th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division. They served on the Western Front throughout the conflict, seeing action at Aubers Ridge, on the Somme, the Flanders Coast, the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Lys and the final advance in Picardy. On the 30th of January 1918 they absorbed the 2/8th Battalion and transferred to 185th Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division.
4th Aug 1914 West Yorkshire Territorials march into Scarborough The Territorials of the West Riding Brigade, 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions West Yorkshire Regiment broke camp near Scarborough and marched to Scarborough railway station to entrain for the journey home.
10th Aug 1914 West Yorks Territorials concentrate at Selby The territorials of the West Yorkshire Regiment arrive at Selby on the 10th of August, the 5th Battalion arriving from York, the 6th Battalion from Bradford, the 7th and 8th Battalions from their base at Carlton Barracks.
14th Apr 1915 On the Move
15th Apr 1915 On the Move
16th Apr 1915 On the Move
17th Apr 1915 On the Move 
18th Apr 1915 Route March
19th Apr 1915 Instruction
20th Apr 1915 Instruction
21st Apr 1915 Instruction
22nd Apr 1915 On the March
23rd Apr 1915 In Billets
24th Apr 1915 In Billets
25th Apr 1915 Instruction
26th Apr 1915 Instruction
27th Apr 1915 Instruction
28th Apr 1915 Instruction
29th Apr 1915 Instruction
30th Apr 1915 Heavy Shelling
1st May 1915 Stand To
2nd May 1915 On the March
2nd May 1915 On the March
3rd May 1915 In Billets
4th May 1915 In Billets
5th May 1915 Relief Completed
6th May 1915 Holding the Line
7th May 1915 In the Line
8th May 1915 Reliefs
8th May 1915 Orders
9th May 1915 Attack Made
10th May 1915 Gas Alert
11th May 1915 No Man's Land
11th May 1915 Rumour
12th May 1915 Rations
13th May 1915 Quiet
14th May 1915 Demonstration
15th May 1915 Relief
16th May 1915 In Billets
17th May 1915 In Billets
17th May 1915 Orders
18th May 1915 In Billets
19th May 1915 In Billets
19th May 1915 Report
20th May 1915 Working Party
21st May 1915 Isolation
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
19th Dec 1915 Gas Attack
30th Dec 1915 Late Christmas Dinner
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
1st of June 1916 Lively Shelling
1st Jul 1916 In Action
16th Jul 1916 1/8th West Yorks in support near Leipzig Redoubt 1/8th Battalion Leeds Rifles are at Theipval on the Somme, with their HQ at Johnsons Post on the 16th July 1916. They were held in reserve but were brought up to the line in support in the area of Leipzig Redoubt.
6th Aug 1916 Ground Gained
1st September 1916 Diary Table March and Billetting
3rd September 1916 Movement Table Troops by road
25th Mar 1917 Enemy Attack
4th June 1917 Entertainment
13th June 1917 Horse Show
14th June 1917 Horse Show
15th June 1917 Reconnaissance
15th Jul 1917 16th Northumberland Fusiliers return to Nieuport The 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers return to Nieuport, taking over from 15 Btn Lancashire Fusiliers. The Battalion is later relieved in Nieuport by 1/8 Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (49 division) and marches back to Jeanniot camp, remaining there for eight days engaged in working and carrying parties. Two drafts join, totallying 240 men in all. From there they move to to Bray Dunes, taking over the coast defences.
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
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
18th Nov 1917 Shelling
19th Nov 1917 Prisoners
24th Nov 1917 Shelling
25th Nov 1917 Shelling
28th Nov 1917 Reliefs
29th Nov 1917 Reliefs
1st Mar 1918 Raid
6th Mar 1918 Shelling
7th Mar 1918 Information
8th Mar 1918 Artillery Active
9th Mar 1918 Counter Attack
10th Mar 1918 Quiet
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
19th Apr 1918 Reliefs
28th Jul 1918 Croix de Guerre for 8th West Yorks Croix de Guerre awarded to 8th Battalion West Yorks Regiment following successful campaign at Montage de Bligny. 33 men lost their lives and are buried at the British Cemetery, Chambrecy
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 with8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ashforth Frederick Vincent. CQMS (d.21st April 1918)
- Beddows John Thomas. Pte. (d.26th May 1918)
- Belton Frank. Pte. (d.28th July 1917)
- Brown J. C.. Pte. (d.25th Jul 1917)
- Bruce William. Dvr. (d.6th Jun 1917)
- Clark William Henry. Pte.
- Clarkson MC, MID. Amos. Capt. (d.24th Oct 1918)
- Colpitts William. Pte.
- Cryer Ernest. Sgt. (d.1st Sep 1918)
- Eagin MM. Archibald Edgar. Rflmn. (d.27th September 1918)
- Gadsby John William. Pte. (d.09 Oct 1917)
- Horton Samuel. Rfmn. (d.29th Jul 1918)
- McDonald C. A.. RfM. (d.7th Nov 1918)
- Nettleton Thomas. Lt.
- Northrop Harold. 2nd Lt. (d.9th Oct 1917)
- Pankhurst Horace. Pte. (d.16th Jul 1916)
- Pankhurst Horace. RfM. (d.16th July 1916)
- Pankhurst Horace. Pte. (d.16th Jul 1916)
- Rhodes Harry. Pte. (d.9th May 1915)
- Scott George. Rfm. (d.9th Oct 1917)
- Smith MC CDG OL Frederick William. Lt
- Speight DCM. Harry. Sgt. (d.29th July 1918)
- Speight DCM. Harry. Sgt. (d.28th July 1918)
- Strangeway Joseph. Rflmn. (d.8th November 1915)
- Sykes MC. Samuel Stanley. Lt-Col.
- Vesty Arthur John. Pte. (d.23rd July 1918)
- Walsh Joseph. Pte.
- Wilinson Harold Whitewood. Cpl.
- Wilson Bertie. Pte.
- Wooldridge Harold . Pte. (d.13th Dec 1916)
- Worrall Waide Reginald. 2nd Lt.
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 8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Frank Belton 1st/8th Battalion Prince of Wale's Own West Yorkshire Regiment (d.28th July 1917) My Grandad, Frank Belton, was married to Mary Markham on the 30th July 1910. He was 18 years old and worked as a glass blower. Mary was 17 years old.
In August 1914 he volunteered and joined the West Yorkshire Regiment firstly given the service number 1590. He was in the trenches in Nieuport, Belgium on the 21st/22nd July 1917 when the Battalion was subjected to a gas attack. Frank was injured and taken to Le Treport, France, where he died of his wounds, gas, on the 28th July. He is buried in Mon-Huon Cemetery, Le Treport, France.
He was 25 years old when he died and left a 7 year old daughter, Mary and a 5 year old son, Ernest.
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Rfm. George Scott 8h Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.9th Oct 1917) 
George Scott was my great great uncle who died in 1917, all I had was that brass plaque and a pic, I found his details on the Commonwealth war graves site, he is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, he was 31 when he died.
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Cpl. Harold Whitewood Wilinson 8th (Leeds Rifles) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment  This photograph shows a section of the 8th Leeds Rifles where my Grandfather is the Corporal Harold Wilinton. There is a wooden hut in the background which may be on the then open ground above Barrack Street in Leeds.
There is no date on the photo but when I was a young boy I recollect a number of things:
The first was that he, or my other grandfather, said 'Getting Gassed saved my life' He certainly suffered some injury because he was evacuated home.
Then it gets very confusing.
What I know is that he later served in Palestine but the 8th Leeds Rifles did not serve there.
My Grandfather managed to find, and send back, some small ancient artefacts some of which I remember being accredited to him in the York Museum.
Then it gets even more sketchy.
He was either a member, or attached to the RFC. More specifically his photographic skills were used.
I can remember him showing me a box full of un-fixed glass photographic plate slides that showed aerial views of the land below. He also explained that the box was made from aircraft plywood and covered in aircraft canvas. Then to add to that, in his possession he had both an RFC cap badge as well as and RAF one.
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Rfmn. Samuel Horton 1/8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.29th Jul 1918) Samuel Horton died whilst holding the Battalion's position on Montaigne de Bligny. His body was never found and his name appears on the Soissons Memorial.
Samuel was my great uncle. Unfortunately my mother never knew him as he was the eldest son of my great grandmother and great grandfather. My grandmother was the youngest child of a large family.
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Rflmn. Archibald Edgar Eagin MM. 8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (d.27th September 1918) Archibald Eagin was my Great Uncle, my grandad's brother. Archie was killed in action in Northern France on 27th of September 1918 and was interred in Flesquiers Hill Commonwealth War Cemetery with the Military Medal for gallantry and bravery in battle. He was 19 years of age. I would love to know more about this brave family member such as when he enlisted and his route through service in the war.
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Pte. Joseph Walsh 8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Joseph Walsh enlisted on 7th of December 1914. He served the whole of World War 1, before being referred to Abram Peel War Hospital suffering from Neurasthenia (Shell Shock) on 21st of January 1919. He was discharged from the army on 1st February 1919 with a 40% degree of disablement. Later in 1919 he married Isabella Connell, a resident of Bradford. He went on to have 2 sons and one daughter with Isabella. Joseph died of a heart attack in 1946 aged 58 years.
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2nd Lt. Waide Reginald Worrall 8th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment Reg Worrall was my father's brother-in-law. He volunteered at the outbreak of war and served as a stretcher bearer with 1/3rd West Riding Field Ambulance until 1917 when he was selected for officer training.He became a 2nd Lt in 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. He was posted to France in April 1918 and transferred to the 5th DLI and saw action with 151st Trench Mortar Battery. On 27th May he was wounded in both arms and both legs and captured near Craonne. After a spell in hospital in Germany he was transferred to Karlsruhe POW camp. He was then removed to Kampstigall POW camp near Konigsburg on the Baltic Sea. He was repatriated to England in 1919.
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CQMS Frederick Vincent Ashforth 1/8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.21st April 1918) Frederick Vincent Ashforth, born 1884, is my second cousin twice removed. He was born in Sheffield, the last of three boys and his father died when Frederick was about two years old. His two older brothers died at ages 2 years and 10 months and the other at age 10. Frederick's mother married again in 1889 and she and her new husband moved to the Leeds area of Yorkshire.
Frederick married Hannah Binks in 1909 and then when war broke out he enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment {Prince of Wales Own). He was made Company Quarter Master Sergeant in the 8th Battalion. He fought in France, dying at the age of 34 and is buried at Bienvillers Military Cemetery.
I have no photo, no papers except the certificate which one can download from the War Graves Commission website. Frederick and Hannah appear to not have any children, and on the certificate she shows her living place as Morecambe in Lancashire. However, I do have a photo where his name has been added to his father's and brothers' headstone in the City Road Cemetery in Sheffield.
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Rflmn. Joseph Strangeway 1/8th (Leeds Rifles) Btn. Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (d.8th November 1915) Rifleman Joseph Strangeway was my fourth cousin four times removed. He is buried at Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres. He was a railway labourer and was single. He had seven Sisters and three brothers.
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Pte. William Henry Clark 1/8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Private William Clark embarked for France with the Leeds Rifles in April 1915. After several bouts of trench fever he was medically discharged in early 1918.
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Pte. Bertie Wilson 1/8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment Bertie Wilson survived the war and was disembodied on the 10th of April 1919. I don't know a lot about him.
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Sgt. Harry Speight DCM. 8th (Leeds Rifles) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.28th July 1918) Uncle Harry was home on leave and went back to France and never came home. From that information I have traced where he is buried and his gallantry award. I would really like to know what happened to his medal and if I can trace the source of any photos.
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Pte. Arthur John Vesty 1st/8th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (d.23rd July 1918) Arthur Vesty is my great grand uncle he served with the 1st/8th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment.
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Dvr. William Bruce Royal Field Artillery (d.6th Jun 1917) Our Great Uncle William Bruce enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in 1915/16 in Haddington, East Lothian. Sometime between his joining and his being killed in action at Flanders on June 1917 he was re-badged into 8 Battalion, Alexandra Princes of Wales Own Regiment where he became "42815 Pte William Bruce"
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Sgt. Ernest Cryer 1/8th (Leeds Rifles) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.1st Sep 1918) Ernest Cryer was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Cryer, of Harrogate and husband of Mary Ann Cryer, of 25 Mayfield Terrace, Harrogate. He was employed in the Post Office for 16 years. Ernest was shot by a sniper and is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery. His brother Thomas also fell.
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Sgt. Harry Speight DCM. 8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.29th July 1918) Sergeant Harry Speight served with the 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment and died in battle on the Montage de Bligny on 29th July 1918. He had previously been mentioned in despatches and received the D.C.M in 1917. He and his comrades who died at Bligny are commemorated each year in a special service at Leeds Minster. His battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for their action in repelling the enemy.
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2nd Lt. Harold Northrop 1/8 (Leeds Rifles) Btn West Yorkshire Regiment (d.9th Oct 1917) My great uncle Harold Northrop was in the Territorials before the war & was commissioned the Dec before his death. I would be interested in knowing more about the 1/8th deployment in 1914 until his death.
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Pte. J. C. Brown 8th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.25th Jul 1917) John C Brown served with the 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
he died of wounds and is buried in Mont Huron Military Cemetery, Le Treport.
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Capt. Amos Clarkson MC, MID. 8th Battalion (Leeds Rifles) Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment (d.24th Oct 1918) Amos Clarkson was born in Silsden, his parents were John & Hannah Clarkson they relocated and resided at Elmcliffe in Ilkley. Amos was educated at Ilkley Grammar school and then worked for Francis Willey & co in Bradford where he was expected to carve out a successful business career. He enlisted in the West Riding Regiment in the early days of the war in September 1914 and gained rapid promotion where he attained the rank of quatermaster-sergeant. He was then recommended for a commission and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the West Yorkshires. He was named in Sir Douglas Haig's new years honours list and received the military cross for his gallantry in action during Messines ridge engagement. Soon after he became full lieutenant then after a short stint as acting captain was promoted to that rank. Amos was wounded in the thigh by shrapnel on 20th September 1917 and was returned to Cambridge hospital to receive treatment. After returning to the front line he was wounded once again and died from his injuries in France on the 24th of October 1918 at the age of 23 he was interred at the Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Beugny.
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RfM. C. A. McDonald 12th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery (d.7th Nov 1918) Rifleman Horace Pankhurst 1/8th Batt Leeds Rifles, died of wounds at Leipzig Redought on 16th July 1916. That's where the battalion was at this time, HQ was Johnsons Post at Theipval on the Somme, held in reserve but was brought up to the line in support.
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