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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)



   4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) was a territorial unit, they had just departed for their annual summer camp when war broke out and they were at once recalled their home base in Northallerton. They proceeded to France on the 18th April 1915, landing at Boulogne. They arrived in Flanders as the enemy attacked Ypres with poison gas for the first time and went straight into action. They remained in the Ypres sector throughout the Second Battle of Ypres. On the 14th of May 1915 the York & Durham Brigade, Northumbrian Division, of which the 4th Btn were part, was renamed 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division. In 1916 they saw action in the Battle of the Somme and in 1917 took part in the Arras Offensive and the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they again saw action on The Somme, the Lys and the Aisne. The Division was reorganised due to the men suffering exhaustion and heavy casualties and on the 16th of July 1918 the Division was reduced to cadre strength and moved back to take over the Lines of Communication. On the 16th of August 1918 the 1/4th Battalion transferred to 116th Brigade, 39th Division and were engaged in training the newly arrived American 77th Division. They remained a training cadre and were demobilised on the 6th of November 1918.

3rd Aug 1914 4th Yorks break camp.  4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) were at Deganwy Camp in Wales for the annual Divisional Training at the beginning of August 1914, with rumours of impending War, the Camp broke up on the 3rd of August and Company returned to its own Headquarters. H Coy had their The Drill Hall at the old Baptist Chapel, 4 Bridge Street, Bedale.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



5th Aug 1914 4th Yorks mobilise  4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment receive the order to mobilise and the Companies to assemble at Northallerton.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



10th Aug 1914 4th Yorks move to Newcastle  After 5 days at Northallerton the territorials of the 4th Yorks move Newcastle upon Tyne.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



17th Aug 1914 4th Yorks join Brigade  4th Yorks leave Newcastle upon Tyne to join their Brigade at camp in Hummersknott Park, Darlington.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



14th Sep 1914 4th Yorks join Division  4th Yorks leave Hummersknott Park, Darlington and move to Newcastle to join with the other battalions of the Northumbrian Division for further training.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



17th Apr 1915 4th Yorks depart for France  4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment depart from Newcastle at 9am bound for Folkestone and then France.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



18th Apr 1915 4th Yorks land in Boulogne  4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment land in Boulogne at about 2 am, and make camp on nearby hills. They broke camp at 10pm and marched to Desveen where they entrained for Cassel, the Officers riding in first class carriages, the NCOs and men in cattle wagons.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/003aBn1914.html



19th of April 1915 Establishing HQs

22nd of April 1915 Germans Attack

22nd of April 1915 At Readiness Level

22nd of April 1915 Standing by

23rd of April 1915 Under attack

23rd of April 1915 Troop concentrations

23rd of April 1915 Northunberlands Transferred

23rd of April 1915 Moving forward

23rd of April 1915 Urgent Moves

24th of April 1915 Transfer of Infantry

24th of April 1915 Units in position

24th of April 1915 Positions of Northumberland Division  location map

25th of April 1915 Considerable losses

26th of April 1915 Confusion

28th of April 1915 Messages

3rd of May 1915 Divisional Area Allotted

3rd of May 1915 Orders

4th of May 1915 CinC to address troops

4th of May 1915 Yorks & East Yorks re-join

5th of May 1915 HQ Report  location map

18th of May 1915 Letter

20th May 1915  entrenched

20th of May 1915 Troop Distribution

23rd May 1915  in trenches

24th May 1915  entrenched

31st of May 1915 Report

10th Jun 1915 Trench Recce

11th Jun 1915 Recce of Trenches

12th Jun 1915 Reliefs Completed

21st June 1915   location map

1st Aug 1915 Reliefs

26th Aug 1915 Reliefs

5th Sep 1915 Reliefs

12th September 1915 Reliefs

22nd September 1915 Smoke

23rd Sep 1915 Reliefs

24th September 1915 Orders  location map

24th September 1915 Programme

25th September 1915 Wind

25th September 1915 

25th September 1915 Patrols

25th September 1915 Orders  location map

26th September 1915 Patrols

1st Oct 1915 Reliefs

12th Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

17th October 1915 Quiet

18th October 1915 Quiet

20th Oct 1915 Reliefs

26th of October 1915 Moves

28th Oct 1915 Reliefs

1st November 1915 Warnings

2nd November 1915 Ammunition Allotment

2nd Nov 1915 Reliefs

3rd of November 1915 

4th November 1915 Reliefs

4th November 1915 Orders

4th November 1915 Training Programme

5th Nov 1915 4th Yorks Relieve 5th Yorks

7th Nov 1915 5th Yorks Relieve 5th DLI

7th November 1915 Orders Issued

7th November 1915 Reliefs

7th Nov 1915 Reliefs

8th November 1915 Orders  location map

10th November 1915 Shelling

11th November 1915 Reliefs

12th November 1915 On the Move

13th November 1915 Training Programme

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

2nd December 1915 Orders

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

11th December 1915 Orders

13th December 1915 Reliefs  location map

13th December 1915 Orders  location map

13th December 1915 Order  location map

13st December 1915 Orders  location map

13th December 1915 Reliefs  location map

13th December 1915 Orders  location map

15th December 1915 Advance Parties

18th December 1915 On the Move

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

16th January 1916 Visit

16th January 1916 Reorganisation  location map

27th January 1916 Snipers, Sausages and Whizz-bangs  location map

29th of January 1916 Machine Gun Emplacements  location map

29th January 1916 Machine Guns  location map

30th January 1916 Snipers  location map

31st January 1916 Casualties

31st January 1916 Enemy Lines  location map

1st February 1916 Enemy Aircraft  location map

2nd February 1916 Aeroplane Photographs  location map

4th February 1916 Reliefs  location map

4th February 1916 Enemy Guns

4th February 1916 Enemy Artillery  location map

5th February 1916 Shelling

5th February 1916 Shelling  location map

5th February 1916 Snipers

5th February 1916 Uniforms

6th February 1916 Orders  location map

7th February 1916 Shelling  location map

7th February 1916 Artillery Active  location map

9th February 1916 Orders  location map

9th of February 1916 Orders

9th February 1916 Artillery Active  location map

9th February 1916 Call Ups

11th February 1916 Warning

11th February 1916 Enemy Active  location map

12th February 1916 Gas Alert  location map

12th February 1916 Quieter  location map

14th Feb 1916 Enemy Attack

14th February 1916 Bomardment  location map

15th February 1916 Orders  location map

18th of February 1916 Reliefs Complete  location map

21st February 1916 Snow

22nd February 1916 Gas

22nd of February 1916 Machine Guns  location map

23rd February 1916 Warning

24th February 1916 Reliefs

25th February 1916 Dangerous Wind

26th February 1916 Hostile Artillery  location map

28th February 1916 Dummys

28th February 1916 Orders  location map

29th February 1916 Report

29th February 1916 Orders  location map

29th February 1916 Orders  location map

1st March 1916 Orders  location map

1st of March 1916 Bombardment  location map

2nd of March 1916 Bombardment  location map

6th of March 1916 Orders  location map

7th of March 1916 Orders  location map

7th of March 1916 Orders

8th of March 1916 Mining  location map

9th of March 1916 Orders  location map

10th of March 1916 Reliefs Completed  location map

10th of March 1916 Orders  location map

10th of March 1916 Orders  location map

16th of March 1916 Orders  location map

18th of March 1916 Orders  location map

18th Mar 1916 Reliefs Complete

20th of March 1916 Orders  location map

23rd of March 1916 Reliefs  location map

28th of March 1916 Reliefs  location map

28th of March 1916 On the March  location map

28th of March 1916 Orders  location map

31st of March 1916 Orders  location map

1st of April 1916 Moves  location map

1st of April 1916 Orders  location map

23rd of April 1916 Orders  location map

29th of April 1916 Relief Complete

30th of April 1916 Stand To

30th of April 1916 At Rest  location map

1st of May 1916 Orders

14th of May 1916 Training & Sport

18th of May 1916 Orders

20th of May 1916 Orders  location map

24th of May 1916 Orders

25th of May 1916 Orders

27th of May 1916 Reliefs  location map

14th of June 1916 Tinme

14th of June 1916 Orders  location map

27th Jun 1916 On the March

27th of June 1916   location map

1st of August 1916 Gas

2nd of August 1916 Alert

8th of August 1916 Reliefs  location map

1st of September 1916 Locations

1st Sep 1916 Flies  location map

2nd Sep 1916 Wet Day  location map

7th Sep 1916 Conference  location map

11th Sep 1916 Return to Duty  location map

13th of September 1916 Instructions  location map

13th of September 1916 Orders  location map

14th Sep 1916 Stretcher Bearers  location map

15th Sep 1916 In Action  location map

15th Sep 1916 In Action  location map

16th Sep 1916 Large number of Casualties  location map

17th Sep 1916 Stretcher Bearers  location map

21st Sep 1916 Poor Sanitation  location map

24th of September 1916 Reliefs  location map

24th of September 1916 Orders  location map

25th of September 1916 Attacks  location map

27th of September 1916 Instructions

28th of September 1916 Reliefs

28th of September 1916 Attacks Made  location map

29th of September 1916   location map

29th of September 1916 Orders  location map

29th of September 1916 Orders  location map

30th of September 1916 Patrols  location map

30th of September 1916 Barrage  location map

30th of September 1916 Orders Amended  location map

2nd of October 1916 Orders

2nd of October 1916 Reliefs

2nd of October 1916 Orders

3rd of October 1916 Reliefs  location map

3rd of October 1916 Congratulations

4th of October 1916 On the March

6th of October 1916 Training

7th of October 1916 Training

8th of October 1916 Rain

9th of October 1916 Working Parties

12th of October 1916 Training

14th of October 1916 Training and Working Parties

15th of October 1916 Exercise

19th of October 1916 Orders  location map

20th of October 1916 Working Parties

22nd of October 1916 Situation

22nd of October 1916 Orders  location map

22nd of October 1916 Signals

23rd of October 1916 Orders

23rd of October 1916 

24th of October 1916 Reliefs

25th of October 1916 Situation  location map

25th of October 1916 Instructions  location map

25th of October 1916 Information Required  location map

26th of October 1916 Orders  location map

26th of October 1916 Orders

28th of October 1916 Orders  location map

28th of October 1916 Appendix  location map

28th of October 1916 Orders

30th of October 1916 Orders  location map

31st of October 1916 Orders

31st of October 1916 Orders  location map

1st of November 1916 Thick Mud  location map

2nd of November 1916 Orders

2nd of November 1916 Instructions

2nd of November 1916 Orders  location map

2nd of November 1916 Shelling  location map

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

3rd of November 1916 Reliefs  location map

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

4th of November 1916 Secret  location map

6th of November 1916 Orders

30th of November 1916 

7th of December 1916 

1st of January 1917   location map

9th of February 1917 Orders  location map

11th of February 1917 

13th of February 1917   location map

21st of April 1917   location map

23rd of April 1917   location map

25th Jul 1917 Raid

26th of July 1917   location map

11th Aug 1917 Reliefs

2nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

3rd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

3rd of September 1917 Intelligence

4th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

5th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

6th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

7th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

8th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

9th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

9th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

10th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

11th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

12th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

13th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

14th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

15th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

16th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

16th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

17th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

18th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

20th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

21st of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

23rd of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

24th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

26th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

27th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of September 1917 Intelligence

29th Sep 1917 Reliefs

29th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

30th of September 1917 Intelligence  location map

1st of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

4th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

12th of October 1917 Orders

12th of October 1917 Orders

17th of October 1917 Orders  location map

27th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

28th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

29th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

30th of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

31st of October 1917 Intelligence  location map

8th of November 1917 Orders  location map

13th of November 1917 Dispositions  location map

13th of December 1917 Move  location map

18th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

19th of December 1917 Intelligence

20th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

21st of December 1917   location map

21st of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

22nd of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

23rd of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

24th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

25th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

25th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

26th of December 1917   location map

26th of December 1917 Intelligence  location map

24th of January 1918 

31st of January 1918 Amendment

3rd of February 1918 Orders

10th of February 1918 Orders

11th of February 1918 

27th of February 1918 Orders

19th Jun 1918 From the Line

22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

25th Mar 1918 Holding the Line

26th Mar 1918 Withdrawal

27th Mar 1918 Under Fire

28th Mar 1918 Confusion

29th Mar 1918 Orders

30th Mar 1918 Orders

31st Mar 1918 Attack

9th Apr 1918 Into the Line  location map

9th Apr 1918 Attacks  location map

10th Apr 1918 In Action  location map

11th Apr 1918 In Action  location map

13th Apr 1918 On the Move  location map

13th of April 1918 Report  location map

1st May 1918 Field Day

14th May 1918 Relief

14th of May 1918 Enemy Aircraft

21st May 1918 Reliefs Completed

21st of May 1918 Reliefs

22nd of May 1918 Quiet

23rd of May 1918 Awards

27th May 1918 In Action

28th May 1918 Hard Fighting

1st of June 1918 

2nd of June 1918 

3rd of June 1918 

5th Jun 1918 Into the Line

5th of June 1918 

23rd Jun 1918 On the Move

11th Jul 1918 Inspection

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)?


There are:5578 items tagged 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) 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

4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Allenby P. W.. Pte. (d.6th Oct 1916)
  • Ball Andrew. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1918)
  • Buckle William. Pte. (d.7th June 1917)
  • Caldecoat Percy. Pte. (d.13th Oct 1918)
  • Craggs Albert. Pte. (d.17th March 1915)
  • Doyle John James. Pte. (d.23rd Mar 1918)
  • Duckett Sydney Alfred. Pte. (d.7th Aug 1916)
  • Dunn Oliver Edward. Pte. (d.23rd April 1917)
  • Edwards Thomas William. Pte.
  • Excelby Albert Hugill. Pte
  • Freemantle William Raylton. Pte. (d.20th Sept 1914)
  • Hirsch VC MID. David Philip. Cpt. (d.23rd April 1917)
  • Hodgson James Richard. Pte. (d.15th Sep 1916)
  • Holmes William. Pte.
  • Johnson Henry. Pte (d.17th Sep 1916)
  • Jowett Francis Meshack. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1918)
  • Jowett Francis Meshack. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1918)
  • Kimmer Francis John. (d.6 Nov 1918)
  • Kimmer Francis John. Pte. (d.6th Nov 1918)
  • Pearson Ernest. Pte. (d.15th September 1915)
  • Plews Edward. Pte.
  • Pratt Harry. Pte.
  • Pryke DCM Samuel. Cpl.
  • Raine William E.. L/Cpl. (d.23rd April 1917)
  • Riley Lancelot. Pte. (d.7th Nov 1917)
  • Sampson George. Pte. (d.30th Oct 1914)
  • Slack C. M.. Capt.
  • Strong William. Pte. (d.26 Jun 1917)
  • Thomas James Henry. Pte. (d.11th September 1915)
  • Tweddle Stephen. Pte. (d.12th Nov 1916)
  • Webb MID. Herbert Edward. 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 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) from other sources.


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  Cpt. David Philip Hirsch VC MID. 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.23rd April 1917)

Philip Hirsch was killed in action on the 23rd of April 1917, aged 20. Commemorated on Bay 5 on the Arras Memorial in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, he was the son of Harry and Edith Hirsch, of Weetwood Grove, Leeds.

An extract from The London Gazette, dated 14th June, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. Having arrived at the first objective, Capt. Hirsch, although already twice wounded, returned over fire-swept slopes to satisfy himself that the defensive flank was being established. Machine gun fire was so intense that it was necessary for him to be continuously up and down the line encouraging his men to dig and hold the position. He continued to encourage his men by standing on the parapet and steadying them in the face of machine gun fire and counter-attack until he was killed. His conduct throughout was a magnificent example of the greatest devotion to duty."

s flynn






  Pte. Thomas William Edwards 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment

Billy Edwards was my grandfather who died in 1948 well before I was born. He embarked to France in 1916 and his service record also notes that he served in Italy. He appears to have received a gun shot wound soon after arriving in France and was shelled in 1917, both instances ending up with stays in field hospitals. In the spring offensive by Germany in 1918 he captured on 27th May and was taken to the Worms POW camp.

Adrian Edwards






  Pte. James Henry Thomas 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.11th September 1915)

James Thomas served with the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment in WW1. He died 11th of September 1915 and is buried at Brotton Church Cemetery in Yorkshire.







  Pte. Ernest Pearson 4th Btn. Y Coy. Yorkshire Regiment (d.15th September 1915)

Ernest Pearson is my 2nd cousin (3x removed) who is commemorated on both the Great Ayton War Memorial and the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. I think he enlisted in Stokesley, in 1912 or 1913, he was the son of Paul Pearson and the late Jane (nee Dixon) of Great Ayton.

Michelle Wolfenden






  Pte. Francis John Kimmer 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (d.6th Nov 1918)

Jack Kimmer joined up into The Royal Berkshire Regiment shortly after turning 18 in 1917. His father, Thomas Kimmer, was employed as the coachman on a farm in Aston Tirrold in Berkshire.

He later transferred into the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. He was fighting with his battalion on 27th of May 1918 near Aisne in France when he, plus a number of other men were taken prisoner. He was taken back to Germany and imprisoned in one of the POW camps near Kassel. As there were a number of camps there, I do not know which one he was in. Neither do the International Red Cross records confirm which one. He became ill with dysentery and was taken into the military hospital in Kassel where he died on 6th of November 1918, just 5 short days before the end of the war. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetry. The Red Cross POW records state his death and that he was a soldier in the infantry and was removed to the military hospital at the command of the Kommandant of the prisoner of war camp. It also records his death on 6th Nov 1918 and the cause of death as Ruhr, which is Dysentery.

Judy Barradell-Smith






   Francis John "Jack" Kimmer 1st/4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.6 Nov 1918)

Francis Jack Kimmer, known as "Jack", was born in Hound Green in Hampshire in 1899. The son of Thomas Kimmer and his wife Louisa. By 1911 the family had moved to Aston Tirrold in Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire) where his father Thomas was the coachman for the Cross family who lived in The Manor, Aston Tirrold. The Kimmer family lived in the Coach House behind the Manor. Jack went to the local school there.

Jack joined up when he turned 18 in 1917. He initially joined up into the Berkshire Regiment (service number 71348). He was later transferred into the 1st/4th Yorkshire Regiment (service number 35576). In May 1918 he was fighting with his Regiment near Aisne is France and was captured by the Germans on 27th May 1918 along with several others. He was taken back to Germany and imprisoned in one of the many POW camps near Kassel, Germany. Here he remained right through 1918. He contracted dysentery in what were described as pretty brutal and barbaric conditions inside these camps. It is not known precisely which camp he was in.

He was moved to a hospital unit near Niederzwehen where he died on 6 November 1918, just 5 days before the end of the war. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. He was 19. His parents later moved to Silchester Hall Lodge, Mortimer Berks. His tomb inscription reads very simply RIP.

Judy Barradell-Smith






  Pte. Albert Craggs 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (d.17th March 1915)

Albert Craggs died age 17. He is buried in Mickley (St. John) Churchyard, the cause of his death is unknown.

Keith Craggs






  Pte. Stephen Tweddle 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.12th Nov 1916)

Stephen Tweddle served with the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, I was given this information by my great uncle before he died. His name is on the memorial plaques outside Albert Park in Middlesbrough. Tweddle is my mothers side of the family.







  Cpl. Samuel Pryke DCM 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment

My grandfather, Samuel Pryke, was awarded the DCM but refused to go to London to be awarded it. He settled for Middlesbrough Town Hall but would not have any fuss nor would he discuss it. He was gassed with mustard gas.

Evie Beattie






  Pte. Harry Pratt 4th Btn. Green Howards

My grandfather, Harry Pratt, enlisted with his friends in Northallerton, Yorkshire when war broke out on his birthday 4th August 1914. He was a Private in the 4th Battalion Green Howards and was trained and posted to France. He subsequently ended up on the Somme. He was lucky he survived but many of his friends didn't. He told me that he and his friends were sent 'over the top' and there was a lot of shooting, he saw his friends go down one by one and then he felt what was like a 'punch in the face', he was injured (end of his nose shot off) but he "was lucky, many of his friends weren't", my grandfather's words.

It took him a long time to talk about the war, but when he did he remembered a lot of the good times of laughing and joking, trying to keep jolly and blotting out what was happening around him. He was close to tears telling me. He was sent back to the front after being patched up, only to join people he didn't know, when he looked around his friends had gone. After a while he began to smile and remembered what he and his friends had got up to...before the guns went off. He said he was relieved to get home when the war finished and he was glad he did because he married my grandmother - his grin turned into a big beaming smile at this point. I gave him a big hug. My granddad.

Sue Wilkinson






  Pte Albert Hugill Excelby 5th Btn. Border Regiment

Albert Hugill Exelby, was one of four sons of George Exelby and Elizabeth Hurworth who served in the Great War: William (b 26/3/1894), George junior (31/3/1895), Joseph (20/4/1896) and Albert (22/5/1897). They also had two daughters, Mary (b 16/4/1899) and Jane (b 26/3/1901

Albert joined the Territorials on 1st April, 1914 giving his age as 17 years, though he was only 16. His medical examination records him as 5 foot 10 and a half with a 36" chest, good physical development and good vision. He spent two years in the 4th Yorkshire (Reserve) Battalion, before being transferred to the 3rd Border Regiment on 4th July, 1916, and was sent to France on 12th July. Two days later he was transferred to the 5th Battalion. On 19th September 1916, Albert received a gunshot wound to his left arm and was sent back to England, Albert was for a time a patient in the VAD hospital in Stokesley Manor House. He returned to his unit in France in December and was wounded on three further occasions, April 1917, October 1917 and May, 1918. He was officially demobed in February 1919, aged 21 and received an enhancement of 20% to his pension due to disability caused by a gunshot wound to the left thigh giving him a pension of 8 shillings and threepence per week.

Albert married Eliza Hindmarsh, nee Green in August 1922. Eliza had two daughters from a previous marriage and she and Albert had two more: Beatrice in 1923 and Margaret in 1929. Albert Exelby died in Middlesbrough in 1950.

Angela






  Capt. C. M. Slack 4th Btn. Yorkshire Rgt

Captain Slack was a prisoner in Koln POW Camp.







  Pte. William Buckle 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.7th June 1917)

William Buckle was educatedat Ayresome School, Parliament Road, Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough High School In 1911 he became a Clerkat Salt Union Ltd and later at Messrs B Samuelson and Co Ltd. At Northallerton on the 1st of September 1914 he attested and joined the 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Territorial Force) for one Years Embodied Service at Home as Private Number 1999. He is described as being 21 years old, 5’ 9”, with black hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. On the 8th of September 1914 he signed Territorial Force agreement to serve overseas in event of National Emergency In Autumn 1914 the Northumbrian Division forms and his battalion trains in Newcastle area. In January 1915 the 4 Battalion are in the Cramlington area. On the 16th of Apr 1915 the Northumbrian Division (including 4 Ballation Green Howards) are ordered to the Continent. The following day the 4 Battalion Yorkshire Regiment take the 9am train from Newcastle to Folkestone and embarked for Boulogne At 2am on the 18th they arrived in Boulogne and the next day arrived at Cassel by train and marched to Godwaersvelde and were billeted. On the 22nd they embussed to Vlamertinge. At 5pm the German Gas attack begins in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and the following day the battalion are in on the West of the Yser Canal. On the 24th of April 1915 they are shelled and suffer their first casualties). At mid day they are ordered to cross Canal (under fire) and concentrate at Wieltje. They dug in outside Potijze Chateau but then were ordered to attack through Fortuin to St Julien. They took up positions 700m south of St Julien but were ordered to retire to Potijze (Wieltje Ridge) at about 10pm. Heavy rifle and MG fire resulted in 12 killed and 82 wounded. On the 25th of April they are in trenches near the Chateau all day and retired after dark to C Camp (N of Vlamertinge), west of Canal. On the 28th they occupied trenches astride the Fortuin Road where they were again shelled. They were first gassed on the 1st of May as they repulsed attacks (34 killed and 84 wounded.) On the 3rd of May 1915 they returned to C Camp. he next day they were shelled all day and after dark marched back to Steenvorde to billets. At 3pm on the 9th they were bussed to Brandhoek and lined Reserve Trenches. On the 13th of May the Battalion is in dugouts North of Vlamertinge. and at 3am on the 14th moved to the Lille Gate area of Ypres. At 8pm on the 15th of May they marched along railway to Railway Wood, North of Menin Road. 21 were wounded over next few days and on the 21st of May 1915 they were relieved after dark and moved to Camp A south of Vlamertinge. After dark on the 23rd they moved to trenches astride Menin Road at Hooge. and at 2am the next morning were subjected to a gas attack during Battle of Bellewaarde and a day of fighting. 32 were killed and 171 were listed as wounded or missing. They were relieved after dark to hutments in rear.

On the 25th of May Pte Buckle was treated at No 5 Field Ambulance for gunshot wounds to right hip and right chest/shoulder. The following day he was treated at No 1 British Red Cross Hospital in Le Touquet and on the 28th was transferred to Military Hospital at Fort Pitt, Chatham. On the 6th of June Pte. Buckle was transferred to Lees Court Military Hospital at Faversham for 2 months.

Mark Tovey






  2nd Lt. Herbert Edward Webb MID. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment

My paternal grandfather, Herbert Webb was a Colour Sargeant in the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment who was seconded to the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers on the 2 May 1916 He was seconded to improve the discipline of the 5th Battalion, until the 30 October 1917 when he was transferred back to the 4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant. He was promoted to this rank on the 14th of October 1917. He was mentioned in dispatches for something before he was transferred back to the Yorkshire Regiment, though I do not know what it was for - Schappe-Balie 26th of October 1917?

James Webb






  Pte. Percy Caldecoat 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.13th Oct 1918)

Percy Caldecoat died 13th October 1918. His name is inscribed on a screen wall in the Worms (Hochheim Hill) Cemetery in Germany.

s flynn






  Pte. William Raylton Freemantle 4th Btn Yorkshire Regiment (d.20th Sept 1914)

Private William Raylton Freemantle died on Sunday the 20th September 1914 at Greenbank Hospital, Darlington. He had committed suicide by shooting himself whilst temporarily insane. This can mean one of two reasons; either he deserted or just could not face the war. I truly would like to know the truth on either case as William was my Great Uncle and as I am compiling my Freemantle Family Tree I do need to enter all the correct facts for future generations.

Ann Thirsk






  Pte. William Holmes 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment

From a direct discussion with Wiiliam Holmes.

Billy was involved in the retreat through St Quentin in March 1918. He was a pacifist and elected to be part of a two man Lewis gun team so that he could be responsible for transporting ammunition and thereby avoid pulling a trigger. Billy and his mate were covering the retreat on one side of a street whilst troops retreated. They were separated from their group and eventually escaped through a network of trenches. Billy's mate stood on Billy's shoulders to get out of a trench (they were both about 5 foot 3 inches tall) he climbed out and told Billy to escape as their were enemy about and that was the last that Billy saw of his mate.

Billy was eventually hit by shrapnel from a shell and was picked up by the enemy. He as standing in a line with others and ordered to empty pockets and hand over any weapons, tools etc. He thought he was going to be shot as he could not hand over his issue pocket knife. He eventually convinced an officer that his belt clip was broken and the knife must have been lost. Billy stood in a queue to have his wounds attended to, he witnessed the patient in front having a large raggy piece of shrapnel removed from his thigh. The German surgeon decided that instead of pulling the shrapnel back through the entry wound that he would remove it on the other side of the leg, without anesthetic.

Billy was reported missing in action 23rd March 1918. He was marched to a camp in Germany where he was put to work in a coal mine surviving on a diet of 1 bowl of watery soup and a hunk of black bread per day. Whilst working at the mine, the above ground belts were worked by German peasant women picking stones from the coal. The women wrongly thought that the POW's received Red Cross parcels regularly and the POW's were often stripped naked by the women searching them for chocolate. He was eventually repatriated and had one weeks leave before being sent to Dublin where he lived under canvas for a year during the troubles.

Alan Ramsey






  Pte. Francis Meshack Jowett 1/4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (d.28th Oct 1918)

Francis Jowett died as a Prisoner of War on 28th of October 1918 and is buried in the Berlin South Western Cemetery in Germany.

s flynn






  Pte. Edward Plews 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)

Edward Plews served with the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment during WW1. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals.

Edward Plews






  Pte. Francis Meshack Jowett 1/4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) (d.28th Oct 1918)

Francis Meshack Jowett served with the 1/4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) during WW1 and died as a Prisoner of War on the 28th October 1918. He is buried in the Berlin South-Western Cemetery in Germany, He lived on Mosley Street, Burnley, Lancashire

S Flynn






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