2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

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

13th January 1917 Leaving Havre

15th Mar 1917 Snipers

8th Nov 1918 Attack Made

9th Nov 1918 Attack Made

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Want to know more about 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry?

There are:5238 items tagged 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 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
2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Brand Harry. Pte. (d.29th September 1918)
Chapman William. Pte. (d.13th March 1917)
Erasmus David. Pte. (d.20th Nov 1917)
Hepworth Harry. L/Cpl. (d.27th March 1918)
Mortimer Andrew. L/Cpl. (d.4th November 1918)
Parkin Arthur Clifford. Pte.
Richards Henry Wallace. Pte. (d.29th August 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 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from other sources.

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Pte. David Erasmus 2/4th Battalion. A Company. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.20th Nov 1917)

My great great uncle, David Erasmus, was killed on 20th November 1917 age 41, on the first day of the battle of Cambrai. He served with A Company, 2/4 battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
The attached postcard was written in February 1918 by 2nd Lieutenant Frank Cocker who was injured on November 27th 1917 unaware that David had been killed. The postcard notes that David was doing "excellent work rescuing men under trying conditions" and that Frank was back in the UK recovering from having his hair "parted by a bullet". Frank Cocker returned to the frontline and was again injured in July 1918, he survived the war and lived to a ripe old age, writing his memoirs in a published book called "Comrades In Arms". I wonder if my great great uncle David Erasmus would've been awarded a medal based on the information on the postcard about him rescuing men and whether he was killed during those rescues.
The full transcribed text of the postcard is as follows:
Mrs Erasmus, 58 Rees Street, Gelli Ystrad, S.Wales
Please reply to Sec Lieut. F. Cocker, 33 Grosvenor Terrace, Brighouse Yorks.
Feb 11th 1918
Dear Mrs Erasmus, I write you to make inquiries about your son who was in my platoon in France. When I last saw him he was doing some excellent work, rescuing wounded men under very trying conditions and I have often wondered since whether he came through that day alright. I got my hair parted by a bullet, but am better now & shall soon be going out again. Kindly drop me a line & if he happens to be in hospital I would like his address.
I am, Yours Faithfully,
Frank Cocker 2/4b K.O.Y.L.I
Although he hasn't been officially recognised, having a first hand account of his actions from someone who fought alongside him at the very least tells me that he was a hero who should in some way be remembered.
Richard Williams

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L/Cpl. Andrew Mortimer B Coy. 2nd/4th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.4th November 1918)

My grandfather, Andrew Mortimer was lost in the Great War. My grandmother lived until 1965, she never knew where or how he was killed or where he was buried. When she died her eldest son, my Uncle George, had the original war office telegram and his death penny.
William Richardson

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Pte. Arthur Clifford Parkin 2/4th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Arthur Parkin lied about his age to sign up to the 2/4th KOYLI before heading to France and Belgium in 1917 as a machine gunner.
He re-enlisted prior to breakout of the Second World War where he, again, served as a Lewis machine gunner. Part of the British Expeditionary Force, he was deployed into France but was forced back to Dunkirk where he fought the rear guard to hold back the advancing Germans. He was on one of the last boats to leave for England. During this time, his family had received a letter from the War Office informing them he had been killed in action. Although injured and fatigued, lived until 1951 with the rare honour of being a KOYLI who fought in both World wars.
Darren Parkin

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Pte. Harry Brand 2nd/4th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.29th September 1918)

Harry Brand was my great-uncle. He died of wounds on 29th September 1918, aged 18. He is buried in Grevilliers British Cemetery, Plot XII D 23. He was the youngest son of Harry and Elizabeth Brand and brother to my grandmother.
Tony Lockett

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Pte. William Chapman 2/4th Battalion K Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.13th March 1917)

William Chapman enlisted in February 1915. Died 17.3.1917 age 27. He is buried in the Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy France.
William had three brothers also with the colours, Joseph William Chapman who was also in France in 1917, Thomas Chapman who was lying in a Manchester hospital with chattered nerves and John who was suffering from fever. Information from the Dewsbury press.
They were the sons of Thomas and Dorothy Chapman of Thornhill Lees Dewsbury.
Rosemary Williams

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Want to know more about 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry?

Those known to have served with
2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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Recomended Reading.

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The Wartime Memories Project - 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Great War -

2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Want to know more about 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry?

Those known to have served with2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantryduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
2/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.