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6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
6th (Service) Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was raised at Pontefract on the 12th of August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army and joined 43rd Brigade in 14th (Light) Division. They trained at Woking, moving to Witley in November 1914 for the winter, then moving to Aldershot in February 1915 for final training. They proceeded to France on the 21st of May 1915 landing at Boulogne. They fought in the The Action of Hooge, being the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers. They were in action in The Second Attack on Bellewaarde. In 1916 they were on the Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Flers-Courcelette. In 1917 they fought in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The First and Third Battle of the Scarpe at Arras, The Battle of Langemark and The First and Second Battle of Passchendaele. On the 19th of February 1918 the 6th KOYLI were disbanded in France as the army was reorganised.
18th Feb 1915 Training
31st March 1915 Reliefs
8th Jun 1915 On the Move 
15th Jun 1915 Shelling
21st Jun 1915 Orders to Attack
26th Jun 1915 Shelling
28th Jun 1915 Shelling
23rd September 1915 Order
25th Sep 1915 In Action
4th October 1915 New Orders Received
14th Oct 1915 Reliefs
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
2nd Mar 1916 Objective Captured
20th Jun 1916 Reliefs
1st of August 1916 Support Trenches
11th of April 1917 Reliefs
24th of April 1917 Orders
9th July 1917 March Table
9th July 1917 Billeting Party Instructions
10th July 1917 Amendments to Orders
10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for move
10th July 1917 Instructions
10th July 1917 March Table to accompany 43rd Light Infantry Brigade Operational Order 120. Dated July 10th 1917
10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for the Move.
10th July 1917 Entraining at Doullens
5th August 1917 March Table
5th August 1917 Amendment O.O.121
14th August 1917 March Table O.O.122
17th August 1917 March Table O.O.123
17th August 1917 Operational Order 124
19th August 1917 Operational Order 125
19th August 1917 Amendment O.O.125
20th August 1917 Operational Order
20th August 1917 Operational Order 126
20th August 1917 System of Supply
22nd. August 1917 Narrative of Operations
25th August 1917 Transport
27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133
29th August 1917 March Table
29th August 1917 Instructions for Move.
3rd September 1917 Orders
13th September 1917 March Table
14th September 1917 Operational Order
20th September 1917 Operational Order 131
23rd September 1917 Defence Scheme
24th September 1917 Operational Order
27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133
24th Feb 1918 Y Company 
Y" Company, 6th K. O. Y. L. I. at Crissoles, 24th of February 1918 © IWM (Q 27374)
24th Feb 1918 Y Company
Y Company, 6th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at Crissoles, 24th of February 1918 © IWM (Q 27374)
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 with6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. - Bacon Victor. Pte. (d.11th Oct 1915)
- Ball Luke. Pte. (d.10th Feb 1916)
- Barnes Louis Frederick. Pte. (d.2nd August 1915)
- Bone George Harry. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1916)
- Bradley MM. Arthur. 2Lt. (d.24th August 1917)
- Buckley DCM, MM. Harry Helmsley. 2nd Lt.
- Buckley DCM, MM. Harry Helmsley. 2nd Lt.
- Clarke Thomas Henry. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Crookes Fred. Pte. (d.2nd Sep 1915)
- Donegan Thomas. Pte. (d.20th March 1918)
- Earl Thomas Sydney. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
- Gilding Leonard. Sgt. (d.23rd Aug 1917)
- Glaves Thomas Harold. Sgt. (d.11th Sep 1916)
- Haddelsey Henry Hannam. Capt.
- Hellmore William. L/Cpl.
- Herbert Harry. Pte (d.2nd Dec 1915)
- Hern Thomas Walter. Pte. (d.12th Dec 1917)
- Higginbottom Cyril. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Holtham Arthur Thomas. Sjt. (d.25th Mar 1918)
- Liunberg John Lemon. Pte. (d.10th Apr 1917)
- Marshall John Edward. Pte. (d.13th Jan 1916)
- Marshall Thomas James Webster. Sjt. (d.12th Jun 1916)
- Parnaby Harold Edgar. Pte. (d.15th September 1916)
- Parratt Simon. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Pearcy John. Pte
- Perry Jabez. Pte. (d.24th Jul 1916)
- Readman James. Pte. (d.28th August 1915)
- Richardson John Elder. Pte. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Ringham William John. Pte.
- Saddler Arthur. Pte. (d.5th Aug 1915)
- Simmonite Herbert Henry. Pte.
- Simmons James W.. Pte. (d.19th Aug 1916)
- Slowe Abraham. 2nd Lt. (d.25th Aug 1917)
- Smith George Brown. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Smith Miles Arthur. Pte.
- Smithson DCM John Arthur. Pte (d.24th August 1917)
- Vause Albert Earnest. Pte.
- Woodhall Charles Herbert . Pte
- Woof Reginald Henry. Pte (d.16th Sep 1916)
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 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from other sources.
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Capt. Henry Hannam Haddelsey 6th Battalions Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Harry Haddelsey was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire. He served as a sergeant with the 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in France from 21st of May 1915, to 1st of August 1916. He also served with the 7th KOYLI.
He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (and later Captain) on 2nd of August 1916. He was wounded in action twice, seriously on 7th October 1916.
He joined the RAF in September 1918 and emigrated to Canada after the war, but returned with the Canadian Army during WWII (though too old for combat service). He died in Canada 1965.
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Pte. Albert Earnest Vause 43rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps Albert Vause was 39 years old when he re-enlisted at Pontefract Barracks (West Yorkshire) in the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on 1st of September 1914.
He initially saw action with the 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was deployed to France on 21st of May 1915. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 16th of February 1916, where his Army records indicate he was deployed for a second time to France on 18th of November 1917.
Albert was one of the lucky ones who returned from the war, but his lungs were badly damaged from a gas attack and he spent the rest of his life in ill health.
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Pte. Herbert Henry Simmonite 1st Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Herbert Simmonite enlisted at age 16 in WW1 and served with the 1st and 6th Battalions, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He landed in France on 25th of May 1915, two months short of his 17th birthday, with the 6th (Service) Battalion at Boulogne-Sur-Mer and possibly took part in the Battle of Loos in September 1915, after which they went to Marseilles on 21st of October, where they boarded transport ships on 24th of October and then finally disembarked at Salonika in December 1916.
Herbert subsequently returned to the Western Front and was discharged in 1919. He lived a long life and died in 1960.
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Pte. Cyril Higginbottom 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916) We understand that like many others, Cyril Higginbottom gave a false date of birth in order to enlist. His older brother was serving with the KOYLI and managed to get Cyril transferred to the KOYLI from his original regiment, thinking he could keep an eye on his little brother. Unfortunately, Cyril was killed on 16th of September 1916.
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Pte. Thomas Sydney Earl 6th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916) Syd Earl served with the 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
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Pte. George Harry Bone 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.22nd Aug 1916) George Bone was the son of Tom and Lily Bone of 41 Church Street, Barnsley. He is buried at Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery, Rouen.
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Pte. Miles Arthur Smith 6th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry My great great grandfather, Miles Smith, joined the 6th Battalion, KOYLI on the 10th of August 1914. He went to France on the 13th of April 1915 and was wounded on 10th of July 1915 and was then sent back to England on the 17th of July 1915 and transferred to the Labour Corps eventually transferring to the RASC and getting posted to Egypt on the 25th of October 1918 where he was demobbed on the 20th of May 1919 and returning home with a 30% disability due to his time on the Front.
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Pte. Thomas Donegan 2nd Btn Royal Welch Fusiliers (d.20th March 1918) Thomas Donegan enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers on 5th March 1892. In November 1902 he was tried by court martial and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for destroying military property. On completion of his sentence he was discharged.
He re-enlisted on 18th of August 1914 in the 8th Battalion, Welsh Regiment and was transferred to the 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on 8th of January 1915. He was discharged on 18th of February 1915, being listed as "unlikely to become an efficient soldier", due to chest trouble.
He re-enlisted again on 17th of August 1915 in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. He served in France from 22nd of December 1915 to 5th of March 1916 when he was invalided to England. He served in Egypt from 20th of October 1916 to 17th of January 1918 when he was again invalided to England after attempting to shoot a fellow soldier. He was initially admitted to Netley Hospital on 1st of February 1918 and then to Dykebar War Hospital. Two weeks later he was admitted to Crookston Hospital where he remained until his death. He committed suicide by hanging on 20th of March 1918. Cause of death was returned as death by strangulation.
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Pte. William John Ringham 12th,6th,5th,9th,1st Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Unfortunately, Private William John Ringham's service record (or a pension record) was not available through Ancestry.com resources; accordingly, it is likely this his records were destroyed during the Second World War. On his Medal Rolls Index Card, there is no secondary service number listed (i.e., Labour Corps), thus Private Ringham probably served in the Infantry throughout his time in the Army. On his Service Medal and Award Roll, there is a little more information. For example, Private Ringham served in FIVE different battalions, listed in order: 12th, 6th, 5th, 9th and 1st. Based upon www.1914-1918.net, "The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)", it is likely that he served primarily in France, but may have also served at Salonika. Back to Private Ringham's Service Medal and Award Roll - he transferred into "Reserve Z." status on November 9, 1919, suggesting that he was not disabled during the Great War. For his service, Private William John Ringham was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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2nd Lt. Abraham Slowe 6th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.25th Aug 1917)  Abraham Slowe served in Belgium with the 6th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (K.O.Y.L.I) and took part in the early part of the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele. The 6th Battalion KOYLI was part of the 43rd Brigade, 14th Division, together with the 6th Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry, the 6th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and the 10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.
The 14th Division had relieved the 56th Division on the Menin Road around Clapham Junction on 18th August 1917. The attack started on 22nd August and the 6th Battalion was first actively involved on the 24th. They were holding the area between Glencourse Wood and Inverness Copse after a heavy barrage when the Germans counter-attacked at 4:30 am, using flamethrowers and grenades. Abe was among the casualties suffered when his Battalion and the 6th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry were pushed back to the start lines of the attack – all the bravery and sacrifice had once again been for nothing.
Abe was wounded on 24th August and evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinge. He died from his wounds the following morning, 25 August 1917 and was buried in the British Military Cemetery at Lijssenthoek together with nearly 10,000 of his fallen comrades.
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Sjt. Arthur Thomas Holtham 9th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.25th Mar 1918) Arthur Holtham's daughter, Nora Margaret Holtham, was only 6 when her daddy went away to the war. We haven't been able to find his service record online and the only information Nora's son had about his Grandfather Arthur was a letter to his Grandmother in 1923 which explained that his body had been moved to Honnechy British Cemetery.I am researching this family for Arthur's grandson who is now over 80 years old and it just seems so sad that he knows so little about his Grandfather. He does not even have a photograph so really appreciates any information I am able to find.
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2Lt. Arthur Bradley MM. 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.24th August 1917) Arthur Bradley was a pre-war Territorial. From his address, and the 1917 6-digit number, he was most likely in 1/4th Battalion. His Medal Index Card shows he disembarked in France 13th of April 1915, so was with 148th Brigade. He was a Lance Corporal, but was soon promoted to Sergeant. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1916. He was recommended for a commission, to which he was discharged 29th of June 1917. He was posted to 6th Battalion, KOYLI and was killed in action at the Menin Road 24th of August 1917.
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Pte. Thomas Henry Clarke 6th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.9th Apr 1917) Thomas Clarke was the son of Isaac & Sarah Ann (nee Marriott) of Eastwood, Rotherham. He is buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, France.
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Pte. James Readman 6th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.28th August 1915) Private James Readman was the son of John Thomas and Sarah Readman of Thornaby-on-Tees. James is remembered with honour, buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.
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Sgt. Leonard Gilding 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.23rd Aug 1917) Leonard Gilding was the son of John Henry and Mary Ann Gilding and the brother of Oonah, Gerty, Joseph, Thomas, Alfred, John Henry, Rose Jane and John Henry Gilding. In 1911 they lived at 40 Goodhead Street, meadows Nottingham.
He died of wounds 23rd Aug 1917 at the age of 24 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.
He was a colliery labourer working the coal mines in Nottingham before the war.
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Pte. Harold Edgar Parnaby 6th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.15th September 1916) Harold Edgar Parnaby was born 1880 at Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire (former North Riding). His father, who later became Stationmaster (1894 – 1922) at Robin Hood's Bay, was Joseph Edgar Parnaby and his mother was Emily Parnaby (nee Clark). Harold worked on the railway and was a signalman. He enlisted at Doncaster and his rank was private when he was killed in action on 15th September 1916. Harold is commemorated in the Guards Cemetery at Lesbouefs, he was 36. His name appears on both the Sherburn in Elmet and Robin Hood's Bay war memorials.
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Pte. John Edward Marshall 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.13th Jan 1916) John Marshall is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ypres.
RIP. Great Granddad.
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2nd Lt. Harry Helmsley Buckley DCM, MM. 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry My Grandfather's medals are in the KOYLI museum in Doncaster. Harry Buckley was mentioned in dispatches many times and was awarded his DCM for rescuing wounded under fire whilst in charge of stretcher bearers. I'm not sure how he came to receive the Medal Militaire but he was badly wounded in 1916 and was made a 2nd Lt. Harry Buckley died in 1956 aged 72, he was 30
when he joined up in 1914.
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Pte. Thomas Walter Hern 6th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.12th Dec 1917) Extracts from war diaries of 6th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from 9th-12th December 1917 states that "the line was held by posts in shell holes. There could be no movement by day, so all work, including patrolling, had to be carried out by night. Rain fell on the first day and made a great many of the shell holes muddy. Another battalion of the Brigade carried rations up. The men used Tommy cookers to heat their meals up. A number of men contracted Trench Feet, although strict precautions had been taken. Shelling was heavy throughout the tour, particularly about Passchendale ruins. Casualties during the tour were 3 killed, 21 wounded." One of those killed was Thomas Hern, my Great Uncle.
A Grocer’s Warehouseman who was born in November 1892 in Sunderland, he had married Beatrice Heal in November 1915 in Sunderland prior to his departure but there were no children by that union.
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Pte. Fred Crookes 6th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (d.2nd Sep 1915) Fred Crookes died in Flanders and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
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