Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-Sur-La-Lys (France, Pas de Calais)

Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-Sur-La-Lys (1)
Photo : Chris Cosgrove.

Sailly Church was burnt during the open fighting of October 1914, when French cavalry and British and German infantry fought on the Lys, but from the winter of 1914-1915 to the spring of 1918 the village was comparatively untouched. It was captured by the Germans on 9 April 1918, and it remained in their hands until the beginning of September.

Anzac Cemetery was begun by Australian units in July 1916, immediately before the Attack at Fromelles, and it contains the graves of many Australian soldiers who died in that engagement. It continued in use as a front-line cemetery until April 1918 and was used by German troops for the burial of Commonwealth soldiers during the following summer.

Anzac Cemetery contains 320 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. 62 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualtes known or believed to be buried among them, and to three soldiers buried by the Germans in Sailly Churchyard whose graves could not be located. It also contains five Second World War burials and six German graves.

Amongst the graves are those for nine soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are extremely grateful to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who has generously provided the photographs on this page.

Click on thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which open in a new window.

		Private Francis Bowey. 203114. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 12 April 1918. Born Sunderland, Enlisted Sunderland.

		Private William Charles Cole. 202230. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 1916 Northamptonshire Regt. Killed 15 April 1918. Born East Haddon, Enlisted Northampton, Resided East Haddon.

		Private Charles Edward Dovey. 35133. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 35732 9th T R Battn. Son of Joseph and Rosannah Dovey, of 35, High St., Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill, Staffs. Killed 12 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Wolverhampton, Enlisted Brierley Hill, Resided Staffs. "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

		Private Robert Gill. 19271. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Martha Gill, of Houghton-le-Spring; husband of Hannah Gill, of 15, Rainton Bridge, Fence Houses, Co. Durham. Killed 10 April 1918. Aged 39. Born Wheatley Hill (Durham), Enlisted Houghton-le-Spring, Resided Fencehouses.

		Private Frank Gowans, 22491. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Alice Gowans, of 9, Clarendon Street, South Bank, Yorks. Killed 14 April 1918. Aged 21. Born Bathgate (Scotland), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided South Bank.

		Private Frank Edward Jeffries. 35195. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 35703 9th T R Battn. Killed 12 April 1918. Born Worcester, Enlisted Walsall.

		Private John Jones. 203208. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Margaret Jones, of 443, Newport Rd., Middlesbrough. Died 8 April 1918. Aged 27. Born Skelmersdale (Lancs), Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private George Stockburn Middleton. 25142. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 15 May 1918. Born Newton Bewley (Durham), Enlisted Stockton-on-Tees, Resided Newton Bewley.

		Private Walter Morley. 243094. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 15 May 1918. Born Cockfield (Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland, Resided Cockfield.

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