The Yorkshire Regiment, Local War Memorials

War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Bishop Auckland
(Co. Durham)

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Bishop Auckland's War Memorial
Photo : Edward Nicholl

The War Memorial for Bishop Auckland is a four-side cenotaph, surmounted by a dome with cross on top. The pedestal rests on a double step, the whole inside a low iron railing. The dedication is carried on the four main faces with additional information on the rise of the top step.

The memorial used to be located on the approach to the railway station, but was moved to its present position in the town's Market Square in about 1973.

No names are commemorated on the memorial. The dedication is inscribed in gold lettering on all four faces of the memorial.
For details of the dedication, see the North East War Memorials Project page for this memorial.
One source of names commemorated by the memorial are those as published by the Auckland and County Chronicle of 14 September 1922. A full transcription is given on the North East War Memorials Project page.

Of the names of those who lost their lives in the First World War, 15 are for men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Private Herbert Horace Airey, 39232. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Elizabeth Airey, of 56, North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, and the late John Airey. Killed 8 May 1918. Aged 29.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Commemorated on Panels 52 to 54 & 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Alfred Addison Bainbridge. 265928. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert Bainbridge, of 3, Fleet St., Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, and the late Elizabeth Bainbridge. Died 27 May 1918. Aged 36.
Born Wear Valley Junction - Durham, Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Commemorated SOISSONS MEMORIAL.

Private John Brown. 48102. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Annie Brown; husband of Ethel Brown, of 16, Thomas St., Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. Killed 27 May 1918. Aged 21.
Born South Church, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Commemorated SOISSONS MEMORIAL.

Serjeant Thomas Burns, 18357. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 29 September 1916.
Born Bishop Auckland (Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3A & 3D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Lieutenant Herbert Waller Cummins. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 24 May 1915.
The following notes are by Robert Coulson in his biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
Herbert Cummins was born on March 18th 1880 at Bishop Auckland in Co Durham.
He was educated at the North Eastern County School at Barnard Castle and then worked for Barclays Bank in Bishop Auckland and Darlington. In his spare time he was a keen golfer and won the 1913 Durham County Championship.
He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in September 1914 and Lieutenant in October 1914.
When the 4th Battalion landed in France they were immediately in action.
Herbert Cummins and the Yorkshires were moved into the Ypres salient where the 2nd Battle of Ypres was raging. They fought at the village of St Julien in April of 1915 suffering heavy casualties. Early May found them in reserve trenches at Brandhoek
and on the evening of May 23rd Lt Cummins and his men were moved up to the trenches at Hooge astride the Menin Road. On Whit Monday May 24th 1915 a great German gas attack fell on the battalion’s lines.
Lt Herbert Waller Cummins was killed instantly by a Mills Bomb in this action on May 24th 1915 at the age of 35.
He was the son of Jane and the late William John Cummins of Bishop Auckland.

Private Wilfred Donnell. 48458. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Donnell, of 3, Dennison's Yard, North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland. Killed 27 May 1918. Aged 19.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Commemorated SOISSONS MEMORIAL.

Lance Corporal Francis Hedley, 17872. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Jane Hedley, of 20, West View, Tinsdale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. Killed 13 May 1917. Aged 22.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Buried CANADIAN CEMETERY No.2, NEUVILLE-ST. VAAST.

Corporal Thomas Robert Howe, 19551. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 26 October 1917.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland, Resided Witton Park (Durham).
Commemorated on Panels 52 to 54 & 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.
(Although shown as "R Howe" on the list of names, it is very likely that this is the correct man.)

Private George Liddle. 38708. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 6 August 1917.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Durham.
Buried MILL ROAD CEMETERY, THIEPVAL.

Private Joseph Longstaff. 51112. 10th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 204655 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 20 August 1918.
Born Bishop Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Buried OUTTERSTEENE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, BAILLEUL.

2nd Lieutenant William Lowther. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William Foster Lowther and Margaret Lowther, of Copley House, Butterknowle, Co. Durham; husband of Nora Mary Nicholson (formerly Lowther), of 2, High Tenters St., Bishop Auckland. Killed 27 May 1918. Aged 26.
Commemorated SOISSONS MEMORIAL.
The following notes are by Robert Coulson in his biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
A County Durham man, William Lowther was serving as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion, when in early May 1918 they were posted to a so called “quiet sector” on the ridge of the Chemin des Dames.
On May 27th the battalion held a frontage of around two thousand yards on the Craonne Plateau when at 1-00 a.m. “A wholly unexpected German attack” was launched against the battalion.
To the right and left ground was ceded to the German infantry leaving 2nd Lieutenant Lowther and the 5th Battalion almost surrounded. In this action battalion losses were severe especially in men missing and captured.
2ndLieutenant William Lowther was killed in this action on May 27th 1918 at the age of 26.
He was the son of William Foster Lowther and Margaret Lowther of Copley House, Butterknowle, in County Durham.

Private Frederick Mills. 34108. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 29333 Lincolnshire Regt. Killed 16 October 1917.
Born Shildon (Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland, Resided Shildon.
Buried DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY.

Private George Henry Morgan. 205067. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 27 May 1918.
Born Richmond (Yorks), Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Commemorated SOISSONS MEMORIAL.

Private Thomas Watson. 18866. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Jane Watson, of 16, Toad Pool, West Auckland, Co. Durham. Killed 1 July 1916. Aged 28.
Born Cockfield (Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland, Resided West Auckland.
Buried FRICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY.

Private William Wright. 41056. 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), formerly 3698 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Anne Wright, of Hunwick, Durham. Killed 1 January 1917. Aged 36.
Born Hunwick Lane End (Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland.
Buried GUARDS' CEMETERY, COMBLES.

St. Anne's Church (left), Bishop Auckland, and the War Memorial St. Anne's Church (left), Bishop Auckland, and the War Memorial
Photo : Edward Nicholl

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