The Yorkshire Regiment War Graves

Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery (opened in 1876 as Crystal Palace District Cemetery) contains burials of both wars.

The 130 First World War graves are scattered throughout the cemetery, a number of them came from the Royal Naval Division Depot, H.M.S. Crystal Palace and the Army Service Corps Motor Transport Depot at Grove Park. Some of these graves could not be individually marked which has resulted in 30 casualties being commemorated by name on a screen wall. A further 40 were found to be in locations that could not be satisfactorily maintained and 30 headstones commemorating these casualties, were later erected in the small Second World War plot. This plot contains only 12 of the 127 Second World War burials, plus three special memorials commemorating 3 casualties whose graves elsewhere in the cemetery could not be individually marked.

The Thrift Family Grave in Beckenham Crematorium & Cemetery
Photo : North West Kent Family History Society

Private Archibald Richard Thrift. 33172. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 12735 Royal West Kent Regt.
Died at home 25 April 1917.
Born Beckenham (Kent), Enlisted Bromley (Kent), Resided Beckenham.

(Private Thrift's Medal Rolls Records show him as having first served in the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as No. 9238. The Register of Soldiers Effects shows him as being in the Yorkshire Regiment Depot, and dying in the Brighton Military Hospital.
In the 1901 and 1911 Census records, his father (Samuel Richard) ran a Grocer's shop in Beckenham and in 1901 Archibald was working in this shop.)

Photo : North West Kent Family History Society

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ARCHIBALD RICHARD THRIFT
WHO DIED FROM WOUNDS / APRIL 25TH 1917, / AGED 32 YEARS
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
ALSO EMMA THRIFT / FELL ASLEEP JUNE 12TH 1931, AGED 75
ALSO SAMUEL RICHARD THRIFT
OCT 1ST 1940 AGED 84.
AT REST