Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers La Boiselle (France)

Gordon Dump Cemetery
(Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>)

On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 8th Division attacked Ovillers and the 34th Division La Boisselle. The villages were not captured, but ground was won between them and to the south of La Boisselle. On 4 July, the 19th (Western) Division cleared La Boisselle and on 7 July the 12th (Eastern) and 25th Divisions gained part of Ovillers, the village being cleared by the 48th (South Midland) Division on 17 July. The two villages were lost during the German advance in March 1918, but they were retaken on the following 24 August by the 38th (Welsh) Division. Plot I of the Cemetery was made by fighting units after 10 July 1916 and closed in September when it contained the graves of 95 soldiers, mainly Australian. It was called variously Gordon (or Gordon's) Dump Cemetery or Sausage Valley Cemetery, from the name given to the broad, shallow valley that runs down from it to Becourt. The remainder of the cemetery was formed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the 1916 battlefields immediately surrounding the cemetery. There are now 1,676 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,053 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 34 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,675 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials are erected to 35 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

20 identified soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment are buried here, including 2nd Lieutenant Donald Bell, VC. There are also at least two graves of soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment who are "Known to God" only.

We are extrememly grateful to Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com> for photographs of the cemetery and of the headstones.

Select a thumbail view of a headstone for a larger sized view which opens in a new window.

The identified soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment buried in the Gordon Dump Cemetery are;-

		Private Joseph Henry Ashton. 23513. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Martha Ashton, of Pitsmoor, Sheffield; husband of Eliza Ashton, of 60, Birley St., Neepsend, Sheffield. Killed 5 July 1916. Aged 40. Born Pitsmoor (Sheffield), Enlisted Sheffield, Resided Neepsend.

		2nd Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, VC. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Former professional football player. Son of Smith and Annie Bell, of Western Flats, Queen's Rd., Harrogate; husband of Rhoda Bell, of Wilmslow, Cheshire. Killed 10 July 1916. Aged 25. An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29740, dated 8th Sept., 1916, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this very gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.

		The graves of Lt Bell and L/Sgt Whiteley. Photograph by Andrea Waldron (<andreawaldron2@hotmail.com>)

		Private John Bollen. 13400. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Sunderland, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided West Hartlepool.

		Corporal J Burke. 12628. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Thornaby, Enlisted Northallerton, Resided West Hartlepool. (SDGW gives regimental number as 1269)

		Private James William Churchill. 17750. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 August 1916. Born East Rainton (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Ryhope (Durham).

		Private John Devlin. 16740. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Sunderland, Enlisted Sunderland.

		Serjeant Stanley Gray. 14107. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. He came from South Shields. Killed 1 July 1916. Born South Shields, Enlisted Jarrow, Resided South Shields. (CWGC register has him down as "Serjeant G Gray")

		Private John William Green. 20511. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Elizabeth Green, of Maine St., Beeford, Driffield, Yorks. Killed 8 July 1916. Aged 26. Born Skirlaugh (Yorks), Enlisted Beverley, Resided Casfoss (Sigglesthorne, Hull).

		Private Herbert Hetherington. 17092. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 6 July 1916. Born Shildon, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Spennymoor.

		Private William Maurice Jackson. 24407. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late William and Eliza Jackson, of Station Rd., Mickleton, Darlington. Killed 10 July 1916. Aged 21. Born Mickleton (Yorks), Enlisted Barnard Castle, Resided Mickleton (Yorks).

		Corporal William Lazenby. 12257. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of James and the late Mary Jane Lazenby. Died 10 July 1916. Aged 24. Born North Ormesby (Middlesbrough), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided North Ormesby.

		Lieutenant George Duncan MacIntyre. 15th Battalion, attached 7th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Chartered Accountant. Son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. M. J. Macintyre (nee Davidson), of 57, Clifton Hill, St. John's Wood, London. Killed 10 July 1916. Aged 34.

		Private Albert Edgar Major. 19106. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William Henry and Elizabeth Major, of 14, Commercial Rd., Scarborough. Killed 1 July 1916. Aged 20. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Leeds, Resided Scarborough.

		Serjeant Lawrence Pell. 3/8005. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 5 July 1916. Born Brotton, Enlisted Richmond (Yorks), Resided Brotton.

		Lance Corporal Samuel Somerville. 13476. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 11 July 1916. Born Bishop Wearmouth, Enlisted Sunderland.

		Private Charles Herbert Spencer. 13067. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 10 July 1916. Born Normanby, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Normanby.

		Lance Corporal James Thompson. 14362. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 July 1916. Born Kirkpatrick, Enlisted Thirsk, Resided Skipton-in-Craven.

		Serjeant Norman Walshaw, MM. 14729. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 July 1916. Aged 19. Born Brighouse (Yorks), Enlisted Dewsbury, Resided Lyncroft (Heckmondwyke).

		Lance Corporal Nicholas Henry Wheatman. 14179. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Burradon (Newcastle), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Ryhope.

		Lance Serjeant James Whiteley, MM. 9115. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Leeds, Enlisted Redcar, Resided Loftus.

Gordon Dump Cemetery
(Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>)

One of the Unidentified Yorkshire Regiment Graves in the Gordon Dump Cemetery
(Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>)

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