North Yorkshire War Memorials, - Harrogate

The Harrogate Cenotaph
Photo : Ian Stubbs

Harrogate's cenotaph is located in the centre of Harrogate. The monument faces Parliament Street, with Cambridge Road and Cambridge Crescent on either side of it. A public Green surrounds the cenotaph.

The front brass plaque is made up of 3 panels, each consisting of 3 columns, with the names of 641 people who lost their lives in the First World War. A further 238 names of those who lost their lives in the First World War are shown on the rear plaque, - again shown in 3 columns.
Also included on the lower half of this rear plaque are the names of 314 people who died in the Second World War.

There is also a special memorial to the Victoria Cross holders who came from Harrogate, - including Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, VC, of the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are very grateful to Ian Stubbs for providing a photo of the Cenotaph and of the Harrogate VC Holders' Memorial, and to Tom Wheeldon for a photo of the special memorial paviour that was installed by the Cenotaph to commemorate the centenary of Donald Bell being awarded the VC.

Photographs of the memorial plaques on the Cenotaph, with a transcription of the names to be found on them, are given on the Yorkshire Indexers website. Photos of the memorial plaques are also on the War Memorials On Line website.

9 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are named on the Harrogate Cenotaph, though one of the "Yorkshire names" is not certain (an explanation as to why is given).

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.
Buried GORDON DUMP CEMETERY.

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.

2nd Lieutenant Leslie Montague Evers. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Arthur Reginald and Clara Litherland Evers, of 14, Kenilworth Avenue, Harrogate. Killed 30 March 1918. Aged 20.
Commemorated on Panel 44 and 45, LOOS MEMORIAL.

Private Frank Hayes, 41158. 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, formerly 32359 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Maggie Hayes; husband of Sarah Jane Hayes, of 18, North Lodge Avenue, New Park, Harrogate, Yorks. Killed 28 April 1917. Aged 29.
Born Harrogate, Enlisted Harrogate.
Commemorated Bay 4, ARRAS MEMORIAL.

Private Walter Johnson. 28937. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Charlotte Johnson, of Harrogate; husband of Clara Johnson, of 165, South St., Keighley, Yorks. Killed 8 February 1917. Aged 29.
Born Harrogate (Yorks), Enlisted Keighley.
Buried SAILLY-SAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY.

Private Frederick William Needham, 41375. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 8091 West Yorks Regiment. Son of Thomas and Charlotte Needham, of 60, Chatsworth Place, Harrogate; husband of the late Sarah Jane Needham. Died 27 September 1917. Aged 27.
Born New Park (Harrogate), Enlisted Harrogate.
Commemorated on Panel 52 to 54 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.
(Shown on the Harrogate Cenotaph as "W F Needham")

Private George Selby. 25293. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 17 July 1917.
Born Oldham (Lancs), Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Buried ST. NICOLAS BRITISH CEMETERY.
(The connection with Harrogate is shown by reference to the World War 1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards in which George Selby's widow, Sarah Elizabeth Selby, is living in Harrogate.)

Private Albert Thirkell. 21524. 1st Garrison Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5972 West Yorkshire Regt. Died at home 7 November 1917.
Born Ripon (Yorks), Enlisted Harrogate.
Buried HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY.
(For an explanation as to why there is doubt that the "A Thirkell" on the Cenotaph is the above Albert Thirkell, see below.)

Private Robert Thompson. 35264. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 35173 9th T R Battalion. Son of Matthew D. and Eliza Thompson, of 8, Albert St., Field Lane, Batley, Yorks. Died 11 April 1918. Aged 18.
Born Harrogate, Enlisted Dewsbury, Resided Batley.
Commemorated on Panel 4, PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL.

Private G Sydney Webster. 105715. 1st Battalion The King's (Liverpool Regiment), formerly 39498 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 29 September 1918.
Born Law Laith (Yorks), Enlisted Harrogate (Yorks), Resided Harrogate.
Buried FLESQUIERES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY.
(Shown on the Harrogate Cenotaph as "S Webster")

The Harrogate VC Holders' Memorial
Photo : Ian Stubbs

The Commemorative Paviour for Donald Bell, VC.
Photo : Tom Wheeldon

The Cenotaph, Harrogate (front view)
Photo © Copyright Stanley Walker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Cenotaph, Harrogate (rear view)
Photo © Copyright Barrie Tobias and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Harrogate Cenotaph's "A Thirkell"

Although Albert Thirkell of the Yorkshire Regiment is buried in Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery, Paul Marshall has shown that there was another family called Thirkell who lived in Harrogate, one of whom, - Alfred Thirkell, could be the name on the Cenotaph. Paul's research showed that;-

I believe him to be Alfred Thirkell of the West Yorkshire Regiment who was the brother of John Edward Thirkell, who is also remembered on the Cenotaph and also (with Alfred) on the War memorial in St. Mark's Church, Harrogate.

Albert wasn't directly related to these two, so far as I can see, possibly a cousin. Albert was born in Copt Hewick, near Ripon, in 1881, the son of Edward and Jane Thirkell. In 1911 he was living in Starbeck, Harrogate with his wife Norah (nee Godfrey), daughter Mary Ellin and two adopted sons.

I haven't been able to find him in 1901, he wasn't with his family who were living in Harrogate.

It seems his brothers Edward and Fred both enlisted at Harrogate Drill Hall in October of 1914. They both served in the West Yorkshire Regiment and both were posted to the Balkans on the 11th July 1915. I think Edward died at Gallipoli one month later on the 10th August and Fred survived the war.

I have not so far found any mention of Edward (nor Albert) on any local War Memorial.

Edward's death on the 10th August is listed in the GRO War Deaths but Albert who died on the 7th November 1917 is not.
There is a civilian death shown for an Albert Thirkell in December Q 1917, registered in Bristol, age 37.

-----------------> Return to top of the page