The Yorkshire Regiment, Local War Memorials

War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Heckmondwike
(Kirklees, Yorks),
St. James' Church

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The First World War Memorial in St. James' Church, Heckmondwike
Photo © Copyright Gordon Hodgson, Yorkshire Indexers

The First World War Memorial in the Church of St. James, Heckmondwike, is a wooden plaque bearing several panels on which the names of 208 men from Heckmondwike who lost their lives in the First World War are commemorated. In addition to this memorial, there is a metal plaque wich bears the names of 17 men of St. James' Church who lost their lives in the war. All of the names have been transcribed by the Yorkshire Indexers.

Amongst the names of those who died on the Heckmondwike War Memorial are those of 13 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment. Two of the Yorkshire Regiment men were brothers, and both were Officers.
1 soldier of the Yorkshire Regiment is also shown on the Church memorial.

We are very grateful to the Yorkshire Indexers website for the photographs of this memorial.

Private Ernest Allen, 36330. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 4 October 1917.
Born Heckmondwyke, Enlisted Heckmondwyke, Resided Kilpin Hill Lane Nr. Dewsbury.
Commemorated Panel 52 to 54 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Ernest Chapman. 27390. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Emma Elizabeth Chapman, of 16, Headland St., Liversedge, Yorks. Killed 3 July 1916. Aged 26.
Born Liversedge (Yorks), Enlisted Heckmondwike, Resided Liversedge.
Commemorated Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Private Norman Coward. 27078. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 28 March 1918.
Born Edenthorpe (Yorks), Enlisted Heckmondwyke.
Buried HAM BRITISH CEMETERY, MUILLE-VILLETTE.

Private Charles William Exley. 27001. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late William and Frances Exley. Killed 8 October 1916. Aged 22.
Born Heckmondwyke (Yorks), Enlisted Heckmondwyke.
Commemorated Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Private Thomas William Exley. 27567. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John France Exley and Rosetta Exley, of 10, High St., Heckmondwike. Yorks. Killed 12 July 1916. Aged 20.
Born Heckmondwike, Enlisted Liversedge, Resided Heckmondwike (Yorks).
Commemorated on Bay 5, ARRAS MEMORIAL.

Private Reginald Sowden Hanson. 235581. 13th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 3862 Yorkshire Dragoons. Died 9 April 1918.
Born Heckmonwike (Yorks), Enlisted Bradford, Resided Staincliffe (Batley).
Commemorated on Panel 4, PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL.

Private Clifford Parker. 27092. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 17 January 1917.
Born Mirfield (Yorks), Enlisted Heckmondwike.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Captain Arthur Wilson Simpkin. 13th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, attached 8th Battalion West Yorks Regt. Son of J. W. and Emily Simpkin, of Norton Royd, Woodkirk, Dewsbury, Yorks. Killed 30 September 1918. Aged 22.
Buried RUYAULCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY.
(Robert Coulson has provided further biographical details of Captain Arthur Simpkin in his Memorial Roll of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment.)

Captain Harry Hargreaves Simpkin. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John William and Emily Simpkin, of Norton Royd, Woodkirk, Dewsbury, Yorks. Killed 22 March 1918. Aged 22.
Commemorated on Bay 5, ARRAS MEMORIAL.
(Robert Coulson has provided further biographical details of Captain Harry Simpkin in his Memorial Roll of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment.)

Private Harry Smith. 27020. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Brother of Herbert N. Smith, of 17, Northgate, Heckmondwike, Yorks. Killed 30 July 1917. Aged 22.
Born Heckmondwyke (Yorks), Enlisted Heckmondwyke.
Commemorated on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Private George Turton. 48132. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5/30512 15th T R Battn. Son of Emily Turton, of 4, Cater Lane, Heckmondwike, Yorks, and the late George Turton. 22 March 1918. Aged 20.
Born Heckmondwyke, Enlisted Bradford, Resided Heckmondwyke.
Commemorated Panel 31 and 32, POZIERES MEMORIAL.
(George Turton is shown on the memorial to men of St. James' Church, in addition to the main memorial)

Private Sherman Wilson. 27398. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 8 February 1917.
Born Heckmondwyke, Enlisted Heckmondwyke.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

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

The Names of Ernest Allen, Charles and Thomas Exley on the main memorial, St. James' Church, Heckmondwike.
Photo © Copyright Gordon Hodgson, Yorkshire Indexers

The Names of Smith, Turton, Wilson & Walshaw on the main memorial, St. James' Church, Heckmondwike.
Photo © Copyright Gordon Hodgson, Yorkshire Indexers

The name of George Turton on the Memorial to the Men of the Church The name of George Turton on the Memorial to the Men of the Church
Photo © Copyright Gordon Hodgson, Yorkshire Indexers

St. James' Church, Heckmondwike
Photo © Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

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