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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Le Cateau Military Cemetery ( France, Nord) |
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Le
Cateau Military Cemetery (1)
Photo : Commonwealth
War Graves Commission
Le Cateau-Cambrésis and the country to the west of it was the scene of a battle fought by the British II Corps on 26 August 1914 against a greatly superior German force. The town remained in German hands from that date until the evening of 10 October 1918, when it was rushed by the 5th Connaught Rangers and finally cleared a week later. During the war Le Cateau had been a German railhead and the site of an important hospital centre. The military cemetery was laid out by the Germans in February 1916 with separate plots for the Commonwealth and German dead.
The cemetery contains the graves of over 5,000 German soldiers, many of whom were buried during the occupation, the rest being brought in from other German cemeteries after the Armistice. A separate plot contains the graves of 34 Russian prisoners of war who died in captivity. The Commonwealth plot is the site of almost 700 graves and commemorations of the First World War.
Amongst the graves are those of 10 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment, as well as the grave of Lance Corporal John William Sayer, VC, of the 8th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
We are extremely grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) who has generously provided photographs on this page.
Click on the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
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Lance Corporal Percy
Bowron. 42269. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 183429 R F A. Killed 4 November 1918. Born Swindon, Enlisted Swindon. Aged 28. Note: SDGW shows Percy Bowron enlisted in Swindon (Lancs). But from records in Ancestry.co.uk it would appear that Percy Bowron was born in Swindon (Wiltshire) in Q2 1890. In the 1891 Census he was living in Swindon (Wiltshire), - his father was Walter Bowron, Wife Ann, and there were 3 sons and 1 daughter. In the 1901 census, he is shown as Percy Bowton and living in Swindon (Wilts). |
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Private James Cook.
142208. 21st Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), formerly 15016 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 April 1918. Born Ryhope (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland. Photo by len of the Find a Grave website |
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Private Percy Thomas
Darlington, 78964. 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, formerly 5326 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 30 August 1918. Born Ardwick (Lancs), Enlisted Ealing (London). Photo by len of the Find a Grave website |
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Private Walter Hudson, 60537. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 October 1918. Born Sinnington (Yorks), Enlisted Pickering, Resided Riseborough (Pickering). |
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Private Robert Jones.
53561. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 40351 W Riding Regt. Son of Mrs. Beatrice Jones, of 16, Royston Hill, Hoyland, Barnsley, Yorks. Killed 6 November 1918. Aged 20. Born Hoyland (Yorks), Enlisted Pontefract, Resided Hoyland. "EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS" |
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Private Frederick Kay. 53582. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 40672 West Riding Regt. Born at Elsecar. Son of Joseph and Sarah Kay, of 21, Hadfield St., Wombwell, Barnsley. Killed 24 October 1918. Aged 23. Born Hoyland (Yorks), Enlisted Hoyland. Resided Elsecar (Barnsley). "WEEP NOT FOR ME" |
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Private Walter Lidster.
53593. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 40703 West Riding Regt. Killed 4 November 1918. Born Coninsborough (Yorks), Enlisted Coninsborough. |
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Private James Newsome. 23754. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 October 1918. Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds. |
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Private Anthony Willis Peacock. 12125. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of R. T. and Martha Peacock, of 47, Sutherland St., Middlesbrough. Died 10 October 1918. Aged 23. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. |
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Private William Snowdon.
61800. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and M. E. Snowdon, of College Farm, Greenhead, Carlisle. Killed 4 November 1918. Aged 22. Born Blenkinsop (Northumberland), Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne, Resided Greenhead (Carlisle). "TILL THE DAY DAWNS"
(SDGW and Register of Soldiers Effects spells name as "Snowden" and has Battalion as the 9th. The 9th Battalion is probably the correct one. CWGC spells name as "Snowdon, as does the GH Gazette database. CWGC has battalion as the 4th.) |
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Lance Corporal John William
Sayer, VC. 14498. 8th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Son of Samuel and Margaret Sayer, of Chadwell Heath, Essex; husband of Edith Louise Sayer, of 35, Old London Rd., Hastings, Sussex. Killed 18 April 1918. Aged 39. An extract from the "London Gazette," dated 6th June, 1919, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery, determination and ability displayed on the 21st March, 1918, at Le Verguier, when holding for two hours, in face of incessant attacks, the flank of a small isolated post. Owing to mist the enemy approached the post from both sides to within 30 yards before being discovered. Lance-Corporal Sayer, however, on his own initiative and without assistance, beat off a succession of flank attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Though attacked by rifle and machine-gun fire, bayonet and bombs, he repulsed all attacks, killing many and wounding others. During the whole time he was continuously exposed to rifle and machine-gun fire, but he showed the utmost contempt of danger and his conduct was an inspiration to all. His skilfull use of fire of all descriptions enabled the post to hold out till nearly all the garrison had been killed and himself wounded and captured. He subsequently died as a result of wounds at Le Cateau." |
Le
Cateau MIlitary Cemetery (2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
Three
Unknown Yorkshire Soldiers Buried in Le Cateau MIlitary Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)