Simon Barnard (<barnard.4@btinternet.com>), a great nephew of Captain H N Constantine, has provided much information on his great uncle and his two brothers. This information, and the photographs provided by Simon, are shown below.

An official portrait of Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine, MC

The following details of Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine's military career are to be found in the Green Howards Gazette (in the Green Howards Museum), the 4th Battalion War Diaries (also in the Green Howards Museum, and "The Green Howards in the Last War" by Colonel H C Wylly;-

Captain, 4th Battalion, at outbreak of War (Army List)
Name forwarded for Mention in Despatches, - 3 May 1915 (War Diaries)
Wounded / Gassed , - 24 May 1915 (War Diaries)
Wounded, - 4 October 1916 (War Diaries)
MC, - November 1916 (GH Gazette)
Major, - January 1917 (GH Gazette)
Wounded, - September 1918 (GH Gazette)
Lieutenant Colonel, - date currently unknown.

The citation from the London Gazette, 14 November 1916, for the then Captain William Whitesmith Constantine for the award of the Military Cross reads as follows;-
" For conspicuous gallantry in action. Though wounded before the attack commenced, he insisted in leading his company to the final objective, where, though again wounded, he continued with the greatest determination to control his company. He set a fine example."

Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine's Medal Card (from the National Archives) shows that he served with the 9th Battalion King's own Yorkshire Light Infantry. However, there are no dates shown for this (possibly on return from being wounded in 1918?).

Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine's Memorial Plaque in the Church of St. Oswald, East Harlsey

Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine's grave in the Churchyard of St. Oswald's, East Harlsey.

------------->Return to the Top of the Page