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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Namps-au-Val British Cemetery France, Somme |
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Namps-au-Val
British Cemetery - 1
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
At the end of March 1918, when the German offensive in Picardy began, the 41st, 50th and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Namps-au-Val, remaining until the middle of April. Almost all the burials in the cemetery were carried out by them, but nine graves in Plot II, Row D, were brought after the Armistice from CONTY FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY. The cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and one from the Second World War. There are also 16 French war graves.
7 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are buried in this cemetery.
One of the burials in the cemetery is that of Captain Gordon Flowerdew, VC, of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). Captain Flowerdew was involved in a cavalry charge, during which he was fatally wounded.
We are very grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) who has provided photos of the cemetery and the headstones.
Select the thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
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Private Aubrey Adams,
24340.
5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Adams, of Aislaby, Pickering, Yorks. Native of Lingcroft, York. Killed 2 April 1918. Aged 24. Born Lingcroft (Yorks), Enlisted Malton, Resided Wrelton (Pickering). "IN HOPE OF
A JOYFUL RESURRECTION" |
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Private Albert William
Bell. 29541. 4th Batalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 32954 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. J. W. Bell, of 3, France St., Middlesbrough. Killed 3 April 1918. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. |
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Private James Cranston,
235132. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. T. F. Cranston, of South Otterington, Northallerton. Killed 1 April 1918. Aged 23. Enlisted Northallerton. |
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Private Frederick Charles
Hitchings, 42354. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 164248 R F A. Husband of H. Hitchings, of 3, Seaview Terrace, West Looe, Cornwall. Killed 29 March 1918. Born Truro, Enlisted Truro. (Shown as "F C Hitchens" in both SDGW and GH Gazette database and on the Truro War memorial, but as "Hitchings" in the CWGC register and as "Hitchins" in the Medal Roll Index.) |
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Private Harry Johnson.
42380. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 183578 R F A. Husband of E. M. Johnson, of Field House, Woodley, Berks. Killed 28 March 1918. Aged 39. Born Woodley (Berks), Enlisted Reading, Resided Woodley. (Date of death in CWGC register stated as 28 March 1919). |
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Private Victor Southgate.
33196.
5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 2710 Suffolk Regt. Son of Harry and Josephine Southgate, of 7, St. Edmund's Place, Bury St. Edmund's. Killed 27 March 1918. Aged 20. Born Norton (Suffolk), Enlisted Bury St. Edmund's. "IN JESU'S KEEPING" |
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Private Edward Albert
Vincent. 34664. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 36557 Loyal North Lancaster Regt. Husband of the late Mary Vincent. Killed 28 March 1918. Aged 40. Born Bow (Middx), Enlisted Stratford (London). |
Namps-au-Val
British Cemetery - 2
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
Namps-au-Val
British Cemetery - 3
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
The following information on the circumstances in which Captain Flowerdew was awarded the Victoria Cross can be found in Wikipedia. Included in the article is a copy of the painting by Sir Alfred Munnings which depicts the cavalry charge described below.
When German forces began to enter Moreuil Wood from the East, Captain Flowerdew's commanding officer, Brigadier Jack Seely, ordered a cavalry charge.
Riding into the fire of five infantry companies and an artillery battery, the squadron suffered atrocious casualties (more than half of the men in C Squadron were killed), and Flowerdew himself was fatally wounded. However, the cavalry charge so unnerved the Germans that they were never able to capture Moreuil Wood, and their advance turned into a retreat in early April. Captain Flowerdew's actions in "The Last Great Cavalry Charge" led to the award of the Victoria Cross. Flowerdew lived long enough to be made aware of the success of the charge.