Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme

Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme(1)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

On 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 8th Division attacked Ovillers and the 34th Division La Boisselle. The villages were not captured, but ground was won between them and to the south of La Boisselle. On 4 July, the 19th (Western) Division cleared La Boisselle and on 7 July the 12th (Eastern) and 25th Divisions gained part of Ovillers, the village being cleared by the 48th (South Midland) Division on 17 July. The two villages were lost during the German advance in March 1918, but they were retaken on the following 24 August by the 38th (Welsh) Division.

Ovillers Military Cemetery was begun before the capture of Ovillers, as a battle cemetery behind a dressing station. It was used until March 1917, by which time it contained 143 graves, about half the present Plot I. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when Commonwealth and French graves where brought in, mainly from the battlefields of Pozieres, Ovillers, La Boisselle and Contalmaison, and from two other cemeteries.

There are now 3,440 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 2,480 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 24 casualties believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 35 casualties, buried in Mash Valley Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed in later fighting. The cemetery also contains 120 French war graves.

7 burials in Ovillers Military Cemetery are those of soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are very grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) for having taken the photos of the cemetery and of the Yorkshire Regiment headstones.

Click on the thumbnail image of the headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.

		Private Joseph William Buddin. 22812. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 September 1916. Enlisted Spennymoor, Resided West Cornforth.

		Private John Doran. 16589. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 8 July 1916. Born South Shields, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided West Cornforth (Ferryhill). (Also commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL)

		Private James Jeffs. 16037. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 35703 9th T R Battn. Killed 23 September 1916. Born New Wortley (Leeds), Enlisted Leeds, Resided New Wortley.

		Private Robert Norris. 13004. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Norris of Northumberland ; husband of Anna Norris of 74 Fifth Street, Horden, Durham. Killed 8 July 1916. Aged 33. Born Bebside (Northumberland), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Horden. (Also commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL) "YOUR DUTY NOBLY DONE EVER REMEMBERED"

		Private Arthur Smith. 18943. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 September 1916. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Richmond, Resided Loftus (Yorks).

		Private Richard Taylor. 18886. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 September 1916. Born Felling (Durham), Enlisted Seaham Harbour.

		Private Thomas Edward Thomas. 18820. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Ruth Thomas of 48 Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Durham. Killed 8 July 1916. Aged 38. Born Bagellit (Denbeigh, N Wales), Enlisted Houghton-le-Spring, Resided Easington Lane. (Also commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL)

An Unknown Yorkhsire Regiment Soldier buried in Ovillers Militray Cemetery.

Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme(2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, - the graves (l to r) of Ptes Jeffs, Smith, Taylor & Buddin
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

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