North Yorkshire War Memorials, - The Sledmere Cross

The Sledmere Cross
Photo : Edward Nicholl

THE SLEDMERE CROSS

We are extremely grateful to Major Philip Banbury (1942 - 2008) who provided the information relating to the Sledmere Cross.)
Very fortunately, when Philip Banbury was conducting his research on the cross the inscriptions on the plaques were legible. Currently, the plaques have become weathered to such an extent that the inscriptions are barely legible. Philip Banbury's transcriptions are, therefore, invaluable.

Recent photos of the Sledmere Cross are by Edward Nicholl.

The Sledmere Cross was originally built as a replica of the Hardingstone Eleanor Cross. The Cross was erected in 1896-8 as a village cross, under the auspices of Sir Tatton Sykes and was designed by the architect Temple Moore.

Sir Mark Sykes, the eldest son of Sir Tatton Sykes, converted the cross to become a lasting memorial to the men of the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, and others from the local area,who died in the Great War.

The Sledmere Cross is located just outside the village Church of St. Mary’s, Sledmere. Nearby is the Waggoner’s Memorial. Carved in stone it is a monument to the Yorkshire men who lost their lives in the war 1914 - 1919. The inscription reads, "Lieutenant Colonel Sir Mark SYKES Baronet MP designed this monument and set it up as a remembrance of the calling and services rendered in the great war 1914 - 1919 by the Wold’s Waggoners Reserve, a corps of 1000 drivers raised by him on the Yorkshire Wolds Farms in the year 1912"

DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMORIAL BRASSES

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Side 1: Left: 'Ye who read this remember Walter Gorner Barker, a footman of Sledmere and a Private in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. He gave his life for his King and Country and the liberty of mankind in Flanders 27 May 1918.' Right: "Ye who read this remember Harry Clifford Agar, an Agriculturist of Kirby Grindalhythe and a L Cpl in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. He gave his life for his King and his Country and the liberty of mankind at Dulman Camp on the 17th day of November 1918 as a prisoner of war'. Side 2: Left: 'Remember Edward Bagshaw, Captain of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. Killed in Flanders on July 22nd 1916. "Preux Chevalier sans peur ct sans reproche'. Bagshaw’s feet are crossed and stand on a grotesque animal with German crosses on it. Right: A plate beneath the names William Holtby, David Cooper and George Potts reads: 'The names inscribed on this Cross are those of the officers and men of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment who gave their lives for their King and Country and the liberties of mankind in the years of the great war. Let Yorkshiremen cherish the memory of this honourable company of citizens who left their peaceful vocations to uphold justice, protect the weak and defend the Right'. Both Potts and Holtby served in the 8th Bn The East Yorkshire Regiment while Cooper served with the 1st Bn The Cheshire Regiment.

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Side 3: 'Remember Lt Col James Mortimer CMG who enrolled as a pte in the 2VB East Yorkshire Regt 1888, commanded the service Company in the SA War as Captain in 1900. Commanded the 5th Yorkshire Regiment as Lt. Col from 1915 until September 15th 1916 on the morning of which day he was killed in action on the Somme. On his left stands Captain Frank Woodcock 5th Yorkshire Regiment who fell a few hours after on the same day in the same place. Behind stands L Cpl Harry Woodcock, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who fell May 8th 1915 at the 2nd Battle of Ypres, both brothers in law of the above. These effigies were raised by Dora Mortimer (widow of James Mortimer) and Elizabeth Jane Woodcock, her mother and brothers and sister'. Beneath the memorial is the inscription: 'Haec est vera fraternitas quae vicit mundi crimina'. Side 4: Left: 'Remember Major Harold Brown who joined the 5th Yorkshire Regt 1914 was wounded July 12th 1916, on the Somme, Sept 15th 1916, at the battle of Arras, April 23rd 1917 awarded DSO for daring and successful raiding July 11th 1915. MC for organising and carrying out raids July 12th 1916. Croix de Guerre for Gallantry and ability Aug 17th 1916. Killed near St Quentin March 23rd 1918'. Right: 'Remember Lt Col Frederick William Robson, joined the 5th Yorkshire Regiment 13 May 1909. Mentioned in Despatches 13th November 1916, appointed to command 6DLI 7th November 1917 and fell leading the battalion in Flanders on 28th March 1918. Mentioned in Despatches 7 April 1918'.

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Side 5: Left: Six identical figures, in pairs, above each other. In greatcoats, helmet and chainmail and mufflers and with hands in prayer. Below each figure is their name: Capt T. E. Dufty Capt G. C. Barber Capt D. H. Walker Capt E. R. Spofforth Gapt G. J. Scott Capt W. Vause Right: 'Remember James Albert Robert Thomson, L.Colonel 5th Yorkshire Reg, awarded the DSO, Croix de Guerre (Gold Star) and Special Mention in Despatches, killed in action May 27th 1918 at Craonne, France. This effigy is placed by his widow'. > Side 6: Left: 'Ye who read this remember Thomas Prankish, a Carpenter of Sledmere, and a Sergeant in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment, He gave his life for his King and Country and the liberty of mankind in Flanders 22nd June 1915'. Right: 'Ye who read this remember Harry Addison, a carpenter of Sledmere and a L Cpl in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. He gave his life for his King and Country and the liberty of mankind at the Battle of Ypres 25 May 1915'.

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Side 7: 'Remember Lieut Col Sir Mark Sykes, Bart. MP who served in the South African War and was Mentioned in Despatches. From 1911 till his death he was MP for Central Hull. During the Great War he served as Lieut Col in command of the 5th Batt Yorkshire Regiment and then on the General Staff being detailed for duty in more than one theatre of war. He died at Paris when in attendance at the peace Conference 16th February 1919'. Below the effigy is inscribed: 'This effigy was raised by the tenants and villagers on the Sledmere estates as a mark of esteem and regard for a good Landlord and Honoured Friend'. Side 8: Left: 'Ye who read this remember David Scott, an Agriculturist of Sledmere and Private in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. He gave his life for his King and Country and the liberty of mankind in Flanders, 16th November 1916.' Right; 'Ye who read this remember William Webster, a Sadler of Thixendale and a L Cpl in the 5th Yorkshire Regiment. He gave his life for his King and Country and the liberty of mankind at the Battle of Verdun 22nd February 1916'.

PERSONS COMMEMORATED

Harry Walker ADDISON, Lance Corporal.
Born 10/1/1889 at Weaverthorpe. Son of Frederick arid Rachel Addison. Joiner on the Sledmere Estate. Enlisted 1907.
Killed in action at Battle of Ypres 25/5/15.

Harry Clifford AGAR.
Agriculturalist. Died 17/11/18 as a POW.

Edward George Clarkson BAGSHAW, Captain.
Born at Hampstead. Youngest son of Judge William Henry Gunning Bagshaw, KC. Educated Beaumont College. Served in the Boer War 1900-02 with 3rd Bn The Yorkshire Regiment. Resigned his commission 6/3/07. Rejoined and Gazetted Captain in the 5th Bn 29/8/14. Killed in action whilst serving with the 9th Bn 20/7/16.

Geoffrey Carew BARBER, Captain.
Eldest son of J. W. Barber of West Ayton, Scarborough. Articled to Messrs Watts, Kitchen and Donner, Solicitors, Scarborough. Killed in action at 2nd Battle of Ypres 29/4/15.

Walter Gorner BARKER.
Born 2/8/1889 at Richmond. Son of Robert and Mary Barker. In the service of Sir Mark Sykes at Eddlethorpe and then of Henry Cholmondeley at Sledmere.
Killed in action at the last stand of the 5th Bn at Chemin des Dames near Craonne on 27/5/18.

Harold BROWN, Major.
Born at Weetwood, Leeds. Son of George W. Brown Educated Loretto School and Jesus College, Cambridge, In business in Bradford.
Joined 5th Bn The Yorkshire Regiment in 1914, Awarded DSO in July 1915 for valuable reconnaisance work near Wulvergum. Awarded MC for leading a trench raid on the Somme in 1916. Awarded Croix de Guerre 17/8/16.
Killed in action on or near St Quentin 23/3/18 whilst in temporary command of the 4th Bn The Yorkshire Regiment.

David COOPER.
From Sledmere. Served with 1st Bn The Cheshire Regiment.

Thomas Ernest DUFTY, Captain. Manager of Bridlington Branch of the London Joint Stock Bank. Second Lieutenant in Bridlington (A) Company. Gazetted Captain 18/4/15.
Killed in action near the Chateau de Hoogc 19/5/15.

Thomas FRANKISH, Sergeant.
Carpenter in Sledmere. Died in Flanders 22/6/15.

William HOLTBY.
From Sledmere. Served with the 8th Bn The East Yorkshire Regiment.

James MORTIMER, Lieutenant Colonel. Enlisted as a Private in 2nd Volunteer Bn of the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1888. Commanded the Service Company in the South African War as a Captain in 1900. Second in Command of 5th Bn The Yorkshire Regiment 1911-15. Commanded 5th Bn from its move to France in April 1915.
Killed in action at the Battle of the Somme 15/9/16 whilst commanding the 5th Bn.

George POTTS.
From Sledmere. Served with the 8th Bn The East Yorkshire Regiment.

Frederick ROBSON, Lieutenant Colonel.
Son of Mr Thomas Robson of Pembroke Lodge, Pocklington. Solicitor. Joined 5th Bn The Yorkshire Regiment in 1909. Awarded DSO 25/11/16. Mentioned in Despatches 7/11/17. Appointed to command 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry 5/4/17. Killed in action whilst in command of that Bn 28/3/18.

David SCOTT, Private.
Born 23/6/1887 at Sledmere. Son of John and Hannah Scott. Worked at Home Farm, Sledmere. Enlisted 1907. Awarded DCM ‘for great gallantry and devotion to duty whilst taking
rations and trench implements to the trenches as a transport driver'.
Killed in action 16/11 /16.

George Jefferson SCOTT, Captain.
Native of Market Weighton. Married in 1911 to a daughter of Robert Bell of Market Weighton. Manager of Barclays Bank, Pocklington. Joined the Volunteers as a cyclist. Commissioned 1896.
Killed in action 25/12/15 at Ypres Salient.

Edward Reginald SPOFFORTH, Lieutenant.
Son of Edward Spofforth of York and of Mrs Spofforth of 9 Granville Road, Scarborough. Educated at Giggleswick and Oundle Schools. On the staff of the Yorkshire Insurance Company.
Commissioned in March 1913. Promoted Lieutenant 8/4/14. Killed in action 2/3/16 in a feint attack on Sanctuary Wood.

Sir Mark SYKES, Bt, Lieutenant Colonel.
Born 16/3/1879. Son of Sir Tatton Sykes of Sledmere. MP for Central Hull from 1911 till his death.
Gazetted Second Lieutenant in 3rd (Militia) Bn The Yorkshire Regiment 1897. Served with that Bn in South Africa. Promoted Captain 1902. Served in Turkey, Mesopotamia and Palestine. Major in 5th Bn the Yorkshire Regiment 26/10/07. Commanding Officer of that Bn 4/1/11. Served during much of the war in the Middle East.
Died of pneumonia in Paris 16/2/19 whilst in attendance at the Paris Peace Conference.

James Albert Raymond THOMSON, Lieutenant Colonel.
Son of James Thomson of Huddersfield and a nephew of Alderman R. Metcalfe of Malton. Partner in the firm of W. Metcalfe & Son, Millers, of Malton.
Married in 1905 Ethel Norah, only daughter of Edward M. Johnson of St Mary's, York. Commanded the Volunteer Company at Malton from 1902. Rejoined 5th Bn on the outbreak of war. Commanded 5th Bn from 25/7/17 with acting rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Awarded DSO and Croix de Guerre.
Killed in action 27/5/18 at Craonne.

Wilfred VAUSE, Captain.
Son of Fred Vause of High Stakesby, Whitby. Worked for Messrs Beckett & Co's Bank of Pickering. Joined 5th Bn as Second Lieutenant 9/3/14. Promoted Lieutenant.12/4/15 and Captain 11/7/16. Awarded MC for conspicuous gallantry in action. Killed in action 23/4/17.

Dennis Henry WALKER, Captain.
Eldest son of Captain W. S. Walker FRIBA who had also served with the 5th Bn. Educated Bridlington High School. An architect with his father's practice in Hull.
Commissioned 9/4/06 into 2nd Volunteer Bn The East Yorkshire Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant 1/4/08 and Captain 22/9/14.
Wounded at Ypres 26/1/16 and died later the same day.

Leslie Bedford WALKER, Captain.
Younger son of Captain W. S. Walker (see above). Educated Bridlington Grammar School. Commissioned 26/5/15. Promoted Acting Captain in command of a company 8/5/17.
Died of wounds received in action 22/6/17.

William WEBSTER, Lance Corporal.
Saddler from Thixendale. Killed in action at the Battle of Verdun 22/2/16.

Frank WOODCOCK, Captain.
Served with 5th Bn The Yorkshire Regiment. Killed in action 15/9/16.

Harry WOODCOCK, Lance Corporal.
Served with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Killed in action 8/5/15 at the and Battle of Ypres.

The Sledmere Cross (detail)
Photo : Edward Nicholl

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