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Remembrance
- The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War Lieutenant Colonel William Whitesmith CONSTANTINE Close window to return to main page |
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Further details on, and photos of, Lieutenant Colonel Constantine are shown below.
Lieutenant Colonel William Whitesmith CONSTANTINE
Major William Whitesmith Constantine was one of three brothers who all
served with the 4th Battalion in the First World War. The other two brothers
were Captain Herbert Norman Constantine
and Captain Robert Alfred Constantine.
Simon Barnard (<sb16460@talktalk.net>), a great nephew of Lieutenant
Colonel William Whitesmith Constantine, has provided much information on his
great uncle and his two brothers. This information, and the photographs provided
by Simon, can be seen below.
The Constantine family are associated with the building of Constantine
Technical College in Middlesbrough, amongst other things.
An official portrait of Lieutenant Colonel W W Constantine, MC
William
Whitesmith Constantine, in camp, date unknown (seated far right)
Photo provided by Christopher Constantine (grandson)
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.