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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen (Belgium) |
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Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen (Belgium) - 1
Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>
Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery was started by French troops in 1914 and was taken over by Commonwealth forces in April 1915. It was used by fighting units and field ambulances until June 1917, when the land adjoining the cemetery was claimed for a military railway preventing further extension.
The cemetery is remarkable for the care with which men of the same unit were buried side by side if they died at about the same time. There is also a very high proportion of graves of Territorial units, in particular Lancashire Territorials, who have nearly 250 graves in plots IV, V and VI. During the early months of 1917, whenever it was possible, the 55th Division brought their dead from the front for burial here.
The cemetery now contains 1,175 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The French graves were removed after the war, but three German war graves remain. There are also four Second World War burials dating from the Allied retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The wrought iron gates were presented by the family of the late Lord Redesdale, whose son, Major Mitford, is buried in the Cemetery.
Amongst the graves are 13 of soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
Of the 4 burials from the Second World War, 3 were soldiers of the Green Howards.
Photos of their headstones have been taken by Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>.
If you would like a copy of one of these photos, please contact Edward Nicholl
(<emn@enicholl.com>).
Photos of the cemetery and the gravestones are by Christopher
Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>.
Select one of the thumbnail images, below, for a larger sized image which
opens in a new window.
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Captain George Hutton Bowes-Wilson.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Thomas Bowes-Wilson, of Enterpen Hall, Hutton Rudby, Yorks; husband of N. Dulcie Bowes-Wilson, of 30, John Street, Bedford Row, London. Killed 17 June 1915.
For further information on Captain Bowes-Wilson, together with a photo, see "Photos of Individuals, - B". |
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Private Harold Clarkson, 496.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 29 December 1915. Born South Bank (Yorks), Enlisted Redcar. |
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Private Arthur Day, 28291. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Robert and Sarah Day, of Whitby; husband of Henrietta Day, of 34, Gray Street, Whitby, Yorks. Killed 26 February 1917. Aged 32. Born Ruswarp, Enlisted Whitby. "BELOVED HUSBAND OF HENRIETTA DAY SON OF THE LATE ROBERT AND SARAH DAY" |
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Captain Thomas Ernest Dufty.
5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Arthur Richard and Kate Dufty, of Nottinghamshire; husband of Beatrice Dufty, of "Deepdale," Meads, Eastbourne. Killed 19 May 1917. Aged 35.. "DULCE EST PRO PATRIA MORI"
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Serjeant James Edward Dwyer.
14825. 8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 14 May 1917. Born Thornley, Enlisted Shiney Row, Resided Durham. |
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Private John Finn. 1624. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Harriet Finn, of Scarborough, Yorks. Killed 28 February 1916. Aged 24. Born Lincoln, Enlisted Scarborough. "R. I. P." |
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Private Charles James Fox, 1789.
5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Annie J. Fox, of Scarborough. Killed 29 December 1915. Aged 40. Born Leicester, Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Leicester. "DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF
ANNIE J. FOX SCARBOROUGH. YORKS" |
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Private Arthur Johnson. 28274.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Mary Johnson, of Rose Cottage, Scorborough, nr. Beverley; husband of Janet Johnson, of 10, West Street, Thorne, nr. Doncaster. Killed 25 February 1917. Aged 28. Born Scorborough, Enlisted Shipton, Resided Benningbrough (Yorks). (Scorborough is a village near Beverley) "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY HIS LOVING WIFE CHILDREN AND PAENTS" |
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Private Richard George Locker,
3164.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Mary Jane Locker, of 4, High Row, Loftus, Yorks. Killed 29 February 1916. Aged 23. Enlisted Loftus. (Brother of Robert Locker, 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 14 September 1918.) "SON OF
GEORGE & MARY JANE LOCKER AGE 23 YEARS" |
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Private Albert Pettit. 42021.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 413 1st T R Battn. Born Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington. Killed 21 July 1918. Aged 19. Born Chalton Hawthorn (Somerset), Enlisted Darlington. |
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Private Harry Reed. 2278. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Eva Minnie Reed, of Nafferton, East Yorks. Killed 24 December 1915. Aged 20. Born Bridlington, Enlisted Bridlington, Resided Nafferton (Yorks). |
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Private Thomas Saunders. 42481.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 178543 R F A. Killed 25 February 1917. Born Bermondsey, Enlisted Woolwich, Resided Walworth. |
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Private William Birrell Stewart,
15640.
8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Rachel and the late Henry Stewart, of Sunderland. Killed 13 February 1917. Aged 30. Born Sunderland, Enlisted Sunderland. WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER" |
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Captain Francis Octavius Grenfell,
VC. 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers. Killed 24 May 1915. Aged 35. Son of Pascoe Du Pre Grenfell and Sophia, his wife. Educated at Eton, Francis became "Master of the Beagles" in 1898. On leaving Eton in 1899 he joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. He saw service in the South African War. An extract taken from the London Gazette dated 16th November, 1914 records the following:- "For gallantry in action against un-broken Infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August, 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day." "ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF HIS TWIN BROTHER RIVERSDALE BORN 1880. SONS OF PASCOE & SOFIA GRENFELL" |
Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen (Belgium) - 2
Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>