Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais (France)

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt . At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras.

The cemetery now contains 1, 936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Amongst the headstones and memorials are 31 for identified soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais (France)
(Photo : Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>)

The gravestone photos are by Christopher Weekes, <weebex12@hotmail.com>

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Fred Barr, 241341. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and S. E. Barr, of Wass House Farm, Hawnby, Helmsley, York. Killed 26 June 1917. Aged 27. Born Malton, Enlisted Hawnby (Helmsley).

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Bryan Clayton, 24816. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 27 May 1918. Born Bradford (Yorks), Enlisted Bradford.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Thomas Cope. 201087. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Martha Cope, of 31, Lord St., Middlesbrough. Died 23 April 1917. Aged 42. Enlisted Middlesbrough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John Dawson, 235134. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. W. Dawson, of 4, Monkabecq Rd., Great Ayton, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Enlisted Stokesley, Resided Great Ayton.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Horace Finch, 202280. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3219 Northants Regt. Killed 23 April 1917. Enlisted Northampton, Resided Kettering.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Harry Flanary. 200236. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry and Dorothy Flanary, of 161, Westgate, Guisborough, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 20. Born Guisborough (Yorks), Enlisted Guisborough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Serjeant Thomas Henry Harry Frost. 240691.5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Mary Jane Frost, of Hecklar Houses, 8, Barefoot St., Ripon, Yorks. Native of Goff's Oak, Waltham Cross, Herts. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 22. Enlisted Melmerby, Resided Ripon.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private William Parkinson Garbutt. 203091. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Walter James and Fanny Louisa Garbutt, of 11, Church Green, Bridlington, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 20. Born Manchester, Enlisted Bridlington.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Arthur Goodman, 202240. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5122 Northants Regt. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Goodman, of 22, Ambush St., St. James' End, Northampton; husband of N. E. Goodman, of 5, Fitzroy St., Northampton. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 22. Born Northampton, Enlisted Northampton.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Walter Edward Harper. 21302. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Harper, of 18, Marl St., Middlesbrough. Killed 26 June 1917. Aged 19. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private William Heaney. 19852. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 7500 Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed 23 April 1917. Born Walker-on-Tyne, Enlisted Newcastle.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Ernest Holloway, 202289. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 4780 Northants Regt. Son of Robert and Sarah Holloway, of 18, Norfolk St., Northampton. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 30. Born Towcester (Northants), Enlisted Northampton.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Corporal Sidney Humphrey, 203082. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 23 April 1917. Born Sculcoate (Hull), Enlisted Hull.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John William Leonard, 240460. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. Mary J. Leonard, of 122, St. John's St., Bridlington. Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 27. Born Bridlington, Enlisted Bridlington. (SDGW gives regtl No. = 240465)

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Joseph Gibson Lunn, 202952. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry and Barbara Lunn, of 33, Bessemer Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Spennymoor, Co. Durham. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 22. Born Spennymoor (Durham), Enlisted Spennymoor.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John Naisbitt Matthews, 202954. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Obadiah and Ellen Matthews, of 9, 4th Cross Row, Chilton Lane, Ferryhill, Co. Durham. Native of Spennymoor, Co. Durham. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 22. Born Spennymoor (Durham), Enlisted Ferryhill

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John Millington, 203171. 1st/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Kate Millington, of Thomaby-on-Tees, Co. Durham. Killed on 23 April 1917. Aged 20. Born Thornaby (Yorks), Enlisted Stockton-on-Tees, Resided Thornaby.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Edgar Parnell. 201430. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Alice Parnell, of 8, Heath Terrace, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough. Native of Millom, Cumberland. Killed 23 April 1917. Enlisted Middlesbrough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private George Postgate. 20184. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 23 April 1917. Born Hull, Enlisted Middlesbrough. (SDGW gives regtl No. = 201814)

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Lieutenant John Selby Pratt. Mentioned in Despatches. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Sidney Pratt, of "Marley House," Haslemere, Surrey. Died 11 April 1917. Aged 19.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Lance Corporal George Purvies. 10846. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. Purvies, of 41, Station Rd., South Bank, Middlesbrough. Died 9 April 1917. Born Leeds, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided South Bank.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Lance Corporal William Ernest Raine, 200591. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Blanche Raine, of 35, Chatsworth Terrace, Darlington, Co. Durham. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 20. Born Darlington, Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Darlington.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Harold Richards, 201058. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Ann Richards, of I, York Terrace, Normanby, Eston; Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 39. Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Eston.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John William Robinson, 243374. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, of 108, Lair Gate, Beverley, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 22. Enlisted Beverley.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John Henry Simpson, 16229. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 9 April 1917. Born West Boldon, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Usworth. Private Simpson is commemorated by one of the special memorials in this cemetery to casualties known or believed to be buried in the cemetery. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT"

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John Tatters, 15816. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 2 April 1917. Born Whitehaven (Cumberland), Enlisted Washington.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Thomas Herbert Tibbett. 201739. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Matilda Tibbett, of 10, Kendal St., Middlesbrough. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 19. Enlisted Middlesbrough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Captain Wilfrid Vause, MC. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of F. and B. Vause, of Whitby, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 27.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John George Wallace. 202968. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Brother of Miss N. Wallace, of Railway Hotel, Merrington Lane, Spennymoor, Co. Durham. Killed 23 April 1917. Born Castle Eden (Durham), Enlisted Deaf Hill Colliery, Resided Low Spennymoor (Durham).

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private Raymond Newton Whisker. 201786. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. E. Whisker, of 18, Vaughan St., Middlesbro'-on-Tees, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

Click on thumbnail image for a larger version of the photo		Private John George Wilson, 235029. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. Annie Wilson, of 2, Derby St., Stockton-on-Tees. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 21. Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Stockton-on-Tees.

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