Yorkshire Regiment War Graves
Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, -
Wimereux Communal Cemetery
(Pas de Calais, France)
Yorkshire Regiment War Graves
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Wimereux Communal Cemetery (1) Wimereux Communal Cemetery (1)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army.

From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves. By June 1918, this half of the cemetery was filled, and subsequent burials from the hospitals at Wimereux were made in the new military cemetery at Terlincthun.

During the Second World War, British Rear Headquarters moved from Boulogne to Wimereux for a few days in May 1940, prior to the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. Thereafter, Wimereux was in German hands and the German Naval Headquarters were situated on the northern side of the town. After D-Day, as Allied forces moved northwards, the town was shelled from Cap Griz-Nez, and was re-taken by the Canadian 1st Army on 22 September 1944.

Wimereux Communal Cemetery contains 2,847, Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. Buried among them is Lt.-Col. John McCrae, author of the poem "In Flanders Fields." There are also five French and a plot of 170 German war graves.

Amongst the graves are those of 37 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Because of the sandy nature of the soil, the headstones lie flat upon the graves.

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

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

Private Harold Arksey. 241143.
 
Private Harold Arksey. 241143.
6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Annie E. Arksey, of Bridlington, Yorks. Killed 29 September 1917. Aged 19.
Born Scarborough, Enlisted Bridlington.

"REST IN PEACE"
Corporal Lloyd Beaumont. 11846.
 
Corporal Lloyd Beaumont. 11846.
8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Wright and Lucy Beaumont, of 35, Ruthven View, Harehills Lane, Leeds. Killed 10 January 1917. Aged 24.
Born Huddersfield (Yorks), Enlisted Leeds.


"FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
AND FRIENDS
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE"
Private Albert Edward Bennett. 11316.
 
Private Albert Edward Bennett. 11316.
12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Bennett, of Leeds, Yorks. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 20.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds.
Private John Bradberry, 28399.
  
Private John Bradberry, 28399.
6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and the late Mary Bradberry, of Middleton Tyas, Yorks; husband of Lydia Elizabeth Bradberry, of High St., Great Ayton, Yorks. Killed on 1 October 1917. Aged 36.
Born Middleton Tyas, Enlisted Middleton Tyas


"THE BELOVED HUSBAND OF
LYDIA BRADBERRY
MIDDLETON TYAS
YORKSHIRE ENGLAND"
Private Walter Brigham. 2160
  
Private Walter Brigham. 2160.
5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 9 May 1915.
Born Beverley (Yorks), Enlisted Beverley.
Lance Corporal Frank Bulmer. 1457.
  
Lance Corporal Frank Bulmer. 1457.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Matthew and Ellen Bulmer, of Northallerton, Yorks. Killed 3 August 1916. Aged 23.
Born Pickhill (Thirsk), Enlisted Northallerton.

"SAFE IN THE HOMELAND"
Private Richard Carroll. 7612
  
Private Richard Carroll. 7612.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 4 November 1914.
Born Bradford, Enlisted Bradford.
Private Andrew Collins. 7587.
 
Private Andrew Collins. 7587.
2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mary Ann Collins, of 10, London St., Middlesbrough. Died 20 December 1914. Aged 20.
Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

"DEEPLY MOURNED BY
HIS SORROWING MOTHER
SISTERS & BROTHERS
R. I. P. "
Private Harry Davies. 10599.
 
Private Harry Davies. 10599.
6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 6 October 1916.
Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Thornaby-on-Tees.
Private Robert Henry Dobinson. 18582.
  
Private Robert Henry Dobinson. 18582.
9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Elizabeth Dobinson, of 12, Long Row, Coxhoe, Co. Durham. KIlled 14 August 1917. Aged 37.
Born Escombe (Bishop Auckland), Enlisted Coxhoe.

"EVER REMEMBERED BY
LOVING WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN
BROTHERS & SISTERS"
Lance Corporal William Dickson, 78367.
 
Lance Corporal William Dickson, 78367.
5th Battalion Tank Corps, formerly 38413 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Christina Dickson, of 28, Abbay St., Southwick, Sunderland. Killed 20 April 1918. Aged 30.
Born Sunderland (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland.

"LEAD KINDLY LIGHT"
Private Reginald Ernest Downs. 35134.
 
Private Reginald Ernest Downs. 35134.
4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 34654 9th T R Battn. Son of Ernest Albert and Gertrude Emily Downs, of Ryhall, Stamford, Lincs. Killed 15 April 1918. Aged 18.
Born Kettering (Northants), Enlisted Northampton.
Private George Thomas Edmond. 1958.
  
Private George Thomas Edmond. 1958.
5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Georgina and the late Thomas Edmond, of Bridlington, Yorks. Native of Driffield. Killed 25 April 1915. Aged 18.
Born Driffield, Enlisted Bridlington.

"THY WILL BE DONE"
Private William Groombridge. 14652.
 
 Private William Groombridge. 14652.
8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. Groombridge, of 172, Charles St., Boldon Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 22 July 1916.
Born South Shields, Enlisted Boldon Colliery, Resided Boldon Colliery.


"I SHALL GO TO HIM
BUT HE SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME"
Private George Hornsby. 22797.
 
Private George Hornsby. 22797.
8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Adopted son of John Hall Robinson and Ada Zillah Robinson, of Middlesbrough. Died 17 February 1917. Aged 19.
Born Govan (Lanarks), Enlisted Middlesbrough.

"HE DID HIS DUTY"
Private Robert Hubbard, 64597.
  
Private Robert Hubbard, 64597.
4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly 43950 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert Hubbard, of 37, St. Mary's Terrace, Tyne Dock, South Shields. Killed 12 April 1918.
Born Jarrow-on-Tyne, Enlisted South Shields (Durham).

"THY WILL BE DONE"
Private Percy Land. 38124.
  
Private Percy Land. 38124.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles Lewis Land and Hannah Land, of Keighley, Yorks. Killed 5 April 1917. Aged 28.
Born Keighley, Enlisted Keighley.

"IN MY FATHERS HOUSE
ARE MANY MANSIONS"
Private John Mason. 139796.
 
Private John Mason. 139796.
50th Bn Machine Gun Corps, formerly 1477 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Emma and the late John Mason, of Malton, Yorks. Killed 12 April 1918. Aged 25.
Born St. Leonard's (Yorks), Enlisted Malton.

Private Orlando Sebastiano Mazza. 8794.
  
Private Orlando Sebastiano Mazza. 8794.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. (Served under the alias of John Massey). Son of Mr A Mazza of 11 St Mary's Place, Leeds. Killed 7 November 1914. Aged 31.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds.
Private John Francis Michel. 10497.
 
Private John Francis Michel. 10497.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Elizabeth Mary Michel. of St. Peter's, Jersey. Killed 28 February 1915. Aged 26.
Born St. Peter's (Jersey - CI), Enlisted Woolwich, Resided St. Peter's (Jersey).

"WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT
IS COME THEN
THAT WHICH IS IN PART
SHALL BE DONE AWAY"
Private Lawrence Mitchell. 240695.
 
Private Lawrence Mitchell. 240695.
5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 3 November 1917.
Enlisted Tanfield, Resided Nosterfield (Bedale - Yorks).


"GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"
Private Archibald Naylor. 34117.
   Private Archibald Naylor. 34117.
7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 31744 Lincolnshire Regt. Son of George and Lucy Naylor, of Preston, Uppingham; husband of Mary Alice Naylor, of Preston, nr. Uppingham, Rutlandshire. Killed 21 November 1917. Aged 34.
Born Preston (Rutland), Enlisted Loughborough, Resided Barrow-on-Soar.
Private Michael O'Connor. 30920.
 
Private Michael O'Connor. 30920.
16th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, transferred to (12919 22nd Coy) Labour Corps. Son of Patrick and Mary O'Connor, of Middlesbrough. Died 14 March 1918. Aged 45.
Born Bishop Auckland (Durham), Enlisted Middlesbrough.

"R. I. P."
Private John Pitts. 201909
  
Private John Pitts. 201909.
4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 January 1917.
Born Idle, Enlisted Richmond, Resided Bradford.
Private Daniel Oscar Rees. 235072.
 
 Private Daniel Oscar Rees. 235072.
13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Ann Rees, of Brynmenyn, Bridgend; husband of M. M. Rees, of "Glan-yr-afon," Abergarw Rd., Brynmenyn, Bridgend. Killed 26 March 1916. Aged 36.
Born Brynmenin (Glam), Enlisted Bridgend, Resided Brynmenin.


"TOO DEARLY LOVED
EVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
BY WIFE
& LITTLE SON GLENYS" (sic)
Private George William Richardson. 204016.
  
Private George William Richardson. 204016.
10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 14 October 1917.
Born Bowes (Yorks), Enlisted Barnard Castle, Resided Bowes (Darlington).
Private Allan Robinson. 1762.
 
Private Allan Robinson. 1762.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Margaret and the late Allan Robinson, of Redcar, Yorks. Died 16 March 1916. Aged 23.
Born Redcar, Enlisted Coatham, Resided Redcar.

"NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE"
2nd Lieutenant Nicholas Scorer.
 
2nd Lieutenant Nicholas Scorer.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Margaret H. Scorer, of 22, Balmoral Gardens, Monkseaton, Northumberland, late of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Joined 1st Life Guards on his 18th birthday, afterwards tranf. to Household Battalion. Killed 29 March 1918. Aged 20.


"A MODEL SON TO PARENTS
AND GREATLY LOVED BY
SISTERS & BROTHERS"
Private John Sheerin. 204731.
 
Private John Sheerin. 204731.
10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 25 November 1917.
Born Rose Hill (Northumberland), Enlisted Willington Quay.
Private Louis John Sly. 41691.
  
Private Louis John Sly. 41691.
13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 4903 Army Pay Corps. Son of Frederick Thomas and Ellen Sly. Killed 10 March 1917. Aged 33.
Born Hackney (Middlesex), Enlisted London, Resided Bayswater (W).


"THERE IS HAPPINESS
IN REMEMBRANCE
NELLIE"
Corporal William Robinson Tanfield, 26158.
 
Corporal William Robinson Tanfield, 26158.
10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Sam and Adah Tanfield, Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorks. Killed on 7 January 1917. Aged 22.
Born Thornaby (Yorks), Enlisted Thornaby.

"MEMORY CLINGS
MOTHER DAD AND HARRY
THORNABY-ON-TEES"
Private William Taylor, 26138.
 
 Private William Taylor, 26138.
8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Taylor, of Eston, Yorks. Killed 21 July 1916. Aged 23.
Born Eston (Yorks), Enlisted South Bank, Resided Eston.


"IN MEMORY OF
THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF
MR & MRS J TAYLOR, ESTON
AGE 23 "
Lance Corporal Lawrence Earl Thompson, 200288
   Lance Corporal Lawrence Earl Thompson, 200288.
4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 3 January 1918.
Born Rotherham, Enlisted Catterick, Resided Brixton.
Private Thomas Maltby Thompson. 20281.
 
 Private Thomas Maltby Thompson. 20281.
10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Thomas and Sarah Jane Thompson; husband of Annie S. Thompson, of 2, Customs Row, Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough. Died 10 December 1916. Aged 31.
Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.


"IN LOVING MEMORY
EVER REMEMBERED BY
WIFE AND CHILDREN"
Private George Ernest Towler. 42027.
  
Private George Ernest Towler. 42027.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 421 1st T R Battn. Son of James and Esther Towler, of West Stanley, Durham. Killed 15 June 1917. Aged 25.
Born Beamish (Durham), Enlisted Stanley.
Private Herbert Tuffs. 3/9193.
 
Private Herbert Tuffs. 3/9193.
6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Tuffs, of 23, Bulmer St., Middlesbrough; husband of Florrie Tuffs, of 19, Bulmer St., Middlesbrough. Died 21 May 1915. Aged 28.
Born Sheffield, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

"WHO DIED
FOR KING & COUNTRY
EVER REMEMBERED BY
HIS WIFE AND TWO SONS"
Private George Henry Ward, 31796.
  
Private George Henry Ward, 31796.
16th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment transf. to (13678) 23rd Coy. Labour Corps. Died 11 February 1918.
Born Bishop Monkton (Yorks), Enlisted Harrogate, Resided Starbeck (Harrogate).

(Shown in SDGW as being formerly 33733, W. Yorks Regt.)
Private Richard Williamson.
   Private Richard Williamson.
7114. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Esmeralda Williamson, of 49, Willow Rd., Leeds. Killed 30 October 1914. Aged 30.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds, Resided Holbeck.
Lance Corporal Leonard Winch. 33116.
  
Lance Corporal Leonard Hector Winch. 33116. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 2859 Norfolk Regt. Son of Edwin Francis and Clara Eliza Winch, of Town Farm House, Attleborough, Norfolk. Killed 2 November 1916. Aged 23( *).
Born Truro, Enlisted Norwich, Resided Norwich.

(* From the 1911 Census, Leonard Hector Winch was only born in ca. 1897. He was a schoolboy of 14 at the time of the census. Hence he would only have been 19 at the time of death.)

Wimereux Communal Cemetery (2) Wimereux Communal Cemetery (2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

Wimereux Communal Cemetery (3) Wimereux Communal Cemetery (3)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

The Grave of Lieutenant Colonel John MacCrae in Wimereux Communal Cemetery
The Grave of Lieutenant Colonel John MacCrae in Wimereux Communal Cemetery
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)

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