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Remembrance
- The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War Introduction
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This website is dedicated to commemorating the men of The Yorkshire Regiment who fought in the First World War.
At the time of the First World War the full title of the regiment was Alexandra, The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment, which in 1920 became The Green Howards (Alexandra, The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), - referred to, simply, as The Green Howards.
The naming of the various Yorkshire Regiments that were raised over the years causes some confusion, and a note on the names of the Yorkshire Regiments is appended below.
In the First World War, The Yorkshire Regiment raised
24 Battalions. 65,000 men served in these Battalions. And of these
65,000 men, 9,200 died and 24,000 were wounded. The website
lists almost every soldier who lost their life whilst serving the regiment,
and records the memorials on which these soldiers are commemorated or the
graves in which they lie.
The website also provides photographs of, and biographies of men who fought
with the regiment, - both those who returned and those who didn't.
Select one of the links below for help in using this website, and guidance as to where you are most likely to find information. There are also links to show how the website came to be.
(*) The Roll of Honour which is kept in the parish
church in Richmond, North Yorkshire, records the names of almost 7,500 names
of men who lost their lives. The figure of 7,500 is quoted in the official
history of the regiment.
However, the church Roll of Honour does not include a number of men who
died at home, and does not include every soldier who was originally in the
Yorkshire Regiment but who were transferred to other regiments (including
the Machine Gun Corps, where they might be serving alongside members of
the Yorkshire Regiment).
There are also groups, such as men in the 16th Battalion, who were transferred
to a Labour Company, but who were nevertheless buried with a Yorkshire Regiment
headstone. These men were excluded from the Roll of Honour kept in Richmond's
parish church.
By taking ALL those who served with the Yorkshire Regiment into consideration,
the total number of lives lost is now seen to be over 9,200.
The following five regiments are listed in order of seniority, with very brief notes as to their naming.
The 14th Regiment of Foot became (in 1880) The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). Fought in the First World War as The West Yorkshire Regiment.
The 15th Regiment of Foot became (in 1881) The East Yorkshire Regiment, and fought under that name in the First World War. In 1935 this regiment became The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own).
The 19th Regiment of Foot became (in 1902) Alexandra, The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment, which was known simply as The Yorkshire Regiment in the First World War. In 1920 the name became The Green Howards (Alexandra, The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), shortened to The Green Howards.
The 51st Regiment of Foot became the 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot, which, in turn became the 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding)The King's Own Light Infantry. In 1897 the title was changed to The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), known as The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the First World War. This became the regiment's official name in 1921.
The 65th and 84th Regiments of Foot became the 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot and the 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot. Combined with 2 (militia) battalions of the 3rd West Yorkshire Light infantry, these regiments became The York and Lancaster Regiment.
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