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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Rotherham |
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The War Memorial for Rotherham
Photo : Elizabeth Smith of the Imperial War Museum's Register
of War Memorials website
Rotherham's War Memorial is located in the Memorial Gardens in Clifton Park, by the main entrance of Doncaster Road and Clifton Lane.
The memorial is a plain tapering Cenotaph on the Whitehall model. Curved
wall behind. Inscription and wreath on front face. Surmounted by an urn.
Behind the Cenotaph is a curved wall with plates bearing the names commemorated
as having lost their lives in the First World War.
Behind this is another wall on which those who lost their lives in the Second
World war are commemorated.
The number of lives commemorated is not totally clear.
According to the Imperial War Museum's Register
of War Memorials website, and the War
Memorials On Line website a total of 1304 lives are commemorated.
The Great War Forum website states that 544 names are commemorated (for the
Great War?).
The Gravestone
Photographic Resource website states that 2447 names are commmeorated
(WW1 & WW2?). This website provides a list of all of the names, with an
invitation to apply for a photograph of the plate on which the name is commemorated.
However, Kitchener's Bugle on the Great War Forum has posted photos of some of the commemorative plates, fortunately including the plate on which men of the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated.
8 soldiers who served in the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.
(! soldier, W E Ogilvy, is shown on the commemorative plate but served in
the East Yorkshire Regiment)
Private John Edward Butler, 15869. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.
Killed 30 September 1916.
Born Norton (Leicester), Enlisted Sheffield, Resided Rotherham.
Commemorated on Pier and face 3A & 3D, THIRPVAL MEMORIAL.
Private Arthur Harrison, 46744. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of Mrs. Clara Harrison, of 19, Gerard Rd., Rotherham. Killed 25 March
1918. Aged 19.
Born Rotherham (Yorks), Enlisted Rotherham.
Buried ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY.
Lieutenant George Cedric Hodgkinson. Yorkshire Regiment.
Attached to 8th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment. Son of Reginald Edward
Hodgkinson, J.P. and Margaret Jane Hodgkinson, of Moorseats, Hathersage, Sheffield.
Born at Rotherham. Educated at Clifton College, 1st Cricket XI in 1914. Gazetted
2nd Lt.1915. 8th Bn. York and Lancaster Regt. 1914, went to France. Killed
4 July 1916. Aged 20.
Buried HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE.
From "Officers of the Green Howards 1688 - 1931" by M L Ferrar,
the following biographical notes are given;-
"Born at Rotherham 7 January 1896, youngest son of Reginald Edward Hodgkinson,
Solicitor, of Rotherham.
2nd Lieutenant 4 April 1916.
Was appointed to a regular commission from the 8th Battalion York and Lancaster
Regiment, to which he was gazetted as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant, 11 November
1914. With this battalion he served in France from 27 August 1915 and remained
with it until his death. He saw a lot of heavy trench fighting south of Armentieres,
Bois Grenin, La Boutillerie, and Fleurbaix. He was wounded 1 July 1916 in
the attack on Mouquet Farm."
(These biographical notes indicate that although he was gazetted to the Yorkshire
Regiment in April 1916, he didn't actually serve with them.)
Private Walter Ernest Howitt, 35170. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire
Regiment, formerly 35772 9th T R Battn. Killed 11 April 1918.
Born Swindon (Yorks), Enlisted Pontefract, Resided Rotherham.
Buried POINT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE.
Major John Silvester Palliser. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment
and Machine Gun Corps.
Croix de Guerre (Belgium). Mentioned in Despatches.
Son of William and Frances Amelia Palliser, of "Brentwood," Flamborough,
Bridlington, Yorks. Born at Rotherham, Yorks. Volunteered Aug.1911. Killed
9 August 1918. Aged 25.
Buried VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY.
The following notes are from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"John Palliser was born in Rotherham in 1893. He joined the army in the
summer of 1911, serving in the ranks of the Yorkshire regiment and was later
in receipt of his commission.
He served with the 5th Battalion and was awarded the Croix de Guerre by Belgium
before being attached to the Machine Gun Corps who he was with when killed
in action on August 9th 1918 at the age of 25."
Private John Parker. 19027. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly
19540 Yorks L I. Son of Jack and Ann Parker. Killed 10 July 1916. Aged 40.
Born Monmouth, Enlisted Sheffield, Enlisted Rotherham.
Commemorated on Pier and face 3A & 3D, THIRPVAL MEMORIAL.
(Shown on the Rotherham War Memorial as serving in the West Yorkshire Regiment.)
Lieutenant John Vernon Townsend. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of John Edward and Clarissa Myra Townsend; husband of Beatrice Millicent
Townsend, of Moorgate, Rotherham. Killed 24 September 1918. Aged 34.
Buried CHAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, HOLNON.
he following notes are from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"John Townsend first served in the ranks of the Yorkshire Regiment before
his commission.
Serving with the 5th Battalion Lieutenant Townsend was wounded in actions
around Licourt during the German spring offensive in March of 1918.
The battalion was reduced to a training cadre in July 1918 with the officers
being attached to other battalions and regiments.
Lt John Vernon Townsend was killed in action on September 24th 1918 aged 34.
John Townsend was the son of John Edward and Clarissa Myra Townsend and the
husband of Beatrice Millicent Townsend of Moorgate in Rotherham."
Private Willie Ward. 29483. 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry,
formerly 23648 the Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of James and Mary Elizabeth Ward, of Rotherham. Killed 2 September 1917.
Aged 29.
Enlisted Sheffield (Yorks), Resided Rotherham (Yorks).
Buried CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY.
The Commemorative Plate on the Rotherham War Memorial on Which Men of the
Yorkshire Regiment are Named
Photo : Kitchener's Bugle on the Great
War Forum
The Commemorative Plate on the Rotherham War Memorial on Which Private Willie
Ward is shown
Photo : Kitchener's Bugle on the Great
War Forum
The
Rotherham War Memorial in Rotherham's Memorial Gardens, Clifton Park
Photo : Google Earth
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