The Poppy Wave at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
In the United Kingdom we remember and pay our respects to the fallen of the First World War and subsequent wars, by wearing poppies. This tradition started as a result of Major John MacRae's Poem 'In Flanders' Fields' written during the 2nd Battle of Ypres and so the Flanders' Poppy became the official flower of remembrance.
For the centenary anniversary, 2014, of the start of the First World War, 888,246 ceramic poppies, were made to represent a British military fatality during that war. The poppies filled the moat at the Tower of London. This artwork, 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' was created by artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper. It stayed at the Tower from 17th July to 11th November 2014. Most of those poppies were sold to the public, all net proceeds plus 10% of every sale was shared between 6 service charities, the rest were used for 'poppy wave sculptures' which will travel round the country until 2018 before ending in the Imperial War Museums in London and Manchester. In Britain, it is tradition to pause for a two minute silence at 11am on November 11 to remember those killed in the two world wars and the British servicemen killed or injured since 1945. This is even observed in Heathrow Airport!
There are many family tombstones in Roundhay St. John's Church which include the name of their serviceman who died in service to God, King and Country. Below are the names of the fallen from the 1st World War and below those from the 2nd World War. 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Willey, who was killed on 1st July 2016 is not listed here but memorialized on his family's tombstone.
A poppy wreath was placed in the graveyard by one of the Friends to honour the men of Roundhay St. John's who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These pictures are posted on our facebook page.
For the centenary anniversary, 2014, of the start of the First World War, 888,246 ceramic poppies, were made to represent a British military fatality during that war. The poppies filled the moat at the Tower of London. This artwork, 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' was created by artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper. It stayed at the Tower from 17th July to 11th November 2014. Most of those poppies were sold to the public, all net proceeds plus 10% of every sale was shared between 6 service charities, the rest were used for 'poppy wave sculptures' which will travel round the country until 2018 before ending in the Imperial War Museums in London and Manchester. In Britain, it is tradition to pause for a two minute silence at 11am on November 11 to remember those killed in the two world wars and the British servicemen killed or injured since 1945. This is even observed in Heathrow Airport!
There are many family tombstones in Roundhay St. John's Church which include the name of their serviceman who died in service to God, King and Country. Below are the names of the fallen from the 1st World War and below those from the 2nd World War. 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Willey, who was killed on 1st July 2016 is not listed here but memorialized on his family's tombstone.
A poppy wreath was placed in the graveyard by one of the Friends to honour the men of Roundhay St. John's who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These pictures are posted on our facebook page.
This Tram helped to draw men into the recruiting office on City Square where 800 Leeds Pals joined up. Around 2000 Leeds Pals, with an average age of 21, joined up in total. While the Leeds Pals maybe the best known of the Leeds battalions the Leeds Rifles were ready before the Leeds Pals. The idea of a city Battalion was suggested by Colonel Walter Stead, a Leeds solicitor. Of the 900 Leeds Pals who saw action at Ypres and the Somme, 750 were killed.One can't but help wonder if anyone from Roundhay was amongst those smiling young men.
The Battle of the Somme was fought 1st July – 18th November 1916. Over three million men fought in the battle and one million were wounded or killed. 2ndLieutentant Thomas Willey, whose name is on the family tombstone, was one of the first casualties on the first day, 1st July 1916. Although Germany was defeated that day it was at enormous loss of life. The British army suffered 57,470 casualties, of those 19,240 men were killed.The young men who bravely volunteered in Leeds belonged to the 15th Battalion (1st Leeds) The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), known as Leeds Pals. Before going into battle the soldiers underwent 18months of rigorous training. Education, skills, strength and leadership were qualities sought after. Eight days before the actual battle commenced the British bombarded the German lines to lay waste their barbed wire defences and their bunkers. However, this failed due to the well-built bunkers, the fact that many of the munitions were of poor quality and that these preparations alerted the German army to the forthcoming attack. The tragic result was that the British soldiers went 'over the top' only to be unexpectedly greeted by the German machine guns which resulted in the enormous loss of life. So many young men were killed regardless of their special talents and the 18 months of training. The Pals battalions almost ceased to exist after this day.At 7:15a.m. 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Arthur Ellicott Willey, after a night of heavy bombardment, led his No. 10 platoon, as the post of honour, the first wave, out of their trench and through the gap in their wire. At 7:30a.m. Willey jumped up waving his revolver shouting 'give them hell'. Willey was hit by a shell and lost his legs. That night a few of the survivors crawled out trying to find his body but were unable to. His remains were never found. He was 19 years old.
2nd Lietenant Thomas Arthur Raymond Robert Ellicott Willey, seated in the centre front.
2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry MITCHELL 1/6 West Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action September 3rd 1916 at the Somme after taking a German trench, aged 25 years
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916.
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916.
Lionel Martineau LUPTON was killed in action at the Somme on 16th July 1916 aged 24 years
The Battle of Passchendaele
'I died in hell, they called it Passchendaele'.
The battle was fought between 31st July 1917 to November 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele, in Belgium, is sometimes known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Passchendaele was the name of a ridge overlooking the city. Passchendaele was infamous for the quagmire conditions caused by the autumn rains, the constant shelling which smashed the existing drainage system and waterlogged the clay soil. The heaviest rain in 30 years created thick mud and holes that became so deep that men and horses drowned in it.
After three months, 325,000 allied troops and 260,000 German casualties the battle ended in November. Winston Churchill called Passchendaele 'a forlorn expenditure of valour and life without equal in futility'. The Allies, reinforced by America's entry to the war, took ground only to be vacated for the enemy the following year.
Lieutenant Herbert Cheetham aged 20 years and Gordon Westrope, aged 32 years were killed in action at Passchendaele on 9th October and 10th November respectively
Victor Gamble was killed at Ypres on 5th May 1917
'I died in hell, they called it Passchendaele'.
The battle was fought between 31st July 1917 to November 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele, in Belgium, is sometimes known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Passchendaele was the name of a ridge overlooking the city. Passchendaele was infamous for the quagmire conditions caused by the autumn rains, the constant shelling which smashed the existing drainage system and waterlogged the clay soil. The heaviest rain in 30 years created thick mud and holes that became so deep that men and horses drowned in it.
After three months, 325,000 allied troops and 260,000 German casualties the battle ended in November. Winston Churchill called Passchendaele 'a forlorn expenditure of valour and life without equal in futility'. The Allies, reinforced by America's entry to the war, took ground only to be vacated for the enemy the following year.
Lieutenant Herbert Cheetham aged 20 years and Gordon Westrope, aged 32 years were killed in action at Passchendaele on 9th October and 10th November respectively
Victor Gamble was killed at Ypres on 5th May 1917
The Battle of Ypres Salient 1916
The city of Ypres, in Belgium, sadly saw almost constant fighting during the war. It was the victim of three major battles, the 1st in 1914, the 2nd in 1915 and the 3rd Battle of Ypres in 1917 and one smaller one, Ypres Salient (a salient is a military term referring to a bulge which was created by the Allies pushing into the German Front Line). in June 1916 The 2nd Battle is remembered for the first use of chlorine gas as a weapon in 1915. It was used by the German army against the Allies. By 1918 the town was reduced to a pile of rubble. Norman Stevenson and Norman Jackson who are memorialized on the family gravestones in the north yard, were killed in action at Ypres on July 9th 1916. |
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The Following are listed as killed in France.
John Wilford CURTIS killed in action in France October 7th 1916 aged 40years.
Henry Herbert JEFFERSON, killed in action in France May 17th 1918 aged 21 years.
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916.
Henry Herbert JEFFERSON was killed in action in France May 17th 1918 aged 21 years
Captain Charles Roger LUPTON D.S.C. 205 Squadron R.A.F. killed in action in France May 9th 1918 aged 19 years.
Willie (HOLDER) Pte. K.R.R. Killed in action in France November 22nd 1917 aged 26.
Captain LILLIE 9th K.O.Y.L.I. died in France December 18th 1916 aged 26 years.
Reginald John BURN killed in France 17th Sept 1918 aged 18.
Ernest A.G. CLARKE killed in France 21st Sept 1918.
Thomas Henry BAIRSTOW R.E. died in France February 7th 1919 aged 35 years.Interred at Denain Military Cemetery.
Maurice LUPTON killed in action in France, June 19th 1915 aged 28 years
Francis LUPTON killed by a hand grenade in France, February 19th 1917
John Wilford CURTIS killed in action in France October 7th 1916 aged 40years.
Henry Herbert JEFFERSON, killed in action in France May 17th 1918 aged 21 years.
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916.
Henry Herbert JEFFERSON was killed in action in France May 17th 1918 aged 21 years
Captain Charles Roger LUPTON D.S.C. 205 Squadron R.A.F. killed in action in France May 9th 1918 aged 19 years.
Willie (HOLDER) Pte. K.R.R. Killed in action in France November 22nd 1917 aged 26.
Captain LILLIE 9th K.O.Y.L.I. died in France December 18th 1916 aged 26 years.
Reginald John BURN killed in France 17th Sept 1918 aged 18.
Ernest A.G. CLARKE killed in France 21st Sept 1918.
Thomas Henry BAIRSTOW R.E. died in France February 7th 1919 aged 35 years.Interred at Denain Military Cemetery.
Maurice LUPTON killed in action in France, June 19th 1915 aged 28 years
Francis LUPTON killed by a hand grenade in France, February 19th 1917
Prisoner of War
Reginald PEAT who died Prisoner of War Nov 1st 1918 aged 21 years. Interred at Cassel, Germany
Unkown place of death
Harold CULLINGWORTH 2nd Lieutenant K.O.R.L. Reg. died October 30th 1919.
Private F. G. RYDER Royal Army Service Corps 4th November 1919 aged 31.
Those Who Died due to Sickness or Injuries incurred during the War Years
Kenneth Hill IVES 8th West Yorkshire Regiment who died 9th December 1914 aged 22 years of typhoid/pneumonia in York Military Hospital.
Sidney Scratchard WAINWRIGHT who passed away January 29th 1925 aged 29 years as a result of war services.
Harold MARSDEN (2nd Lieutenant). 3rd battalion West Riding Regiment who died at home 5th June 1918 in his 26th year after serious illness contracted whilst on active duty in France.
Gunner Henry STUBBS RFA, died in Newcastle Military Hospital March 16th 1917 aged 31years
Reginald PEAT who died Prisoner of War Nov 1st 1918 aged 21 years. Interred at Cassel, Germany
Unkown place of death
Harold CULLINGWORTH 2nd Lieutenant K.O.R.L. Reg. died October 30th 1919.
Private F. G. RYDER Royal Army Service Corps 4th November 1919 aged 31.
Those Who Died due to Sickness or Injuries incurred during the War Years
Kenneth Hill IVES 8th West Yorkshire Regiment who died 9th December 1914 aged 22 years of typhoid/pneumonia in York Military Hospital.
Sidney Scratchard WAINWRIGHT who passed away January 29th 1925 aged 29 years as a result of war services.
Harold MARSDEN (2nd Lieutenant). 3rd battalion West Riding Regiment who died at home 5th June 1918 in his 26th year after serious illness contracted whilst on active duty in France.
Gunner Henry STUBBS RFA, died in Newcastle Military Hospital March 16th 1917 aged 31years
Brother Derrick IVES RA Sub Lieutenant HM Submarine H10 who died January 1918 aged 21 years. They died in the service of their country.
James WOOD M.B. Ch.B. served in the 1914 - 1918 war, being made a Lieutenant in the RAMC on 25th August 1917; he served in England and in France and reached a final rank of Captain). He died December 16th 1932. |
Stories of Soldiers of the Great War Who Died on British Soil