Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Northallerton Cemetery

Northallerton Cemetery Entrance
Photo : Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)

Northallerton Cemetery includes 30 graves relatingto both the First and Second World War, including Foreign and Non-World War graves in the CWGC's care. Included amongst the 30 graves are 6 for men of the Yorkshire Regiment who died at home. There are also 6 family graves which commemorate Yorkshire Regiment soldiers who lost their lives while serving the regiment.

We are extremely grateful to Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>) for photographing the cemetery and the headstones of the Yorkshire Regiment soldiers who died at home. Select a thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger sized image to open in a new window.

The following family headstones on which Yorkshire Regiment soldiers are commemorated were photographed by Paul Clarke and are shown on the Imperial War Museum's War Memorial Register for Northallerton;-
Lance Corporal James Edward Barker / Lance Corporal Frank Cowling / Lance Corporal Benjamin Langton
Corporal Robert Herdman Robson / Private James Sunley / Private Joseph Wells.

	Private C Boyes. 200867. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert Boyes, of 2, Malpas Place, Northallerton. Died at home 14 April 1921. Aged 23. (Not listed in SDGW) "AT REST"

Captain (Quartermaster) Francis (Frank) Smailes. The Yorkshire Regiment. Died at home 21 November 1919. (Not shown in SDGW) (Richard Roberts,<richard.nsw@googlemail.com> has provided the following information on Frank Smailes;- Information from ancestry.co.uk and the website findagravecom provides the following information on Frank Smailes;- He was born in 1860 in Ryton, North Yorks (the address in the 1861 Census is "The Grange", Ryton). to William and Ann Smailes. Christened Francis but known as Frank, he became a career soldier with the 2nd Bn Yorks Regt and spent some years serving in Bangalore, India where he met and married Lily Munro Harvey in 1891. See ../../jpg-files/graves/northallerton-cemetery/northallerton-cemetery-smailes-02.jpg They had seven children together in India and two more born in Ireland where they moved to probably around 1905 when he was discharged from the army with the rank of Sergeant Major. He most likely re-enlisted when WW1 broke out but there is no record of him having served abroad. It is very likely that he was based at the Regimental Depot in Richmond. He had a brother, Pte Richard Smailes who served in WW1 with the 2nd Regt., South African Infantry and was killed 11/04/1918 aged 46. He is commemorated in Ypres at the Menin Gate. Frank's wife Lily died a year before him in 1918. His address at the time of his death according to the Probate record was The Barracks, Richmond and he died at Northallerton where there was a Military Hospital.

	Quartermaster Serjeant William Sturgiss. 265151. 18th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died at home 19 May 1919. Aged 57. (Not shown in SDGW)

2nd Lieutenant Thomas Swain. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died at home 27 May 1916. "In loving memory of 2nd Lt William SWAIN - In France, 1894 - 1916. 2nd Lt Thomas SWAIN 1895 - 1916. Thomas SWAIN 1859 - 1935. Emily SWAIN 1870 - 1944." Both Swain brothers served in the Yorkshire Regiment, and both are commemorated on the Northallerton War Memorial. The names of two Swain brothers are inscribed on the kerb opposite their parents, William's names is faded. Photo : Dimitrios Corcodilos of the Find a Grave website

Private Tom Thompson. 7646. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Jane Elizabeth Thompson, of New Row, Northallerton. Died at home 1 August 1921. Aged 38. (Not shown in SDGW) "PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

Lance Corporal James Edward Barker. 36050. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Albert and Barbara Barker, of Northallerton, Yorks. Killed 28 March 1918. Aged 21. (*) Born Northallerton, Enlisted Northallerton. Buried ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY. "In Everlasting Remembrance of ALBERT BARKER / DIED JAN 16TH 1903 AGED 47 ALSO / BARBARA / DEAR WIFE OF THE ABOVE DIED JAN 24TH 1920 AGED 62. ALSO CORPORAL J E (TED) BARKER YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE DIED OF WOUNDS AT ST. QUENTIN MARCH 28TH 1918 AGED 18. (*)" (*) James Edward Barker's birth was registered at Northallerton in Q2 1896. His age at the time of death would therefore have been 21 (almost 22).

Lance Corporal Frank Cowling, 201714. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of James and Frances Cowling, of South Parade, Northallerton, Yorks. Killed 21 June 1917. Aged 20. Enlisted Northallerton. Buried ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. "IN LOVING MEMORY OF JAMES COWLING / DIED 22ND NOV 1941 / AGED 81 YEARS ALSO FRANCES HIS WIFE DIED 14TH APRIL 1941 / AGED 76 YEARS ALSO L/C FRANK COWLING 5TH YORKS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 21 JUNE 1917 AGED 20 YEARS. IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM COWLING / 1899 - 1970 AND HIS DEAR WIFE MABEL / 1898 (?) - 1976"

Lance Corporal Benjamin Langton. 8173. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Fred and Christina Langton, of Northallerton, Yorks.; husband of Hannah Langton, of Fir Vale House, Fir Vale, Sheffield. Killed 10 December 1915. Aged 29. Born KIngston-on-Thames, Enlisted Richmond (Yorks), Resided Fir Vale (Sheffield). Buried ST. PIERRE CEMETERY, AMIENS. "In Loving memory of CHRISTIANA ELIZABETH / BELOVED WIFE OF / FRED LANGTON WHO DIED / NOV 10TH 1910 / AGED 50 YEARS ALSO LANCE CORPORAL / BENJAMIN LANGTON OMLY SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED IN FANCE DEC. 10TH 1915 AGED 29 YEARS ALSO THE ABOVE / FRED WHO DIED OCT 15TH 1942 / AGED 83 YEARS"

Corporal Robert Herdman Robson. 46129. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 143324 Royal Engineers. Son of Thomas Chapman Robson and Jane his wife, of Northallerton; husband of Fanny Maud Robson, of South Parade, Northallerton. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 33. Born Northallerton, Enlisted Northallerton. Buried CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK. Commemorations for Robson family members are on 4 of the steps of this cross. Unfortunately, the top three steps are badly faded and only the fourth step can be read with any clarity. "IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF MY DEAR HUSBAND, 46129 CPL. R H ROBSON, ROYAL ENGINEERS KILLED IN FRANCE APRIL 9TH 1918 AGED 33 YEARS. " HE ANSWERED THE CALL""

Private James Sunley. 79987. 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, formerly 19785 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 25 September 1918. Born Lintz Green (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Durham. Buried RUYAULCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY. "In Loving Memory of ALFRED SUNLEY / WHO DIED 4TH DEC. 1938 / AGED 66 YEARS ALSO CATHERINE / BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE DIED 6TH JULY 1946 / AGED 74 YEARS. ALSO THOMAS WILLIAM BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED OF WOUNDS 14TH SEPT 1918 (sic) AGED 19 YEARS. ALSO THEIR SON / HARRISON ALMOND / WHO DIED 3RD AUGUST 1975 / AGED 73 YEARS. "

Private Joseph Wells. 34805. 10th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 3977 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Alice Wells, of Romanby, Northallerton, Yorks. Killed 25 September 1916. Agged 22. Enlisted Northallerton. Commemorated Pier and Face 11 C and 12 A, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. "IN LOVING MEMORY / OF ALICE WELLS / WHO DIED SEPT. 13TH 1913 / AGED 57 YEARS ALSO JOSEPH SON OF THE ABOVE WHO WAS KILLED IN FRANCE SEPT. 25TH 1916 / AGED 22 YEARS ALSO JOSEPH / HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED MARCH 30TH 1925 / AGED 78 YEARS THY WILL BE DONE"

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