Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt (France, Somme)

Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt - 1
Photo :Edward Nicholl

Dartmoor Cemetery was begun (as Becordel-Becourt Military Cemetery) in August 1915 and was used by the battalions holding that part of the line; its name was changed in May 1916 at the request of the 8th and 9th Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment. In September 1916, the XV Corps Main Dressing Station was established in the neighbourhood, but throughout 1917, the cemetery was scarcely used. It passed into German hands on 26 March 1918, but was retaken on 24 August by the 12th Division. There are five burials of August 1918, in Plot II, Row E. In adjoining graves in Plot I, Row A, are buried a father and son, who served in the same artillery battery, and were killed in action on the same day.

Dartmoor Cemetery contains 768 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Amongst the graves in this cemetery are those of 19 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment. There are also some remarkable burials, - including one of the oldest soldiers to die on active service, and a father and son both serving in the RGA and killed on the same day.

Photos on this page are by Edward Nicholl, Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>), Ray Gascoigne (<xixray@ex-greenhowards.com>>) and Robert O'Connor of the Find a Grave website.

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

		Lance Corporal S Alder. 13181. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 11 July 1916. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private Thomas John Anderson. 33049. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 4643 Northumberland Fusiliers. Son of John and Mary Anderson; husband of Ellen Ann Anderson, of Budle, Bamburgh, Northumberland. Died 23 September 1916. Aged 26. Born Norham (Northumberland), Enlisted Berwick-on-Tweed.

		Lance Corporal Robert Thomas Bell. 4041. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Robert and Elizabeth Bell, of North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, Yorks. Died 16 September 1916. Aged 23. Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided North Ormesby. "WE CANNOT LORD THY PURPOSE SEE BUT ALL IS WELL THAT'S DONE BY THEE"

		Private John Bestford. 19466. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Mrs. S. A. Bestford, of 1, East View, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland. Died 28 May 1916. Born West Auckland, Enlisted Bishop Auckland.

		Private George William Burnett. 20247. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Grace Ann Burnett, of 114, Nelson St., Scarborough. Died 28 May 1916. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Scarborough.

		Serjeant William Clemmitt. 19293. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Martha Clemmitt, of Borrowby Grange, Staithes, Yorks. Native of Ellerby, Yorks. Died 28 May 1916. Aged 28. Born Ellerby (Yorks), Enlisted Whitby, Resided Ellerby. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"

		Private Herbert Cooper. 14139. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mary Cooper, of 12, Prince Consort Rd., Jarrow, Co. Durham. Died 28 May 1916. Aged 24. Born Jarrow, Enlisted Jarrow. "DEEPLY MOURNED"

		Private John Haines. 19606. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Emma Haines, of Fighting Cocks, Middleton St. George, Co. Durham. Native of Knutton, Staffs. Died 27 September 1916. Aged 20. Born Knutton (Staffs), Enlisted Darlington, Resided Fighting Cocks (Co. Durham). "IN LOVING MEMORY OF A DEAR SON AND BROTHER UNTIL THE TRUMPET CALL"

		Private Enoch Jones. 2954. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 16 September 1916. Enlisted Skelton, Resided Boosbeck.

		Private John Thomas McGee. 17488. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Margaret Canavan (formerly McGee), of 3, Atkinson Terrace, Wallsend-on-Tyne. Died 28 May 1916. Born South Shields, Enlisted Wallsend. "MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL"

		2nd Lieutenant Alan Miller. 3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of David and Annie Deuchar Miller, of Palmerston North, New Zealand. Native of Christchurch, New Zealand. Died 14 October 1916. Aged 24. (Photo by Ray Gascoyne, <xixray@ex-greenhowards.com>

		Private Fred Naylor. 27402. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Naylor, of Scholes, Cleckheaton; husband of Lillie Holmes (formerly Naylor), of 86, Mount St., Moor End, Cleckheaton, Yorks. Died 18 September 1916. Aged 24. Born Scholes (Yorks), Enlisted Cleckheaton, Resided Scholes.

		Private John William Pratt. 26724. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Sadler and Elizabeth Pratt, of Newton-on-Ouse, York. Died 22 September 1916. Aged 29. Born Newton-on-Ouse (Yorks), Enlisted Haxby (Yorks).

		Lance Corporal Willie Ramsden. 12400. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Jane Elizabeth Ramsden, of 10, Oxley St., City Rd., Bradford, Yorks. Died 27 June 1916. Aged 24. Born Thornton (Bradford), Enlisted Bradford. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

		Private Christopher Selvidge. 36277. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 975 East Yorks Regiment. Son of the late Peter and Elizabeth Selvidge, of Beverley, Yorks. Died 14 October 1916. Aged 22. Born Beverley (Yorks), Enlisted Hull, Beverley Park. Photo : Robert O'Connor of the Find a Grave website.

		Private John William Thompson. 34691. 10th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 2638 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Clara Thompson, of Skins Lane, Chapman Gate, Pocklington, Yorks. Killed 16 September 1916. Aged 19. Enlisted Pocklington (Yorks). (SDGW gives name as "John Wifred Thompson") Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

		Private Thomas Thompson. 18520. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Roseann and the late James Thompson, of Workington, Cumberland; husband of Ethel Maud Garrett (formerly Thompson), of 3, Brown's Buildings, Middleton St. George, Darlington. Died 28 May 1916. Aged 28. Born Workington (Cumberland), Enlisted Darlington, Resided Middleton St. George (Durham).

		Private John Ernest Warriner, 3939. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Sarah Warriner, of 60, Tees Ville, Normanby Rd., Eston, Yorks. Died 17 September 1916. Aged 21. Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Normanby (Eston). "SADLY MISSED BY FATHER MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS" (Photo by Ray Gascoyne, <xixray@ex-greenhowards.com>

Private Frank Young. 34709. 10th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 4479 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mary Jane Young, of 17, Norcliffe St., North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, and the late S. E. Young. Killed 25 September 1916. Aged 19. Enlisted Middlesbrough. Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt - 2
Photo :Edward Nicholl

Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt - 3
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)

Some Remarkable Burials in Dartmoor Cemetery

		Lieutenant Henry Webber. 7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Son of William Webber, M.D., and Eliza Webber (nee Preston); husband of the late Emily Webber (nee Morris). Native of Horley, Surrey. For over 40 years a member of the London Stock Exchange. Henry Webber is the oldest known battle death recorded for the First World War. Killed 17 September 1916. Aged 67 (CWG register, - though his headstones gives his age as 68). "OF HORLEY,SURREY DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI" (Photo by Ray Gascoyne, <xixray@ex-greenhowards.com>)

		Serjeant George Lee. 6029. "A" Bty. 156th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Husband of Frances Lee, of 16, Talfourd Rd., Peckham Rd., London. His son, Cpl. Robert Frederick, also died on service in the same incident and is buried alongside. Killed 5 September 1916. Aged 44. Corporal Robert Frederick Lee. 6029. "A" Bty. 156th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Son of Serjt. and Frances Lee, of 16, Talfourd Rd., Peckham Rd., London. His father, Serjt. George Lee, also died on service in the same incident and is buried alongside. Killed 5 September 1916. Aged 19. (Photo by Ray Gascoyne, <xixray@ex-greenhowards.com>)

		Private James Miller, VC. 12639. 7th Battalion King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). Killed 30 July 1916. Aged 26. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS" Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) Citation An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29740, dated 8th Sept., 1916, records the following "For most conspicuous bravery. His Battalion was consolidating a position after its capture by assault. Private Miller was ordered to take an important message under heavy shell and rifle fire and to bring back a reply at all costs. He was compelled to cross the open, and on leaving the trench was shot almost immediately in the back, the bullet coming out through his abdomen. In spite of this, with heroic courage and self-sacrifice, he compressed with his hand the gaping wound in his abdomen, delivered his message, staggered back with the answer and fell at the feet of the officer to whom he delivered it. He gave his life with a supreme devotion to duty.

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