Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe (France, Somme)

Heilly Station Cemetery - 1
Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>)

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917.

From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919.

There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves.

The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery.

35 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are buried in this cemetery.

We are extremely grateful to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who has generously provided the photographs of the cemetery and the headstones on this page.

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

	Private John Ernest Appleton. 11545. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 11 July 1916. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. Private Appleton's headstone shared with Private A S Piper of the East Surrey Regiment and Private Charles Haddon Lyon, 13135, of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Major Victor Louis Sydney Beckett. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Dr. Francis Mears Beckett and Harriet Elizabeth Beckett, of St. Audrey's, Ely, Cambs. Killed 14 July 1916. Aged 34. "REQUIEM AETERNAM DONA EI DOMINE ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EI ELY. CAMBS" The following notes on Major Beckett are aken from Robert Coulson's Biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;- A university man, Victor Beckett entered Christs College at Cambridge in 1901. He was one of the original officers of the 9th battalion who landed at Boulogne on August 27th 1915. The battalion spent the winter of 1915 in the Armentieres sector and the spring of 1916 in and out of the line around Angres and the Souchez river. Major Beckett and the battalion arrived on the Somme on June 24th 1916. Their first taste of the front line came on July 3rd in the La Boiselle area. One week later the battalion took part in the attack on Contalmaison during which Victor Beckett was wounded. Major Victor Louis Sydney Beckett was taken from the line for treatment at the casualty centre at Heilly Station where he died of his wounds on July 14th 1916 at the age of 34."

	Private Thomas Wallace Brown. 20402. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Ellen Brown. Native of Ferryhill, Co. Durham. Killed 18 July 1916. Aged 37. Born Ferryhill, Enlisted Shiny Row, Resided Ferryhill. "AT REST" Private Brown's headstone is shared with Private B Davies of the Cameronians and Private H G Lane of the East Surrey Regiment.

	Private Benjamin William Brunson. 19537. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 13 July 1916. Born Washington, Enlisted Houghton-le-Spring, Resided Fencehouses. Private Brunson's headstone is shared with Rifleman J Briggs of the KIng's Royal Rifle Corps and Private J F Davies of the Loyal North Lancs Regiment.

	Private Arthur Burn. 3489. 1st/5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Jane Burn, of Lockton, Pickering, Yorks. Killed 16 September 1916. Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Pickering. Private Burn's headstone is shared with Private S R Preston of the 3rd Dragoon Guards.

	Private Martin Connor. 14286. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 3 July 1916. Aged 30. Born Castle Eden (West Hartlepool), Enlisted Deaf Hill, Resided Trimdon Colliery.

Private Walter Cook. 3/7364. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Isaac Walter and the late Violetta Cook, of Stockton-on-Tees; husband of Isabella Cook, of 43, Joseph St., Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees. Killed 3 July 1916. Aged 26. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Stockton-on-Tees. "TRUE LOVE NEVER FORGETS BELLA" Private Cook's headstone is shared with Private S Danby of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Private John Robert Dale. 13059. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Christopher George Dale, of 57, West St., Normanby, Eston, Yorks. Killed 3 July 1916. Aged 30. Born Swainby (Northallerton), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Normanby. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE" Private Dale's headstone is shared with Private H Brown of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and L/Cpl J E Smith of the West Yorkshire Regiment.

	Private Evan Davies. 34883. 9th Battalion King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), formerly 4315 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Sarah Davies, of 50, Punch St., Newport, Middlesbrough, Yorks. Killed 21 September 1916. Aged 20. Enlisted Middlesbrough. "ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO HIM O LORD" Private Davies' headsone is shared with Private J S Mackintosh of the N Z Auckland Regiment.

	Private Frank Durkin. 15746. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Edward and Mary A. Durkin, of 20, Free St., Otley Rd., Bradford, Yorks. Killed 11 July 1916. Aged 21. Born Bradford, Enlisted Frenshaw, Resided Bradford. "ON WHOSE SOUL SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY R.I.P. " Private Durkin's headstone is shared with Private J Fox of the Welch Regiment.

	L/Corporal William Farnaby. 16439. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 3 July 1916. Born Darlington (Durham), Enlisted Darlington. L/Cpl Farnaby's headstone is shared with Private G W Ormiston of the Tyneside Scottish N F.

	Private Richard Fenn. 33185. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 2039, Suffolk Regiment. Killed 21 September 1916. Born Mildenhall (Suffolk), Enlisted Mildenhall. Private R Fenn's headstone is shared with Serjeant F Bushell of the Durham Light Infantry.

	Private Albert Foulis. 11341. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 9 July 1916. Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds. Private Foulis' headstone is shared with L/Cpl J Foster of the Manchester Regiment and Private B Hayhurst of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

	Private Thomas Gardner. 15361. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 5 July 1916. Born Stockton, Enlisted Stockton. Private Gardner's headstone is shared with Private T W Bassnett of the KOYLI.

	Private Frederick Goforth. 3972. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Brother of Miss Sophia Goforth, of 6, Wind's Yard, Theldgate, Beverley, Yorks. Killed 16 September 1916. Aged 19. Enlisted Beverley (Yorks). Private Goforth's headstone is shared with Private E C H Bull of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

	Private Sam Hepworth. 27492. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 12 July 1916. Born Brighouse (Yorks), Enlisted Brighouse. Private Hepworth's headstone is shared with Private T Phillipson of the Tyneside Scottish N F and Private T Young of the Black Watch.

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. "HE GAVE ALL LET US TAKE HEED HE GAVE NOT IN VAIN"

	Private Tom Hovington. 24404. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Mary Hovington, of Cloughton, Scarborough. Killed 2 July 1916. Aged 20. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Cloughton. "LOVED AND REMEBERED" Private Hovington's headstone is shared with Private A Hawkins of the West Yorkshire Regiment.

Private Thomas Hush. 14064. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of James and Annie Hush, of 39, Crowhall Lane, Felling-on-Tyne. Killed 15 July 1916. Aged 25. Born Felling (Gateshead), Enlisted Deaf Hill, Resided Felling. "BELOVED SON of J & A HUSH FELLING HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS" Private Hush's headstone is shared with Private T W Baker of the West Berkshire Regiment and L/Cpl H A Martin of the Royal Irish Regiment.

	Private George Johnson. 34919. 9th Battalion KIng's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), formerly 4755 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George Johnson, of Stokesley, Yorks. Killed 28 Sptember 1916. Aged 19. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. "I LEAVE MY LOVED ONE IN THY CARE UNTIL THE DAY DAWNS R.I.P." Private Johnson's headstone is shared with L/Cpl R West of the Leicestershire Regiment.

	Private George Kent. 13964. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 5 July 1916. Born Trimdon, Enlisted Wheatley Hill. Private Kent's headstone is shared with Private C W Bradley of the Lincolnshire Regiment and Private H Robinson of the Northamptonshire Regiment.

	Private Robert Lawrence. 13834. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Alfred and Jane I. Lawrence, of 13, Carlow St., Middlesbrough. Born at South Shields. Died 2 July 1916. Aged 19. Born South Shields, Enlisted Middlesbrough. "HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" Private Lawrence's headstone is shared with Private W Hall of the York and Lancaster Regiment and Serjeant T Munro of the Gordon Highlanders.

	Corporal William Laycock. 9168. 1st Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 6978 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Richard and Mary Jane Laycock, of Sheffield. Killed 3 October 1916. Aged 23. Born Sheffield, Enlisted Sheffield. "EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS" Corporal Laycock's headstone is shared with L/Cpl J W Prunty of the Royal Fusiliers.

	Private Robert Thomas Lazenby. 12715. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 11 July 1916. Born South Bank (Yorks), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided South Bank. Private Lazenby's headstone is shared with Private Fred Hoyle of the Lancashire Fusiliers and Private H H Pentith of the Yorkshire Regiment.

	Private Charles Haddon Lyon. 13135. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of G. H. Lyon, of 16, South Lackenby, Eston, Yorks. Died 12 July 1916. Aged 24. Born Wilton (Redcar, Yorks), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Eston. Private Lyon's headstone shared with Private A S Piper of the East Surrey Regiment and Private John Ernest Appleton, 11545, of the Yorkshire Regiment.

	Private Richard Nicholson. 4106. 1st / 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, 150th Brigade, 50th Division. Son of David and Annie Nicholson. Native of Bedale, Yorks. Died 12 September 1916. Age 23. Enlisted Bedale. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE" Private Nicholson's headstone shared with Private G R Fletcher of the Gloucestershire Regiment.

	Private Harry Horace Pentith. 15428. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 2 July 1916. Born Hull, Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Hull. Private Pentith's headstone is shared with Private Fred Hoyle of the Lancashire Fusiliers and Private R T Lazenby of the Yorkshire Regiment.

	Corporal Percy Scott. 2329. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 18 September 1916. Born Middleton Tyas (Yorks), Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Middleton Tyas. Corporal Scott's headstone is shared with Private R Searle of the Durham Light Infantry.

	Private William Thomas Shepherd. 3/7596. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 4 July 1916. Born North Ormesby, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided North Ormesby. Private Shepherd's headstone is shared with Private W Legg of the Tyneside Scottish N.F. and Private G E Ricketts of the Royal West Kent Regiment.

	Private William Short. 17219. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 17 July 1916. Born Low Fell (Durham), Enlisted Houghton-le-Spring, Resided Hetton-le-Hole. Private Short's headstone is shared with Gunner G Salmon of the Royal Field Artillery and Private W Hull of the East Yorkshire Regiment.

	Private Waldo A Skipsey, 34676. 10th Battalion King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), formerly 5377 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 19 September 1916. Born Thirsk, Enlisted Northallerton. Private Skipsey's headstone is shared with Serjeant W Edlin of the East Surrey Regiment.

Private Andrew Smart. 19832. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 12028 Northumberland Fusiliers. Son of Thomas and Jane Ann Smart, of Whitsun View, Wooler, Northumberland. Died 5 July 1916. Aged 25. Born Wooler (Northumberland), Enlisted Middleton, Resided Wooler (Northumberland). "HIS LIFE HE NOBLY GAVE BUT HE SLUMBERS NOW IN A SOLDIER'S GRAVE" Private Smart's headstone is shared with Private B Harrison of the Loyal North Lancs Regt. and Private H Hodgson of the S. Staffordshire Regt.

	Private John Ritchie Smith. 15972. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Edward and Isabella Smith, of 30, Market Place, Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham. Died 11 July 1916. Aged 21. Born Houghton-le-Spring, Enlisted Houghton-le-Spring. "IN EVER LOVING MEMORY" Private Smith's headstone is shared with Private J Hughes of the Welch Regiment and Private W Edward of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

	Private Henry Taylor. 14625. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 1 August 1916. Born Stradbroke Diss (Suffolk), Enlisted Thirsk, Resided Lowestoft. Private Taylor's headstone is shared with Private T Low of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Private H Bain of the Gordon Highlanders.

Private George Willis. 3883. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Eleanor Willis; husband of Margaret Willis, of Low Jobs Hill, Crook, Co. Durham. Died 21 September 1916. Aged 25. Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Old Eston. Private G Willis' headstone is shared with Private T Shaw of the Durham Light Infantry.

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