Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel ( Germany)

Niederzwehren Cemetery (1)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) / Tom Wheeldon

The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there.

In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony. There are now 1,796 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Niederzwehren. This total includes special memorials to 13 casualties buried in other cemeteries in Germany whose graves could not be found.

In addition, in June 2018, five special memorial headstones were erected to five Second World War airmen who were known to have been buried in Ohrdruf Cemetery, but whose graves were later lost.

Amongst the graves are those of 69 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

We are extremely grateful to Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) and Tom Wheeldon who have generously provided the photographs 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 Thomas Abrams. 35003. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 44024 Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died 8 November 1918. Born Runcorn (Cheshire), Enlisted Flint. (There is more information on Thomas Abrams, including information on how he died, his family and photos of his headstone and a family headstone, on the Flintshire War Memorials Project website.)

		Private Albert Edward Aykroyd. 29058. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 6 September 1918. Born Bradford, Enlisted Bradford. Resided Manningham.

		Private George Barnett. 201197. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George Hall Barnett and Alice Barnett, of 5, Diamond Place, Coldbath Rd., Harrogate. Died 9 October 1918. Aged 23. Born Northallerton, Enlisted Harrogate. "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

		Private Charles Thomas Beaver. 43730. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 71383 87th T R Battn. Killed 11 October 1918. Aged 22. Born Oakham (Rutland), Enlisted Glen Parva, Resided Rutland.

		Private Herbert Alfred Bennett. 35745. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 238810 12th Yeomanry Cyclist Battn. Glos. Regt. Son of Arthur R. and Clara Bennett, of 24, Morley Square, Bishopston, Bristol. Died 6 August 1918. Aged 19. Born Bristol, Enlisted Bristol, Resided Bishopston. "WE ASKED LIFE FOR HIM THOU GAVEST HIM LIFE FOR EVERMORE"

		Private Cornelious William Henry Birch. 40483. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 55614 Leicestershire Regiment. Son of Henry and Ellen Emily Birch; husband of Beatrice Nellie Birch, of 82, Granville Avenue Extension, Long Eaton, Nottingham. Native of Nottingham. Died 14 October 1918. Aged 33. Born Nottingham, Enlisted Ilkeston, Resided Long Eaton. "TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN WIFE AND SON"

		Private Henry Butcher. 18439. 1st/4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 19758 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Jane Butcher, of Low St., Hoxne, Diss. Died 20 October 1918. Aged 20. Born Hoxne (Suffolk), Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Hoxne. Photo : The War Graves Photographic Project

		2nd Lieutenant Harold D'Arcy Champney. 12th Battalion (Teesside Pioneers) Yorkshire Regiment. Eldest son of Col. F. D'Arcy Champney (late 4th Bn. Duke of Wellington's Regt.) and Mrs. Champney, of The Valley, Scarborough. Educated at Denstone College, Staffordshire (member of O.T.C. 3 years, VI. Form, Senior Prefect; Editor "Denstonian.") Balliol College, Oxon, O.C.B., 1916. Commissioned Jan., 1917. (From Ingolstadt, July, 1924.). Died 29 April 1918. Aged 20. "LOVE - SERVICE MENTIONED FOR GALLANT AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN THE FIELD"

		Private Henry Charles Collins. 33774. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly M/284934 R A S C. Son of Edward and Louisa Collins, of 10, Ivanhoe Rd., Lichfield, Staffs. Died 28 January 1919. Aged 20. Born Lichfield (Staffs), Enlisted Lichfield. "HE GAVE HIS HEART TO HOME LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY HIS SOUL TO GOD"

		Private William Colman. 3/9286. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 15 October 1915. Born Lambeth, Enlisted Lambeth, Resided Vauxhall (London).

		Private George Corps. 201990. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 16 May 1918. Born Bedale, Enlisted Bedale, Resided Bradford.

		Private George Henry Daggit. 240278. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 1 November 1918. Born Thearne (Beverley), Enlisted Beverley (Yorks).

		Private John Dennis Daley. 201195. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late John and Margaret Daley. Attd. Trench Mortar Bty. Died 11 October 1918. Aged 23. Enlisted Middlesbrough. (Note : CWG lists him as "John Denness Daley", - SDGW has "John Denis Daley", but the registration of his birth in Q1 1895 shows John Dennis Daley.) "HE HATH FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IN HONOUR'S CAUSE"

		Private Harold Dalton. 21170. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George Robert and Adelaide Dalton, of 52, Salisbury St., Middlesbrough. Died 22 October 1918. Aged 22. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private William Davies. 34911. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 18224 Welsh Regt. Died 17 October 1918. Born Ogmore (Glams), Enlisted Cardiff, Resided Ogmore.

		Private William James Day. 34110. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 29724 Lincs Regt. James William, the son of Harriet Day of 72 Becket Street, Bilston. Died 6 November 1918. Born Bilston (Staffs), Enlisted Bilston. (Shown on the Bilston Memorial and in SDGW as James William Day)

		Private Frank Dudley. 35750. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 4171 12th Yeo Cyclists Battn. Son of the late William P. Dudley and of Agnes Dudley, of Hinderton Rd., Neston, Cheshire. Died 13 September 1918. Aged 19. Born St. Briavels (Gloucester), Enlisted Sidney, Resided St. Briavels (Glos). "THE PATH OF DUTY WAS THE WAY TO GLORY MAY HE REST IN PEACE SADLY MISSED BY ALL"

		Private Cadwaladr (Walley) Edwards. 35026. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 43608 Welsh Fus. Son of Edward & Catherine Edwards, 1 Roger Williams Yard, Back Madoc Street, Llandudno. Died 11 September 1918. Aged 20. Born Llandudno (Carnarvon), Enlisted Llandudno.

		Private Charles Emery. 13511. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Sarah Emery, of 7, Edward St., Esh Winning, Durham. Killed 25 July 1918. Born Tudhoe Grange (Spennymoor - Durham), Enlisted Shiney Row, Resided Fencehouses. "HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US"

		Private Archie Irvine Firth. 27433. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Simeon Mitchell Firth and the late Louisa Firth. Died 13 November 1918. Aged 24. Born Sowerby Bridge (Halifax), Enlisted Halifax, Resided Sowerby Bridge.

		Private James William Gedney, 35144. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 34619 9th T R Battalion. Died 8 December 1918. Born Whaplode (Lincs), Enlisted Wisbech, Resided Thorney (Cambs).

		Private Robert Hardwick, 17853. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 17 July 1916. Born Cassop (Durham), Enlisted West Hartlepool, Resided Shotton Colliery.

		Private Fred Hardy, 38236. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 18 September 1918. Born Holmfirth (Huddersfield), Enlisted Holmfirth, Resided Holmebridge.

		Private Alfred Walter Harris, 35757. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 238920 12th Yeomanry Cyclists Battn. Son of Charles and Fanny Harris, of 106, Newton Rd, Sparkhill, Birmingham. Died 12 October 1918. Aged 19. Born Birmingham, Enlisted Birmingham, Resided Sparkhill. "BELOVED BY ALL"

		Private Thomas Hartley, 41683. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 161600 R F A. Son of Mrs. Ann Hartley, of The Square, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Lancs. Died 27 October 1918. Aged 21. Born Cartmel (Lancs), Enlisted Ulverston, Resided Backbarrow. "HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS"

		Lance Serjeant John William Bellwood Hill, 23605. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joshua and Sarah Burdon Hill, of 6, Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor, Co. Durham. Native of Kirk Merrington, Perry Hill, Co. Durham. Died 6 May 1918. Aged 21. Born Heighington (Durham), Enlisted Spennymoor, Resided Ferryhill. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

		Private James Percival Holliday, 17313. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 26 October 1918. Born Grimsby, Enlisted Scarborough.

		Private John George Hornsby. 21437. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 26 September 1918. Born Stockton-on-Tees, Enlisted Middlesbrough. (Shown as "C Hornsby" in CWGC register. However, confirmed as "J G Hornsby" from GH Gazette database)

		Private Albert G Howlett, 33103. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3106 Norfolk Regt. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Howlett, of 21, Waddington St., Norwich. Died 25 October 1918. Aged 23. Born Norwich (Norfolk), Enlisted Norwich. "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THAT WE WITH HIM MAY REIGN"

		Lance Corporal William Hunter, 17456. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Adam and Mary Hunter, of Whittingham, Northumberland. Died 12 October 1918. Aged 22. Born Whittingham (Alnwick), Enlisted Alnwick, Resided Whittingham.

		Lance Corporal Robert Jarvis. 36422. 13th Battalion (CWG) / 5th Battalion(SDGW) Yorkshire Regiment. Died 23 October 1918. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private Arthur Thomas Jukes. 240909. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 19 October 1918. Enlisted Driffield, Resided Ludlow.

		Corporal Francis John Kane. 203151. 1st/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Margaret Kane, of 24, Bristol St., Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough. Died 4 July 1918. Aged 20. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Cargo Fleet. (Note : SDGW has F J Kane as a Private, CWG as a Corporal). "JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST ST. ANTHONY INTERCEDE"

		Private Norman Kewley, 35474. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5/108007 8th T R Battn. Son of Thomas Arthur and Frances Kewley, of 2, Holme Mill Cottages, Marsden, Huddersfield. Died 1 December 1918. Aged 19. Born Marsden (Yorks), Enlisted Huddersfield, Resided Marsden. "WORTHY OF EVERLASTING LOVE"

		Private Francis John Kimmer, 35576. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3800 Berks Yeomanry. Son of Thomas and Louisa Kimmer, of Silchester Hall Lodge, Mortimer, Berks. Killed 6 November 1918. Aged 18. Born Hickfield (Hampshire), Enlisted Reading. "R.I.P"

		Private William George Edgar Laister. 240804. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of W. G. and M. Laister, of 13, Grove Hill Rd., Beverley, Yorks. Died 30 October 1918. Aged 24. Enlisted Beverley (Yorks).

		Private George Langridge. 203035. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 24160 Royal Fus. Died 8 OCtober 1918. Enlisted Hounslow.

		Private Alexander Graham Larkin. 46536. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 4 November 1918. Aged 33. Born West Hartlepool, Enlisted Gateshead, Resided Felling (Durham).

		Private Edward Longbottom. 58103. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 4448 2/1st Yorks Dragoons. Died 4 September 1918. Born Boothtown (Yorks), Enlisted Halifax.

		Private William Lowrey. 30255. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5681 Northumberland Fus. Died 18 September 1918. Born Dalmuir (Dumbarton), Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne.

		Private Frederick May. 35779. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 14715 Middx Regt. Died 18 September 1918. Born Chelsea, Enlisted Mill Hill.

		Private Michael McCue. 7121. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 6 October 1915. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private Bert Mitchell. 202335. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 1913 Northants Regt. Died 16 October 1918. Born Kinsley (Northampton), Enlisted Northampton. (SDGW gives Regtl No as 202315; GH Gazette d/b gives 202335)

		Private William Alma Overton. 34871. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 77538 91st T R Battn. Son of Richard and Mary Ann Overton. Died 15 June 1918. Aged 19. Born Langwith (Derby), Enlisted Mansfield, Resided Langwith.

		Lance Corporal Alfred Pearson, MM, 200592. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.Son of Thomas and Annie Pearson, of Crayke, Easingwold, Yorks. Died 14 August 1918. Aged 26. Born Crayke, Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Easingwold.

		Private Douglas Pearson. 35740. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 4648 12th Yeo. Cyclist Battn. Son of Laura Pearson, of 19, Court Rd., Sparkhill, Birmingham. Died 8 October 1918. Aged 19. Born Birmingham, Enlisted Birmingham, Resided Sparkhill. (CWGC has Battalion as "1st"; SDGW has Battalion as "5th" - the more likely). "REST IN PEACE"

		Private Frank Pointon. 43694. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 70786 87th T R Battn. Son of Mrs. Susan Pointon, of 40, Livingstone St., Leek, Staffs. Died 22 June 1918. Aged 20. Born Leek (Staffs), Enlisted Leek. "PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

		Corporal Henry Pope. 42434. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 183534 R F A. Killed 8 August 1918. Born Rye (Sussex), Enlisted Rye.

		Private Mark Nowlson Raper. 27239. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mark Nowlson Raper and Fanny Raper, of Flaxton, York. Killed 15 October 1918. Aged 38. Born Flaxton (Yorks), Enlisted Flaxton. (SDGW gives Battalion as = 4th)

		Private William James Roberts. 35775. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 46625 100th T R Battn. Died 23 October 1918. Born Clerkenwell (Surrey), Enlisted Whitehall, Resided Islington (N).

		Private Edward Robert Robson. 29595. 50th (Northumbrian) Signal Coy. Royal Engineers, formerly 2314 the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 3 October 1918. Born North Shields, Enlisted North Shields.

		Private John Rowell. 34790. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/5597 8th T R Battn. Son of George and Jane Rowell, of 3, Chapel Row, North Seaton, Northumberland. Died 11 November 1918. Aged 20. Born Blyth (Northumberland), Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne, Resided North Seaton Colliery. "REST IN PEACE"

		Private Joseph Henry Rutter. 46725. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 7 August 1918. Born Thornaby-on-Tees, Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Thornaby-on-Tees.

		Private Harry R Scott. 35768. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of H. and Susan Scott, of 60, Brook St., Dawlish, Devon. Died 7 December 1918. Aged 26. Born Manhead (Devon), Enlisted Cheltenham, Resided Winchcombe.

		Private John W Selby. 220453. 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 2385 the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 31 October 1918. Born Knayton (Yorks), Enlisted Melmerby, Resided Wath.

		Private William Henry Siddall. 235021. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of J. T. and Lenora Siddall, of 14, Windsor Crescent, Bridlington, Yorks. Died 13 October 1918. Aged 27. Born Bridlington, Enlisted Bridlington. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN"

		Private Mason Sloan. 46698. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 29 July 1918. Born Sunderland, Enlisted Sunderland.

		Private Tom Smith. 21252. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 10 October 1918. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough.

		Private Walter Frank Smith. 35600. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3900 Berks Yeo. Son of Frederick Albert and Gertrude Smith, of 2, Ivy Terrace, Money Row Green, Holyport, Maidenhead, Berks. Died 12 October 1918. Aged 19. Born Islington (London), Enlisted Maidenhead, Resided Holyport. "BEYOND THE STREAM OF DEATH LOVE LIVES"

		Private Frank Snart, MM. 235076. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Mary Ann Snart, of Ashton, Stamford, Lincs. Native of Bainton, Northants. Died 15 September 1918. Aged 37. Born Bainton (Northants), Enlisted Peterborough, Resided Stamford.

		Private John Austin Stone. 35675. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 9/17786 43rd T R Battn. Died 26 July 1918. Born Camberwell (London), Enlisted Camberwell, Resided Peckham.

		Private Harry Stonehouse. 48124. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5/31559 8th T R Battn. Son of Thomas J. and Priscilla Stonehouse, of Avenue Cottage, Hill End, Sleights, Yorks. Died 4 November 1918. Aged 20. Born Sleights (Yorks), Enlisted Richmond (Yorks), Resided Sleights. "FOR EVER WITH THE LORD AMEN. SO LET IT BE"

		Private Leonard Sturgess. 242111. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 22 June 1918. Born Barton-in-the-Clay, Enlisted Luton, Resided Amphill (Beds). (Name spelt "Sturgiss" in SDGW ; Spelt as "Sturgess" in GH Gazette database. Shown as L/Cpl on the Barton-le-Clay War Memorial.)

		Lance Corporal F Wilfred Swalwell. 23534. 21st Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), formerly 1174 the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 10 September 1918. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Scarborough. Photo : The War Graves Photographic Project

		Private Joseph William Temperton. 30075. 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 205199 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Eleanor Templeton (sic), of 66, Summerland Rd., Hull. Died 2 November 1918. Aged 20. Born Hull, Enlisted Hull. "HE DIED AND LEFT SO SWEET A MEMORY THAT STILL HE SEEMS TO LIVE"

		Private Harold Mellor Vessey. 34792. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/5690 2nd T R Battn. Son of John William and Sarah Vessey, of 43, Wharton St., Retford, Notts. Died 13 October 1918. Aged 20. Born Retford (Notts), Enlisted Retford. "HE LEFT ALL THAT WAS DEAR TO HIM FOR THEIR SAKE"

		Private Albert Webster. 30685. 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 27359 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Elizabeth Webster. Died 22 October 1918. Born Stokesley, Enlisted Stokesley, Resided Yarm-on-Tees. Photo : Steve Rogers

		Serjeant Samuel Robert Weir. 16058. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Mary Jane Weir, of 5, Victoria St. Willington, Co. Durham. Died 11 July 1918. Aged 31. Born Brancepeth Colliery (Durham), Enlisted Durham, Resided Willington.

Private Mark Wildon. 201777. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 22 October 1918. Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Northallerton.

Niederzwehren Cemetery (2)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) / Tom Wheeldon

Niederzwehren Cemetery (3)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) / Tom Wheeldon

Niederzwehren Cemetery (4)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) / Tom Wheeldon

The Adjoining Headstones for the Two Private W Lowerys Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery