Roll of Honour, - Men of the Yorkshire Regiment Who Flew with the RFC / RAF

---

---

The September 2006 issue of "The Green Howard" included a list of those men of the Yorkshire REgiment who flew with the RFC / RAF during the First World War. This list is reproduced below, with details on the men who died (their names are shown in red).
At least two other names have subsequently been found which are not shown in the above issue of "The Green Howard", but which are now included. These names are marked in blue.

Temporary Lieutenant H. G. Amis Experimental Officer 1916. Captain A. J. W. Barmby Staff Officer 1917. Lieutenant J. C. Barraclough Observer 25 Squadron 1916. RAF 1918-1947. Group Captain. Captain W. C. K. Birch Pilot 3 Squadron 1914. MC 1915. Regiment in 1917. Killed 1918. Lieutenant H. A. R. Biziou Observer 1916. Pilot 1918. Second-Lieutenant J. W. Bradford Balloon Officer 1916. Lieutenant George Brown. 108 Squadron RAF. Killed 23 October 1918. Lieutenant A. V. Burbury Balloon Officer 1915.' Pilot 1 Squadron 1917. MC 1916. RAF - 1922. Second-Lieutenant R. A. Carter Observer 53 Squadron 1918. Wounded in action 1918. Lieutenant T. W. E L. Chaloner Equipment Officer/Observer 1915. Captain L. I. Collins Observer 18 Squadron 1917. MC 1918. Major R. A. Constantine Equipment Officer 1917. Captain W. G. Cope Experimental Officer 1916. Lieutenant N. Cox-Walker Observer 1917. 2nd-Lieutenant C. J. W. Creighton Pilot 1916. Temp. Lieutenant G. C. Cuthbertson Observer 1917. Lieutenant L. Darvall Pilot RAF 1918-1956. MC 1918 Retired as Air Marshal, KCB. Captain Michael Delaney. 16th Group H.Q. RAF. Died 29 March 1919. Lieutenant J. M. Fearon Seconded to RAF in 1928 for 4 years. Temp Lieutenant G. D. Gardner Pilot 1915. Captain A. L. Godman Staff Officer 1915. RAF 1918-1931. Retired as Air Commodore. Captain J. S. Grant-Dalton Pilot 14 Squadron 1916-1922. DSO and Bar 1916. Temp Captain D. D. G. Hall Pilot 80 Squadron 1916. MC 1917. POW. Died 1918. Temporary Lieutenant N. V. Harle Observer 1917. Second-Lieutenant R. M. Harris Pilot 60 Squadron 1917. KIA over Arras 1917. Lieutenant H. L. Harrison RAF Died 28 Oct 1918.

Lieutenant A. W. Hawkins Pilot 30 Squadron 1917-1919. Lieutenant W. H. Haynes Pilot 1917, 44 and 151 Squadron. Killed 1918 in gun accident. Lieutenant E. Hildreth Observer 35 Squadron 1916. Killed during work-up training. Second-Lieutenant A. Holden POW whilst attached to RFC 1917. Lieutenant R. F. Howard RFC Special Reserve 1915. Second-Lieutenant F. H. Hyland 7 Squadron. KIA 1915. Second-Lieutenant T. N. Jennings Balloon Officer 1916. Second-Lieutenant Johnson Transferred to RFC July 1915. Temp Lieutenant L. H. Jones Observer 1917. Captain S. B. Kay Died 1918. Second-Lieutenant E. C. Kemp Observer 25 Squadron. KIA September 1916. Captain N. W. Kirkby Seconded 23rd March 1917. Lieutenant F. S. S. Lamprey Pilot 4, 208 and 30 Squadron. RAF 1926-1930. Second-Lieutenant H. L. Lascelles Observer 1916. Killed in accident 1917. Lieutenant J. M. Leach 29 Squadron 1917. Wounded. POW 1917. Lieutenant W. S. Leech 29 Squadron. Lieutenant G. R. Lucas Equipment Officer 1917. Lieutenant G. H. B. McCall Pilot 1914-1919. with 12 Squadron, 6 Squadron. Temp Lieutenant A. C. Mackenzie Observer 1917. Captain J. A. Mansfield Observer 18 Squadron 1916/1917. Wounded 1917. Lieutenant A. W. Martin Observer 1917. POW 1917. Captain S. D. Massy Pilot 1914-1918 in Egypt/India. DSO 1917. 2nd-Lieutenant F. E. A. MacDonnell RFC 1918. RAF 1918-1922. Lieutenant H. B. Morkill Pilot 144 Squadron 1917. RAF/Air Ministry 1918-19.

Lieutenant D. B. Richardson Pilot 18 Squadron 1917. Wounded 1918. Lieutenant H. Rhodes Observer 12 Squadron 1918. Wounded 1918. DFC and Bar 1918. Second-Lieutenant S. G. Ridley Pilot 1916, 17 Squadron. Killed 1916. Lieutenant T. K. G. Ridley Pilot 1915. Second-Lieutenant J. L. Robertson Experimental Officer 1916. Second-Lieutenant J. L. Roberton (*) Pilot 1916. 25 Squadron. KIA 1916. Second-Lieutenant W. S. F. Saundby Pilot 29 Squadron 1916. Killed mid-air collision November 1916. Captain F. C. Shelmerdine Adjutant 3 Squadron. Egypt 1915/1916. Captain F. L. J. Shirley Pilot 34 Squadron 1916. MC 1916. Wounded 1917. RAF-1920. Captain Gordon Keith Smith, MC. 27 Squadron. Killed 21 August 1917. Lieutenant V. G. Smith Seconded 1917. Captain P. Snelling Administration Officer RAF 1932-1939. Squadron Leader 1939-1945. Captain J. K. Stead Pilot 20 Squadron 1916. Died of wounds 1917. Lieutenant C. R. Steele Pilot 1916. 33, 36,15 Squadrons. DFC 1918. Air Marshal, KCB 1952. Temp Captain A. R. Thomson MC Seconded to RFC 1917. Lieutenant T. G. Thornton Balloon Officer 1916. 2nd-Lieutenant G. MacD Turner Pilot 1916. 2nd-Lieutenant R. W. Turner Observer 20 Squadron 1917. DFC 1918. RAF 1918/19. Captain G. A. Turton Pilot 1916. 2 Squadron. RAF 1918/1919. 2nd-Lieutenant L. B. Walker Seconded 1916. Temp Lieutenant C. H. Wallis Observer 1917. Major A. A. Walser Pilot 4 Squadron 1915. MC 1916. OC 52 Squadron 1917. DFC 1918. Air Commodore (Retired). Sgt. W H White. RAF. KIlled 25 Oct 1918. 2nd-Lieutenant P H. Whitwell Observer. 4 Squadron 1917. KIA 1918.

---

(*) The correct surname is "Roberton", though this is understandably shown as "Robertson" in various records.

---

Captain (Acting Major) William Claud Kennedy Birch, MC. Ex-2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 5 January 1918.
Buried RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND.

Lieutenant George Brown, RAF. 108 Squadron Royal Air Force, formerly 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of David Goodall Brown and Helen Nelson Brown. Killed 23 October 1918. Aged 20.
Born Leicester, Resided Whitley Bay.
Buried BOEKHOUTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY (Belgium).

Captain Walter Gordon Cope. 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment attached to No 14 Training Depot Station, RAF, Lake Down.
Son of Walter Cornelius & Fanny Cope of Carson House, Regents Park Road, Finchley. Husband of Doris Lucy Cope.
Killed 6 September 1918. Aged 28.
Buried EAST FINCHLEY CEMETERY AND ST. MARYLEBONE CREMATORIUM.
(Additional information : Killed in an accident while flying Avro 504 E1849. Flight Cadet Edward Vaughan James Lyndale Caldwell was also killed in the accident.)

Captain Michael Delaney. Yorkshire Regiment and 16th Group H.Q. Royal Air Force.
Husband of Alice Delaney, of 34, Dixon Rd., Hillsborough, Sheffield. 25 years' service. Born at Middlesbrough.
Died 29 March 1919. Aged 46.
Buried SHEFFIELD (ST. MICHAEL's) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY.
(Biographical notes on Michael Delaney may be read by selecting this link.)

Captain Durham Donald George Hall, MC. 80th Squadron. Son of Mrs. Ethel Hall (now Gaskell), of White House, Broadfield Rd., Folkestone, Kent. Killed 27 March 1918. Aged 20.
Buried DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION No.1.

2nd Lieutenant Roland Milton Harris. Royal Flying Corps, formerly 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Harris, of Little Haseley, Wallingford, Berks. Fought at the Battle of the Somme, July to Dec., 1916, and at Arras, 1917. Scout Pilot, Royal Flying Corps. Killed 7 June1917. Aged 19.
Buried AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.
(Under age when fighting with the Yorkshire Regiment on the Somme).
The following biographical information is provided by Robert Coulson in his Biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"Roland Harris was born at Little Haseley, Wallingford in Oxfordshire on February 9th 1898.
He saw action with the 2nd Battalion on the Somme at Montauban, Trones Wood and Guillemont and was also with the battalion when the Battle of Arras opened on April 9th 1917. Shortly after this his application to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps came through and as a scout pilot he joined the 60th squadron on April 20th 1917.
Roland Harris was killed aged 19 on June 7th 1917.
On the day he died he was flying a Nieuport 17 single seater doing ground to air firing practice when both starboard wings of his biplane came off. The aircraft plunged to the ground killing him instantly."

Lieutenant Henry Leslie Harrison. Royal Air Force, formerly 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry George and Emma Jane Harrison, of 38, Richmond Rd., Barnsbury, London. Died at home 28 October 1918. Aged 23.
Buried HIGHGATE CEMETERY.
(2nd Lieutenant Harrison first joined the 4th Battalion on 1 July 1916, and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant just over a year later. No data on service with the RAF.)

Captain William Harold Haynes, DSO. 151st Squadron RAF, formerly the Yorkshire Regiment. Nephew of William C. Cadman, of Hirst House, Torquay. Killed 26 September 1918. Aged 23.
Buried ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.

2nd Lieutenant Ernest Hildreth. ex-14th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry Havelock Hildreth and Eliza Hildreth; husband of Eleanor Green (formerly Hildreth), of Wood Royd, Ben Rhydding, Yorks. Born at Middlesbrough. Killed 18 October 1916. Aged 28.
Buried at NARBOROUGH (ALL SAINTS') CHURCHYARD.

2nd Lieutenant Frederick Hunter Hyland. RFC, formerly the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Eleanor Hyland, of Radcliffe House, Pudsey, Yorks. Killed 23 May 1915. Aged 23.
Buried VIEUX-BERQUIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

Captain Stanley Burnett Kay. ex-7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Stanley Robert and Hetty Kay, of High Mead, Wood Lane, Headingley, Leeds. Died 28 January 1918. Aged 26.
Buried at LEEDS (LAWNS WOOD) CEMETERY.

2nd Lieutenant Ernest Charles Kemp. RFC, formerly 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Ernest Harry and Edith Marion Kemp, of 8, Arodene Rd., Brixton Hill, London. Killed 6 September 1916. Aged 24.
Commemorated on the ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL.

2nd Lieutenant Harold Leslie Lascelles. RFC, formerly the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 11 March 1917.
Buried KENSAL GREEN (ALL SOULS) CEMETERY.
From Robert Coulson's Biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"Harold Lascelles joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on January 14th 1915 and was commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment on July 23rd 1915.
After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, Lt Lascelles was with No 42 Reserve Squadron at West Byfleet in Surrey when he was killed in an accident flying an RE8 on March 11th 1917."

Second Lieutenant Stewart Gordon Ridley. Son of Thomas William and Emily Gordon Ridley, of Willimoteswick, Redcar. Died 18 June 1916. Aged 19.
Buried CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY.

2nd Lieutenant James Leslie Roberton. 25th Squadron Royal Flying Corps, formerly 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of R. H. and Mary L. Roberton, of Stoke Golding Lodge, Nuneaton, Leicestershire. Killed 6 September 1916. Aged 21.
Commemorated on the ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL.

2nd Lieutenant William Spencer Fitz-Robert Saundby. 29th Squadron RFC, formerly the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 17 November 1916.
Commemorated on the ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL.

Captain Gordon Keith Smith, MC. 27th Sqdn. and General List Royal Flyng Corps. Son of George and Anna Maria Smith, of 131, Harrow Rd., Paddington, London. Killed 21 August 1917. Aged 26.
B uried Y FARM MILITARY CEMETERY.
Gordon Keith Smith was previously a Corporal in the Honourable Artilery Company before serving next in the Yorkshire Regiment. He had served in 1914.
The following information is taken from the London War Memorial website;-
Gordon Smith was killed on 21st August, 1917, while serving with the 27th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. While returning from a bombing raid over Seclin his aircraft collided with another from the squadron and although both aircraft survived the collision they were damaged and unable to put up a fight when attacked by enemy planes and both were shot down.

Captain John Kenneth Stead. Royal Flying Corps, formerly 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of John Edward and Mary Lizzie Stead, of Everdon, Redcar, Yorks.
Killed 4 February 1917. Aged 24.
Buried BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION (NORD).
The following biography of Captain Stead is from Robert Coulson's Biographies of Officers Killed in the First World War;-
"John Stead was born at Redcar near Middlesbrough on August 26th 1892.
He was educated at Mill Hill School followed by Durham University and was about to enter Armstrong College to study mining engineering when war broke out.
Receiving his commission he joined the 4th Battalion on September 7th 1914 and sailed with the battalion to France in April of 1915.
They were rushed straight into the 2nd Battle of Ypres and 2nd Lt Stead was wounded in action on April 29th 1915 at St Julien. As a result of his wounds he was invalided home and rejoined the regiment on light duties at Northallerton later in the year and was promoted to lieutenant on December 9th 1915.
He was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in March of 1916 and returned to France on July 18th to serve with the 20th Squadron.
On February 1st 1917 in action well over enemy lines with his observer 2nd Lt Jourdan he was hit suffering a compound fracture and also severing the main artery in his leg. He flew back over twenty miles and even managed to make a perfect landing in his FE2D aircraft.
He was taken for treatment but Captain John Kenneth Stead died of his wounds at a Canadian casualty station at Bailleul on February 4th 1917 at the age of 24.
John Stead was the son of Dr John Edward Stead and Mrs Mary Lizzie Stead of “Everdon” in Redcar and his name is also inscribed on a memorial plaque in Christ Church at Coatham in Redcar.
A brother officer wrote of him, “We all admired and respected him as no one else in the whole flying corps. Personally I have lost one of my very best if not closest friend in the truest sense of the word.
Kind and thoughtful I cannot imagine a more perfect gentleman and soldier”.

Serjeant Mechanic William Harold White. P/46759. Royal Air Force. 103rd Sqdn. and (46759), formerly 46759 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and 5/37834 10th T R Battalion.Son of Sidney William and Elizabeth White, of 15, Broomfield Crescent, Headingley, Leeds. Killed 25 October 1918. Aged 20.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Leeds.
Buried CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY.

2nd Lieutenant Patrick Henry Whitwell. 4th Squadron RAF, formerly the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Mary Whitwell, of Limehouse; husband of Ellen M. Whitwell, of "The Richard Cobden," Repton Street, Limehouse, London. Killed 24 April 1918. Aged 24.
Buried BORRE BRITISH CEMETERY.

-----------------> Return to top of the page