 |
Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery ( France, Pas de Calais) |
|
Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery (1)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)
Ruyaulcourt village was attacked by the 7th D.C.L.I. on the 28th/29th March 1917 and found unoccupied the next night by the 7th Somerset Light Infantry. It was lost again on the 23rd March 1918 and finally cleared by the New Zealand Division on the 4th September 1918.
Ruyaulcourt German Cemetery was used from July 1916, to March 1917, and in August 1918; and it contained 405 German graves and those of two R.A.F. officers, two soldiers from the United Kingdom and one New Zealand soldier. It was removed in 1924, and two of the British graves were brought into the Military Cemetery.
Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery was begun in April 1917, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances (largely of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division) until March 1918. It was re-opened in September 1918.
There are now over 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 10 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to the two airmen buried in the German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found.
We are extremely grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) and to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who have generously provided 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 William Dews.
13098. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Elizabeth Dews, of 50, Lovaine Place, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Native of Ossett, Yorks. Killed 22 December 1917. Aged 23. Born Wakefield (Yorks), Enlisted Durham. Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) |
 |
Private Robert Illtyd
French. 236001. 4th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, formerly 1888 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Martha French, of 14, Lennox St., Middlesbrough. Killed 12 September 1918. Aged 23. Born All Saints' (Middlesbrough), Resided Middlesbrough. "AS YESTERDAY"
Photo : Claude Laignel of the Find a Grave website |
|
Private John William
Jones. 49674. 2nd/5th Battalion the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), formerly 6243 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 12 September 1918. Born Hadley (Shropshire), Enlisted Salford, Resided Blackpool. Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) |
 |
Captain Arthur Wilson
Simpkin. 13th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, attached 8th Battalion West Yorks Regt. Son of J. W. and Emily Simpkin, of Norton Royd, Woodkirk, Dewsbury, Yorks. Killed 30 September 1918. Aged 22. "ALSO IN MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER
CAPTAIN H.H. SIMPKIN AGE 21 13TH YORK'S REGT. 22.3.1918 HAVE FAITH IN GOD" Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) Robert Coulson has provided further biographical details of Captain Arthur Simpkin in his Memorial Roll of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment.;- Brothers Arthur and Harry Simpkin were both born in Midsummer Norton in Somerset. The brothers joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and first saw service with the Notts and Derbys Regiment. They served together with the 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and crossed from Southampton to Le Havre on June 6th 1916. The brothers saw action in the Loos and Lens sectors in 1916 and in early 1917 were engaged on the Somme. On November 23rd 1917 they were in action during the Cambrai offensive and took part in bitter fighting at the capture of Bourlon Wood and village. When the German spring offensive opened in March 1918 the Captains Simpkin were rushed up to Hamelincourt and from there into trenches east of St Leger. At 7-00am on March 22nd Captain Harry Simpkin led “D” company into a bombing attack on the German line. They killed about twenty of the enemy and captured seven machine guns but within minutes some 300 Germans counter attacked and drove them off. Captain Harry Hargreaves Simpkin was killed in this action on March 22nd 1918 aged 22 and his body lost is remembered today on the Arras Memorial. After the loss of his brother Captain Arthur Simpkin served on with the 13th Battalion and after the German offensive was stemmed next saw action during the Battle of the Lys in April of 1918. While at St Momelin on May 3rd Arthur Simpkin learnt that the 13th Battalion was to be disbanded and he joined some of the other officers at the base depot in Calais. From here Captain Simpkin was attached to the 8th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment. At 6-30am on September 30th the 8th West Yorks were in trenches east of Masnieres and from here attacked the village of Seranvillers. Heavy fighting ensued and by the end of the day the battalion had only one officer left. Captain Arthur Wilson Simpkin was killed in this action on September 30th 1918 at the age of 22. Arthur and Harry Simpkin were the sons of John William and Emily Simpkin of Norton Royd, Woodkirk in Dewsbury. |
|
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. Photo : Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) |
Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery (2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>)