The Yorkshire Regiment, Shot at Dawn

The book "Shot At Dawn" by Julian Putkowski and Julian Sykes (Leo Cooper, Pen and Sword Books) records that the following three men of the Yorkshire Regiment were sentenced to death under the Army Act, and the execution was carried out, in the First World War.

Steve Erskine of the Green Howards Museum has extensively researched the details of the three soldiers shown below. For further information see "Shot at Dawn" by Steve Erskine.

Private James Crampton. 34595. 9th Battalion the York & Lancaster Regiment, formerly 10641the 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of George and Elizabeth Crampton, of Scarborough, Yorkshire. Killed 4 February 1917. Aged 39.
Buried POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY.
Private Crampton was a Reservist at the outbreak of war, and re-joined the 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. He was with the Battalion throughout the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. When the 6th Battalion arrived on the Western front in July 1916, Private Grampton was transferred to the York & Lancs Regiment. On 16 August 1916 he was detailed for work in the front line with the Royal Engineers, but absconded. He remained nearby in Armentieres for the next three months, without any apparent plan or motive and without any equipment. He was arrested and subsequently executed.

Note: Although the headstone in in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery originally showed the name "Grampton", his entry in the book "Shot at Dawn" by Julian Putkowski and Julian Sykes records him as "Crampton".
A new headstone with the name "Crampton" will replace the "Grampton" headstone.
HIs entry in the Register of Soldiers Effects shows "Grampton", but alias "Crampton".
Other records (Soldiers Died in the Great War, Medal Rolls Index, Graves Registration etc.) show "Grampton".
However, it was subsequently established that the correct surname was "Crampton" and "Grampton" seems to have resulted from a clerical error at his court martial.

In 2012 his correct name was added to the Oliver’s Mount memorial in Scarborough.

Private Harry Poole, 8534. 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. A. Poole, of 9, Bernard St., Park, Sheffield. Killed 9 December 1916. Aged 22.
Buried CAVILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
(Not shown in SDGW, but from 1911 Census data was born and resided in Sheffield).
Harry Poole is simply recorded as having deserted in the book "Shot at Dawn". No further details are given.

Drummer Frederick Rose, 9552. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. E. Rose. Killed 4 March 1917. Aged 23.
Buried BERNEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
(Not shown in SDGW).
Drummer Frederick Rose had been a regular soldier in the 2nd Battalion, and had been with the Battalion when it first arrived in Belgium (see 2nd Battalion Roll). He went missing on 18 December 1914, but apparently spent the next two years living with a woman in Hazebrouck. He was reported to the police by a neighbour of this woman and was captured shortly afterwards.
Drummer Rose would have been one of only a small number of survivors of the 2nd Battalion. The Battalion had been in action near Ypres in October 1914, and a very high number of men had been killed, captured, or wounded.

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