The Yorkshire Regiment, Local War Memorials

War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Todmorden (Calderdale)

Close Window to return to main page

The Fountain Sculpture that is the Central Feature of the Todmorden War Memorial
Photo Paul Marshall

The Todmorden War Memorial is set in Centre Vale Park in Todmorden. After the First World War a Rose Garden was created in this park as a Garden of Remembrance, and incorporated the War Memorial. The Memorial itself features a Fountain Sculpture with a figure of St. George, leaning on his sword, standing on the dragon which spouts water into the basin. Behind the sculpture is a wall where the names of those commemorated are engraved on stone tablets arranged in bays.

For the First World War commemorations, the names are arranged alphabetically, without distinction as to rank, under their respective regiments. There are 659 names representing 72 regiments.

A smaller number of names are commemorated for the Second World War and other conflicts. There is also a panel for those who had originally worked for the Todmorden Cooperative Society.

Transcriptions of the names on the Todmorden War Memorial can be found on Dorothy Hargreaves and Linda Briggs website "Todmorden and Walsden", and on the Yorkshire Indexers website.

We are very grateful to Paul Marshall, of the Yorkshire Indexers website, who has posted the photos of the memorial on Flickr and has allowed us to reuse them.

Thirteen soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.

Private William Henry Ansell, 27431. 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry and Sarah Ansell, of 8, Merrybents St., Todmorden. Killed 1 July 1916. Aged 24.
Born Rowtenstall (Lancs), Enlisted Todmorden.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Serjeant Albert Brown, MM. 8398. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Albert and Jane Brown, of 16, Edensor Rd., Keighley. Killed 31 March 1917. Aged 27.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Keighley.
Buried HENIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.

Lieutenant Fred Walmesley Crabtree.
7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Edward and Lillie Crabtree, of The Warren, Clifton Drive, Lytham, Lancs. Native of Todmorden. Killed 15 August 1915. Aged 20.
Buried VOORMEZEELE ENCLOSURE No 3.
(A photo of Lieutenant Crabtree and further details are provided on Dorothy Hargreaves and Linda Briggs website "Todmorden and Walsden")

Lance Corporal Walter Greenhalgh. 28839. 13th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 18 August 1916.
Born Todmorden, Enlisted Halifax, Resided Hebden Bridge.
Commemorated on Bay 5, ARRAS MEMORIAL.

Private Harry Horsfall. 40441. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 31471 11th Res. Cavalry Regt. Killed 7 June 1917.
Born Todmorden (Yorks), Enlisted Halifax, Resided Todmorden.
Commemorated on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Private James William Jackson. 72872. 143rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), formerly 29081 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Mary Ann Jackson, of 14, Lock St., Todmorden. Killed 26 August 1917. Aged 37.
Born Todmorden (Yorks), Enlisted Todmorden.
Commemorated Panel 154 to 159 and 163A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private John Pilling. 35513. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 5/92725 T R Battn. Son of Betsy Pilling, of 8, Stephenson Yard, Todmorden, and the late Thomas Pilling. Killed 25 May 1918. Aged 18.
Born Hebden Bridge (Yorks), Enlisted Halifax, Resided Todmorden.
Commemorated on Panel 52 to 54 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Peter Speak. 29093.
7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Sarah Jane Speak, of Todmorden. Killed 10 February 1917. Aged 23.
Born Todmorden (Yorks), Enlisted Halifax, Resided Walsden (Todmorden).
Buried ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN.

Private George Edwin Speight. 28992. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 9 April 1917.
Born Leeds, Enlisted Todmorden.
Commemorated on Bay 5, ARRAS MEMORIAL.
(Incorrectly shown on the Todmorden War Memorial as being in the West Yorkshire Regiment)

Serjeant William Sutherland. 22331. 1st Garrison Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 12459 East Yorkshire Regt. Son of John and Margaret Sutherland. Died 3 November 1918. Aged 42.
Born Beverley (Yorks), Enlisted Heddon, Resided Todmorden.
Commemorated on the KARACHI 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL.
(Incorrectly shown on the Todmorden War Memorial as being in the East Yorkshire Regiment)

Private Fred Taylor. 38240. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of James and Hannah Taylor, of 2, West View, The Hollins, Todmorden. Killed 25 April 1917. Aged 28.
Born Littleborough (Lancs), Enlisted Todmorden.
(SDGW Gives No as 38246).
Buried WARLINCOURT HALTE BRITISH CEMETERY.

Private Thomas William Taylor. 6479. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Bertha Taylor, of 9, Bank Side, Todmorden. Killed 28 March 1915. Aged 25.
Born Bradford, Enlisted Strensall (Yorks), Resided Todmorden.
Buried BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY.
(Incorrectly shown on the Todmorden War Memorial as being in the K O Y L I)

Private Arthur Reginald Thomas. 38241. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Sarah Thomas, of 1, New Shop, Castle St., Todmorden. Killed 1 October 1917. Aged 19.
Born Ludlow (Shropshire), Enlisted Halifax, Resided Todmorden.
Commemorated Panel 154 to 159 and 163A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

A view of the Todmorden War Memorial set in the Rose Garden in Centre Vale Park, Todmorden A view of the Todmorden War Memorial set in the Rose Garden in Centre Vale Park, Todmorden
Photo Paul Marshall

Commemorative Panels on the Todmorden War Memorial, - the Right Hand Panel carries the Yorkshire Regiment Names Commemorative Panels on the Todmorden War Memorial, - the Right Hand Panel carries the Yorkshire Regiment Names
Photo Paul Marshall

The Yorkshire Regiment Names on the Todmorden War Memorial
Photo Paul Marshall

On 3 November 2013 the BBC website carried a news item on the restoration of the Todmorden War Memorial. This page carried an excellent photo showing the memorial as it was originally.
Related to this news item was one dated 12 October 2011 in which it was reported that two statues which had originally stood in the Rose Garden in front of the memorial had been stolen, and were to be replaced.
The photo below, from the Todmorden Album, has been genrously provided by Daniel Birch and shows the memorial and garden not long after the memorial was first dedicated. The two statues which were stolen, can be clearly seen.

(A note from Paul Clarke, <paul@builtheritage.com>, of the Built Heritage Consultancy, states that the two statues were stolen over 20 years ago, - after 1988.)

The Todmorden War Memorial and memorial Gardens Shortly After Dedication The Todmorden War Memorial and Memorial Gardens Shortly After Dedication
Photo : Daniel Birch

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