War memorials, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire War Memorials, -
Topcliffe,
St. Columba's Church
War memorials, North Yorkshire

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The War Memorial in St. Columba's Church, Topcliffe.
The War Memorial in St. Columba's Church, Topcliffe.
(Photo : Steve Yates <yatessteve42@btinternet.com>)

The War Memorial in Topcliffe's St. Columba's Church consists of two plaques, with the memorial to those killed in the Second World War placed above the marble plaque commemorating those who lost their lives in the First World War.

The First World War Memorial is dedicated to;-
"To the Glory of God and in memory of those from this parish who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919"

The following names are recorded for the First World War;-

REGINALD AUTON LOUIS JOHN HAYTON
FRED BARKER WILLIAM HENRY HAYTON
JAMES BARNINGHAM EDGAR HUDSON
GEORGE WILLIAM BROWN HARRY JAQUES
JAMES COOK WILLIAM JAQUES
REGINALD DIGHT CLARENCE JENNINGS
HARRY LISTER DRESSER JOHN LYNCH
JOHN TOM DUNNING JAMES WILLIAM PLACE
MAURICE HARLAND CHARLES YEADON
TOM HAWKSBY WALTER YEATES


The following names are recorded for the Second World War;-

RONALD J APPLETON
JOHN L R HOULSTON
J WESLEY ROOKE

We are very grateful to Steve Yates <yatessteve42@btinternet.com> for providing information about this memorial.


Private Fred Barker. 32539. 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Died 20 July 1917.
Born Topcliffe (Yorks), Enlisted Topcliffe.
Commemorated KARACHI 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL.
(Also commemorated on a family headstone in Topcliffe Cemetery)

Private James Barningham. 242706.
13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Annie Barningham, of Topcliffe; husband of Dora E. Barningham, of Langroyd, Topcliffe, Thirsk, Yorks. Killed 27 March 1918. Aged 29.
Born Arkengarthdale (Yorks), Enlisted Colne (Lancs).
Buried RUMAUCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

Private Harry Lister Dresser. 27323. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Only son of the late E. and H. E. Dresser, of "Sunnyside," Topcliffe, Thirsk, Yorks. Killed 3 August 1917. Aged 26.
Born Topcliffe (Yorks), Enlisted Catton, Resided Topcliffe.
Buried LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY.

Private John Tom Dunning, 20713.
7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Tom and Alice Dunning, of Topcliffe, Thirsk, Yorks. Died of Wounds 25 March 1916. Aged 18.
Enlisted Thirsk (Yorks), Resided Topcliffe.
Buried ETAPLES CEMETERY.
(Also commemorated on a family headstone in the Churchyard)

Private William Henry Hayton, 20714. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hayton, of Dean Square, Topcliffe, Thirsk, Yorks. Killed 21 September 1917. Aged 23.
Born Topcliffe (Thirsk), Enlisted Thirsk, Resided Topcliffe.
Buried SUNKEN ROAD CEMETERY, FAMPOUX.

Private Edgar Hudson, 201945. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 5 October 1918.
Born Topcliffe (Yorks), Enlisted Topcliffe.
Buried BEAUREVOIR COMMUNAL CEMETERY BRITISH EXTENSION.
(Also commemorated on a family headstone in the Churchyard)

Private Harry Jaques. 240986. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 27 March 1917.
Born Thirsk, Enlisted Thirsk.
Buried HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES.
(Brother of William Jacques.)
(Also commemorated on a family headstone in the Churchyard)

Private William Jaques. 3685. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Elizabeth Jaques, of 28, Long St., Topcliffe, Thirsk, Yorks. Killed 17 September 1916. Aged 33.
Enlisted Middlesbrough.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3A &3D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
(Brother of Harry Jacques.)
(Also commemorated on a family headstone in the Churchyard)

Private James William Place. 28202. 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 17 October 1917.
Born Leeming (Yorks), Enlisted Topcliffe.
Commemorated on Panel 125 to 128, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Walter Yeates. 20637. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 24 April 1917.
Born Asenby (Yorks), Enlisted Thirsk, Resided Asenby.
Commemorated on Bay 5, ARRAS MEMORIAL.


St. Columba's Church, TopcliffeSt. Columba's Church, Topcliffe
Photo © Copyright Tim Glover and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.


Family Headstones in St. Columba's Churchyard
Four of the men commemorated on the War Memorial inside the church are also commemorated on family headstones in the Churchyard. One man (Tom Carrick) is commemorated on other local War Memorials.

Fred Barker
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JANE WIFE OF FREDERICK BARKER OF TOPCLIFFE WHO DIED 21 FEBRUARY 1912 AGED 71 YEARS. ALSO THE ABOVE FREDERICK BARKER WHO DIED 7 NOVEMBER 1912 AGED 87 YEARS. EVER LOVING MEMORY OF FRED BARKER, THE GROVE TOPCLIFFE, ONLY SON OF THE ABOVE AND BELOVED HUSBAND OF ANNIE BARKER WHO DIED FROM HEATSTROKE IN JHELUM, INDIA WHILST SERVING HIS COUNTRY IN THE YORKS REGT ON 20 JULY 1917 IN THE 37TH YEARS OF HIS AGE.
The headstone memorial to Fred Barker is NOT in the churchyard, but in Topcliffe Cemetery. The headstone has been photographed on the Find a Grave website.

Tom Carrick
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JANE BELOVED WIFE OF GEORGE W CARRICK OF CRAKEHILL WHO DIED 2 DECEMBER 1923 AGED 58 YEARS. ALSO TOM SON OF THE ABOVE 6TH YORKS REGIMENT KILLED IN FRANCE 10TH AUGUST 1917 AGED 24 YEARS.

John Tom Dunning
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOMAS DUNNING OF TOPCLIFFE WHO DIED 23 AUGUST 1934 AGED 72. ALSO OF JOHN THOMAS SECOND SON OF THE ABOVE DIED IN FRANCE 25 MARCH 1916 AGED 18 YEARS

Edgar Hudson
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JAMES ROBERT HUDSON OF TOPCLIFFE WHO DIED 16 JUNE 1904 AGED 68 YEARS. ALSO OF EDGAR YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE WHO WAS KILLED IN FRANCE 5 OCTOBER 1918 AGED 34 YEARS/. ALSO ANN BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE JAMES ROBERT HUDSON WHO DIED 20 NOVEMBER 1921 AGED 78 YEARS.
Edgar Hudson's headstone memorial has been photographed on the Find a Grave website.

Harry Jaques / William Jacques
IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM ELDEST SON OF WIILIAM AND ELIZABETH JAQUES KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 15 SEPTEMBER 1916 AGED 33 YEARS. GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THOSE HE LOVED BEST. ALSO HARRY THIRD SON KILLED IN ACTION 27 MARCH 1917 AGED 23 YEARS. THOSE WHO HAVE LOST CAN UNDERSTAND. ALSO THE ABOVE NAMED WILLIAM JAQUES DIED 1 NOVEMBER 1927 AGED 78 YEARS.

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