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North
Yorkshire
War Memorials, - Wetherby |
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The Wetherby War Memorial
Photo : Google Earth
Wetherby War Memorial stands on Wetherby Bridge that crosses the River Wharfe.
The memorial incorporates a statue of Winged victory holding
wreath aloft in the left hand on a pedestal. There are small flanking lions
mounted on the bridged wall of the pedestal. There are two bronze lions at
the 3 and 9 O'clock faces of the plinth.
71 names are commemorated for the First World War, including one VAD Nurse.,
and 21 names for the Second World War.
The names on the memorial are listed on the LostAncestors
website.
Amongst the 71 names are two officers of the Yorkshire Regiment and 1 soldier.
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Robert Nevill Benyon Gunter.
3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Sir Robert and Dame Jane Margaret
Gunter, of Wetherby Grange, Yorks. Killed 16 August 1917. Aged 46.
Buried POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY.
Robert Coulson wrote the following about Lt. Col Gunter in his "Lives
of Officers Who Died in the FirstWorld War";-
"Robert Gunter was one of the older soldiers of the regiment and had
seen service during the Boer War.
In August of 1914 he was commanding the 3rd home based Battalion doing coastal
defence duties around the Tees bay and in later days providing drafts for
the overseas battalions.
In August of 1917 Lt Col Gunter was in Belgium where he was “employed
on special duty”, quite what this was has not been determined but was
most likely some form of intelligence work.
A shell burst near his horse one day throwing him and causing concussion.
He was thought to be recovering however and retired to bed on the night of
August 15th but when called the following morning he was found to be unconscious.
Medical aid was summoned but within minutes of their arrival Lt Col Robert
Gunter had died aged 46 on the morning of August 16th 1917.
His grave today lies in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, situated in the
town on the east side of the road from Reningelst.
Robert Gunter was the son of Sir Robert and Dame Jane Margaret Gunter of Wetherby
Grange in the village of Collingham just south of Wetherby."
Lieutenant Charles Guy Weston. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire
Regiment. Killed 1 November 1915.
Buried DIVISIONAL CEMETERY, (though originally commemorated Panel 33, YPRES
(MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL).
Robert Coulson wrote the following about Lt. Weston in his "Lives
of Officers Who Died in the FirstWorld War";-
"Charles Weston is on the Army List as serving with the 7th Battalion
in September of 1914.
The battalion proceeded to France in July of 1915 and their first taste of
life in the front line came at Voormezeele in August.
Lt Weston and the battalion were then moved into Corps Reserve in September
before moving into the Ypres Salient on October 5th.
The line they took over ran from Hooge Stables across the Menin Road to Sanctuary
Wood.
Lt Charles Guy Weston was killed in action on November 1st 1915 “While
in charge of a working party in rear of the trenches at Hooge”.
His grave can be visited today in Divisional Cemetery on the outskirts of
Ypres, on the road to Vlamertinghe."
Private Fred Walker, 13081. 34470 West Yorkshire Regiment
(Prince of Wales's Own), transferred to 22nd Battalion Labour Corps (CWGC
data). Other data states 31722 Yorkshire Regiment before transferring to the
22nd Battalion Labour Corps.
Died 29 September 1917.
Born Wetherby (Yorks), Enlisted Tadcaster (Yorks), Resided Wetherby.
Buried AEROPLANE CEMETERY.
( Shown on the Wetherby War Memorial as "Sapper F Walker" of the
Royal Engineers. However, in SDGW records there are 182 "Fred / Frederick
/ Frank" Walker names and none were in the Royal Engineers and none other
than the above had a connection with Wetherby. Almost certainly his work in
the Labour Corps would have some relevance to being labelled a Sapper.)
The
Wetherby War Memorial - 2
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Photo : 28th61st
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