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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension (France, Somme) |
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Corbie
Communal Cemetery Extension (1)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).
Corbie was about 20 kilometres behind the front when Commonwealth forces took over the line from Berles-au-Bois southward to the Somme in July 1915. The town immediately became a medical centre, with Nos 5 and 21 Casualty Clearing Stations based at La Neuville (the suburb across the Ancre) until October 1916 and April 1917 respectively. In November 1916 the front moved east, but the German advance in the Spring of 1918 came within 10 kilometres of the town and brought with it field ambulances of the 47th Division and the 12th Australian Field Ambulance.
The communal cemetery was used for burials until May 1916, when the plot set aside was filled and the extension opened. The majority of the graves in the extension are of officers and men who died of wounds in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The remainder relate to the fighting of 1918.
The communal cemetery contains 249 First World War burials, the extension 918.
Amongst the graves are those of 8 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment. There is also one Victoria Cross holder (of the Rifle Brigade).
We are extremely grateful to Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>) and Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) who have generously provided the 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.
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Private Albert Edward Hardwick,
7516. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Herbert and Theodora Hardwick, of Sheffield, Yorks. Killed 4 July 1916. Aged 24. Born Attercliffe (Sheffield), Enlisted Sheffield. "HE NOBLY ANSWERED
DUTY'S CALL HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ONE AND ALL" |
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Serjeant William James Denton Milsom, DCM. 7813.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William Carr Milson and Ann Maria Milson, of 13, St. John Road, Scarborough, Yorkshire. Native of Beverley, Yorkshire. Killed 4 July 1916. Aged 26. Born Beverley (Yorks), Enlisted Beverley. "HE GAVE HIS LIFE FREELY
FOR GOD AND HIS COUNTRY ....... ARMS" |
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Private John Mooney. 29040.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 26 August 1916. Born Halifax, Enlisted Halifax. |
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Private George Alfred Robinson.
20391. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 12 May 1916. Born Skipton (Yorks), Enlisted Wakefield. |
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Private Samuel Sargeant. 11008.
2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 3 July 1916. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. |
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Private John Simms. 23593. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 16 June 1916. Born Bilston (Staffs), Enlisted Pontefract, Resided Horsefair (Pontefract). |
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Private Frank Walker. 18442.
1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 19467 the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 4 June 1916. Born Bishop Auckland (Co. Durham), Enlisted Bishop Auckland. Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) |
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Private George Wilkinson. 19508.
2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 July 1916. Born Hetton Downs (Durham), Enlisted Seaham Harbour, Resided Dawdon. |
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Major William La Touche Congreve,
V C, D S O, M C, Mentioned in Despatches. Legion of Honour. Son of Lt.-Gen. Sir Walter Congreve, V.C., K.C.B., M.V.O., and Lady Congreve, of Chartley Castle, Staffs.; husband of Pamela Congreve, of 15, Queen Anne's Gate, London. Killed 20 July 1916. Aged 25. Citation An extract from the London Gazatte, dated 24th October, 1916 records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery during a period of fourteen days preceding his death in action. This officer constantly performed acts of gallantry and showed the greatest devotion to duty, and by his personal example inspired all those around him with confidence at critical periods of the operations. During preliminary preparations for the attack he carried out personal reconnaissances of the enemy lines, taking out parties of officers and non-commissioned officers for over 1,000 yards in front of our line, in order to acquaint them with the ground. All these preparations were made under fire. Later, by night, Major Congreve conducted a battalion to its position of employment, afterwards returning to it to ascertain the situation after assault. He established himself in an exposed forward postion from where he successfully observed the enemy, and gave orders necessary to drive them from their position. Two days later, when Brigade Headquarters was heavily shelled and many casualties resulted, he went out and assisted the medical officer to remove the wounded to places of safety, although he was himself suffering severely from gas and other shell effects. He again on a subsequent occasion showed supreme courage in tending wounded under heavy shell fire. He finally returned to the front line to ascertain the situation after an unsuccessful attack, and whilst in the act of writing his report, was shot and killed instantly." |
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George O Hill. Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) Richard Roberts provides the following information on George Hill' "He served as a private firstly with the R.W.F., then with the South Wales Borderers during WW1. He was born in Monmouthshire, Wales." |
Corbie
Communal Cemetery Extension (2)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).
Corbie
Communal Cemetery Extension (3)
Photo : Chris Weekes (<weebex12@hotmail.com>).
Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension (4)
Photo : Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)