The Yorkshire Regiment, War Memorials Elsewhere

War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Edinburgh, - The Board of Agriculture

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The First World War Memorial for the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, Edinburgh.
Photo : mhomac

The First World War Memorial for staff of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland is situated in St. Andrew's House.The Memorial consists of a brass plaque mounted on a marble surround, and is dedicated, thus;-

"TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEMBERS / OF THE STAFF OF THE BOARD OF / AGRICULTURE FOR SCOTLAND / WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN / AND IN THE MORNING / WE WILL REMEMBER THEM."

22 names are commemorated on the memorial. A transcription of the names can be found on the website for the The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project.

One name is that of an Officer who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

2nd Lieutenant Percy Helms. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Elizabeth Helms, of 27, Adnitt Rd., Northampton, and the late John Helms. Killed 5 October 1918. Aged 27.
Buried DOINGT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.

The following notes on Lieutenant Percy Helms are taken from Robert Coulson's biographies of Officers Killed in the First World War;-
"Percy Helms first saw action during the Great War serving in the ranks of the Royal Scots Regiment before gaining his commission and joining the Yorkshire Regiment.
The 9th Battalion arrived back from the Italian front on September 17th 1918 and was gathered near Abbeville.
From here Percy Helms and the battalion were ordered up for an attack on the village of Beaurevoir. This attack went in at
6.00 a.m. on 5th October and by evening the village had been captured.
2nd Lt Percy Helms was wounded in this action and died later in the day.
Percy Helms was the son of Elizabeth and the late John Helms of 27 Adnitt Road in Northampton."

Richard Roberts (<richard.nsw@googlemail.com>) has provided a link to "Those Who Fell in the Great War" published by the Scottish Office. This document describes four independent Boards set up to carry out public administration at the time of the Great War. Each of these bodies lost men serving in the forces, and set up memorials to commemorate these men.
The memorials are described, and biographical details of the men who are commemorated are provided.
This document provides further biographical information on Percy Helms, and provides an insight into why he was working in Scotland at the time.

St. Andrew's House on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. The Nelson Monument is behind St. Andrew's House on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. The Nelson Monument is behind
Photo by Vclaw and licensed for use with this Creative Commons licence.

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