War memorials, North Yorkshire
War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Lancaster
War memorials, North Yorkshire
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The War Memorial for Lancaster The War Memorial for Lancaster
Photo : David Lovell of the War Memorials On Line website

The War Memorial forLancaster stands is situated in a Memorial Garden adjacent to Lancaster City Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster.

The memorial is a winged figure of peace standing in front of a wall made of Longridge stone with a stepped top (16 ft. high at the centre and 11 ft. high at each wing). Ten plaques of First World War commemorations are arranged on the wall, five to each side of the statue. In front is a low stone base bearing a horizontal plaque with Second World War, Korean War and Falklands War names in 12 columns.

1012 men who lost their lives in the First World War are commemorated on the memorial. The names of these men are shown in an Order of Service and Roll of Names for Lancaster War Memorial, December 1924, published on the website of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.

Five soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are amongst these names.

2nd Lieut. Percy Darrell Denman. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 July 1916.
Buried PERONNE ROAD CEMETERY, MARICOURT.
Percy Denman was born on November 4th 1874 in the parish of St. Mary's, Lancaster. His parents were Letitia and William.
In the 1911 Census he was shown as being a Colour Serjeant with the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, living in Strensall (Yorkshire) with his wife Catherine and 2-year old son also called Percy Darrell.
The following biographical notes are from Robert Coulson's Biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"At the onset of war he was a Sergeant Major with the 4th Battalion, being wounded at Givenchy in June of 1915 and again at Hulluch in September of 1915 where he was also mentioned in despatches.
He was recommended for officer training and was commissioned on September 29th 1915 being posted to the 2nd Battalion.
On July 1st 1916 as the Somme offensive began Percy Denman was in Headquarters Avenue Trench with “A” company.
At 7-30am they advanced towards the village of Montauban and after crossing no-man’s land came under heavy machine gun fire from the left front.
2nd Lt Percy Darrell Denman was killed in this action on July 1st 1916 at the age of 41."
Although shown on the Stokesley War Memorial, and the War Memorial in Stokesley's Parish Church, his connection with that village is currently not known.
A comprehensive biography of Lieutenant Denman, with a portrait photo, can be found on the Stokesley Heritage website.

Serjeant William Thomas Dinsdale. 8225. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 30 October 1914.
Born Bangalore (India), Enlisted Lancaster.
Commemorated on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Private Thomas Leonard. 3/7741. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 15 June 1915.
Born Southport, Enlisted Richmond (Yorks), Resided Lancaster.
Commemorated Panel 12, LE TOURET MEMORIAL.

Private Alfred Benn Morgan. 35495. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3/27057 68th T R Battalion. Son of Mrs. Eliza Benn Morgan, of 43, Aldren's Lane, Skerton, Lancaster. Killed 6 November 1918. Aged 19.
Born Lancaster, Enlisted Lancaster.
Commemorated on Panel 5, VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL.

Private James William Thompson. 47887. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 2171 Yorks LI. Died 14 January 1918.
Enlisted Lancaster.
Buried ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN.

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