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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Rotherham Minster |
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The First World War Memorial Panels in Rotherham Minster
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
Inside the Minster Church for Rotherham is a First World War Memorial consisting
of 25 brass plaques These plaques commemorate 1136 names with units, regiments
and sit across and below a central dedicatory plaque.
The central dedicatory plaque is to Major Leslie Peech Aizlewood of the RAF,
and has been donated by his family.
The 1136 names on the memorial are shown under their regiments / units. A transcription of the names is on the Imperial War Museum's Register of War Memorials website
2 soldiers who served in the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.
However, on the Rotherham
town War Memorial 1304 names are commemorated, including 8 soldiers of
the Yorkshire Regiment.
On both the town memorial and the Minster memorial a soldier, W E Ogilvy,
is shown as being in the Yorkshire Regiment but served in the East Yorkshire
Regiment.
There is also a Roll of Honour in the Minster, with "1914" prominently shown. It is thought that this Roll of Honour, which lists 253 names of men and their regiments, records the names of those who first enlisted to fight in the First World War. Two soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment are shown on this Roll of Honour.
Private Arthur Harrison, 46744. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of Mrs. Clara Harrison, of 19, Gerard Rd., Rotherham. Killed 25 March
1918. Aged 19.
Born Rotherham (Yorks), Enlisted Rotherham.
Buried ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY.
Shown on the Rotherham Minster Roll of Honour but not on
the Minster War Memorial.
Lieutenant George Cedric Hodgkinson. Yorkshire Regiment. Attached
to 8th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment. Son of Reginald Edward Hodgkinson,
J.P. and Margaret Jane Hodgkinson, of Moorseats, Hathersage, Sheffield. Born
at Rotherham. Educated at Clifton College, 1st Cricket XI in 1914. Gazetted
2nd Lt.1915. 8th Bn. York and Lancaster Regt. 1914, went to France. Killed
4 July 1916. Aged 20.
Buried HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE.
From "Officers of the Green Howards 1688 - 1931" by M L Ferrar,
the following biographical notes are given;-
"Born at Rotherham 7 January 1896, youngest son of Reginald Edward Hodgkinson,
Solicitor, of Rotherham.
2nd Lieutenant 4 April 1916.
Was appointed to a regular commission from the 8th Battalion York and Lancaster
Regiment, to which he was gazetted as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant, 11 November
1914. With this battalion he served in France from 27 August 1915 and remained
with it until his death. He saw a lot of heavy trench fighting south of Armentieres,
Bois Grenin, La Boutillerie, and Fleurbaix. He was wounded 1 July 1916 in
the attack on Mouquet Farm."
(These biographical notes indicate that although he was gazetted to the Yorkshire
Regiment in April 1916, he didn't actually serve with them.)
Also shown on the Rotherham Minster Roll of Honour.
Lieutenant John Vernon Townsend. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.
Son of John Edward and Clarissa Myra Townsend; husband of Beatrice Millicent
Townsend, of Moorgate, Rotherham. Killed 24 September 1918. Aged 34.
Buried CHAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, HOLNON.
he following notes are from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"John Townsend first served in the ranks of the Yorkshire Regiment before
his commission.
Serving with the 5th Battalion Lieutenant Townsend was wounded in actions
around Licourt during the German spring offensive in March of 1918.
The battalion was reduced to a training cadre in July 1918 with the officers
being attached to other battalions and regiments.
Lt John Vernon Townsend was killed in action on September 24th 1918 aged 34.
John Townsend was the son of John Edward and Clarissa Myra Townsend and the
husband of Beatrice Millicent Townsend of Moorgate in Rotherham."
The Panel in the Rotherham Minster War Memorial on which the Yorkshire Regiment
names are commemorated.
Select the above image for a larger sized image which opens in a new window
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
The
Plaque on the Rotherham Minster War Memorial Commemorating Major Leslie Peech
Aizlewood of the RAF
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
Rotherham
Minster
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
The Roll of Honour in the Minster
The
Roll of Honour in the Minster
Select the above image for a larger sized image which opens in a new window
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
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