 |
North
Yorkshire
War Memorials, - Rowntrees of York |
|
The War Memorial Plaques for Rowntrees of York
Photo : Ken Haywood of the Imperial War Museum's Register
of War Memorials
In 2010, a stone (*) memorial commemorating employees of Joseph Rowntree in York was unveiled at the Nestlé factory in Haxby Road, York, so that members of the public could pay their respects to the fallen whenever they wished. This replaced the carved wooden boards which had been on display in various areas of the factory since the end of the 1939-1945 conflict.
412 Rowntree’s employees who gave their lives in service during the First and Second World Wars are commemorated on these boards. Of the names commemorated, 245 lost their lives in the First World War,
Unfortunately, the memorial unveiled in 2010 was vandalised the following year, though damage was limited and was repaired.
(*) The Rowntree's War Memorials as photographed on the Imperial
War Museum's Register
of War Memorials can be enlarged to some extent on this website, and names
can be made out (see photograph below).
Of the names that can be read, 1 Officer of the Yorkshire Regiment is definitely
commemorated and 4 soldiers almost certainly so. Their details are below.
Captain James Scott Bainbridge. 4th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Killed 22 March 1918.
Commemorated Panel 31 and 32, POZIERES MEMORIALl.
Additional information from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"James Bainbridge first served as Company Sergeant Major with the 4th
Battalion before receiving his commission and rising rapidly through the ranks.
As an officer he was gassed in June 1917 whilst the battalion were in action
in the Hindenberg Support Line."
The following biographical information is provided in a Royal
Society of Chemistry booklet commemorating those who fought and died in
the First World War;-
"Born in 1888, son of William & Mary Bainbridge, James Bainbridge
later graduated from Leeds University. After university, he went to work in
the chemical laboratory of Messrs Rowntree & Co. in York and was engaged
in the research of the aromatic principle of the cocoa bean.In 1914, he was
appointed research chemist at the Doncaster Coalminers’ Laboratory but
enlisted with the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment when the war began; in
June 1917, he was caught in a gas attack whilst fighting with his battalion
at the Hindenburg Line.When the German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht or
‘Kaiser’s Battle’) began on 21 March 1918, Captain Bainbridge
and the battalion were moved up to Brie and marched for six hours to the front
line at Hancourt. At 6.30pm on 22 March, as the enemy was pushing the 5th
Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on the left of the 4th Yorkshires back,
Captain Bainbridge attempted to steady and rally the DLI. He was killed when
he became caught in heavy enemy fire; his body was never recovered."
Further information, including a photo and biographical data, on James Scott
Bainbridge can be found on the Old
Barnardians commemorative website.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Henry Coates. 15210. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire
Regiment. Son of John and Emma Coates, of 6, Downhill St., Layerthorpe, York.
Killed 7 August 1915. Aged 16.
Born York, Enlisted York.
Commemorated Panel 55 to 58, HELLES MEMORIAL.
(Richard Roberts, <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>, commented;-
"Although he died aged only 16 (!) so wasn’t working at the time
of the 1911 Census, his family was living close to the Rowntree factory in
Haxby Street so he could have been a young worker there just before he enlisted.
I haven’t found another H Coates with any connection to the Rowntree
business.")
Private Albert George Heppell, 26734. 8th Battalion
the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Isaac and Emma Heppell, of 31, Townend St.,
York. Killed 18 February 1917. Aged 24.
Born Lancaster, Enlisted York.
(Birth recorded as "George Alfred Heppell", b. Lancaster Q4 1892.)
Buried HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
(Richard Roberts, <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>, commented;-
"The CWGC do not have another A Heppell in their records.")
Private Frank Robinson, 15209. 8th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Son of Mrs. Sarah Robinson, of 7, Richmond St., Hallfield Rd., Layerthorpe,
York. Killed 14 April 1916. Aged 23.
Born York, Enlisted York.
Buried TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY.
(Richard Roberts, <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>, commented;-
"There is an F Robinson on the Rowntree & Co War Memorial who I believe
is Pte 15209 Frank Robinson of the Yorkshire Regiment. His mother was named
Sarah and according to the 1911 Census he was a confectionary maker by trade
which links him to this memorial. ")
Private John Patrick Rowan. 15204. 7th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Husband of Lily Ann Rowan, of 55, Hope St., Walmgate, York. Killed
8 February 1917. Aged 30.
Born York, Enlisted York.
Commemorated Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
(Richard Roberts, <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>, commented;-
"The CWGC record two J P Rowans, the other being an Irishman with no
obvious connection to York.")
Detail
from the First World War Memorial for Rowntrees of York
Photo : Ken Haywood of the IMperial War Museum's Register
of War Memorials
-----------------> Return to top of the page