Home. Origins of the Battalion.
Page 1. Start of the First World War.
Page 2. To the Ypres Salient.
Page 3. Ypres. The Battle of St Julien.
Page 4. April 1915. Ypres. Gas.
Page 5. Battle of St Julien losses.
Page 6. New Division Name.
Page 7. The Battle of Bellewaarde.
Page 8. Bellewaarde Losses. Sanctuary Wood.
Page 9. Neuve Eglise, Kemmel Sector.
Page 10. August 1915. To Armentieres.
Page 11. Sep/Oct 1915. Armentieres.
Page 12. October 1915. Armentieres.
Page 13. Oct/Nov 1915. Armentieres.
Page 14. Nov/Dec 1915. To Merris.
Page 15. Back to the Ypres Salient.
Page 16. Jan 1916. Armagh Wood.
Page 17. Feb 1916. Hill 60.
Page 18. Mine Explosion.
Page 19. Feb 1916. Ypres. Hill 60.
Page 20. Armagh Wood. CO Killed.
Page 21. Mar/Apr 1916. Kemmel.
Page 22. Apr/May 1916. Fletre. Kemmel.
Page 23. June 1916. Friendly Fire Kemmel.
Page 24. Jun/Jul 1916. Kemmel.
Page 25. July 1916. Kemmel.
Page 26. Aug 1916. To the Somme.
Page 27. Battle of Flers Courcelette.
Page 28. Sep 1916. Flers-Courcelette.
Page 29. The Thiepval Memorial.
Page 30. Flers-Courcelette. Losses.
Page 31. Flers-Courcelette. Attack repelled.
Page 32.Training. Martinpuich.
Page 33. In the Line near Flers.
Page 34. Nov 1916. Martinpuich. Flers.
Page 35. Flers. To Belloy.
Page 36. Feb/Mar 1917. Belloy.
Page 37. April 1917. To Arras.
Page 38. Capt D.P. Hirsch. V.C.
Page 39. The Arras Memorial.
Page 40. The Arras Memorial.
Page 41. Arras Burial Sites.
Page 42. Arras. Famechon.
Page 43. May 1917. Famechon. Bayencourt.
Page 44. June 1917 Back in the Line. Arras.
Page 45. Sep 1917. Arras. Wancourt.
Page 46. Oct 1917. Back to Ypres.
Page 47. Nov 1917. Passchendaele.
Page 48. Jan 1918. Ypres.
Page 49. Feb 1918. Last of Ypres.
Page 50. The Battle of St Quentin.
Page 51. German Offensive. Michael.
Page 52. German Advance. Pozieres Memorial.
Page 53. Losses on both sides.
Page 54. From the Somme to the Lys.
Page 55. April 1918. Battle of Estaires.
Page 56. Ploegsteert Memorial.
Page 57. From the Lys to the Aisne.
Page 58. German Offensive. Blucher-Yorck.
Page 59. May 1918. 150th Brigade decimated.
Page 60. End of the 4th Yorks.
Page 61. Last Weeks of War.
Page 62. Prisoners of War.
Page 63. Prisoners of War.
Page 64. Prisoners of War.
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MARCH 1918. GERMAN ADVANCE. POZIERES MEMORIAL.
25th MARCH.
The Btn had snatched a few hours rest at Marchelpot.
They were then detailed to make a counter attack at 7 a.m.
When the Brigadier of 150th heard that his exhausted men were to be sent once more into battle he entered a strong protest, but it was too late to make any alterations.
About 3 a.m the Btn was in position about one thousand yards North East of Licourt with the East Yorkshires on the left.
Diary "In the morning the Btn with the 4th East Yorks, on our left, was ordered to attack the enemy, who had crossed the River Somme by St Christ Bridge.
This attack was to be supported by some French Troops, one Tank, some armoured cars and an Artillery barrage, but nothing was ever seen of any of these.
Zero Hour was continually postponed, until about 10.0 a.m the enemy attacked.
Our line was held until the enemy worked round our flanks.
Our line at this time East of Licourt.
One Company of the Btn fought on until they were surrounded.
The remainder fell back about half a mile in the direction of Misery, where they held an old trench for seven hours. About 6 p.m. as touch could not be obtained with any other uit and as small arms ammunition was running short, Lt Col Wilkinson of the 4th East Yorks, who had taken over command of the detachment, ordered a retirement to the railway line North West of Misery.
After about half an hour a further retirement was ordered to a line East of Fresnes. |
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Position of the front line on the 27th March 1918.
The 4th Yorks path of withdrawal shown in green.
The East Yorks Diary - "It was an uneven fight, for always we were outnumbered. If a German was shot down there were half a dozen ready to take his place; but we had no reserves.
During the evening touch was obtained with 150th Brigade HQ and orders were received to join the remainder of the Brigade at Ablaincourt, which place was reached about midnight.
The 5th and 4th Yorks and 4th East Yorks, in that order, occupied trenches immediately East of the village.
By now they had lost so many men they formed one Composite Battalion. The strength of the Units at this time being 4th Yorks Btn 110, 4th East Yorks 300 and 5th Yorks 140.
The Brigadier recorded that from the morning of the 25th to the concentration of the Brigade West of Amiens on the 1st April the battalions ceased to fight under the ordeers of the Brigade, but were attached to the 24th Inf Bde of 8 Div and later to 20th Division. |
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Pozieres Memorial.
[Picture courtesy of - "WW1Cemeteries.com".]
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204248 Pte Harrison Alfred. Home at - 145 West Percy St, North Shields. Enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne. Died of wounds. Age 32.Buried at Pargny British Cemetery
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20892 Pte Layburn Robert, Harold. Born and enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Killed in action. Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
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46529 Pte Place William. Born and enlisted at Beeston, Leeds. Killed in action. Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
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201988 Pte Rosewell Herbert. Home at Easton Bristol, place of enlistment. Born at Totterdown. Died of wounds. Buried at Rosieres British Cemetery.
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German Regiment.
[Picture from - "Das Archiv zum 1. Weltkrieg ".]
26th MARCH.
Diary " Early in the afternoon the Brigade withdrew through Lihoms to Rosieres En Santerre, which place was reached about 5 p.m. The Brigade dug in here, facing South East, and held the position throughout the night and all the following day. We were in Support, with the 4th East Yorks on our Left. The 5th Yorks Btn and 8th D.L.I. were in the Front line. Casualties 2nd Lt R Campbell wounded and missing. Lt M.W. Macnay and 2nd Lt D.J.E. Lamb wounded.
15 other ranks were killed in action this day. The following 6 are commemorated on the Posieres Memorial.
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240760 Pte Buckle Robert, Henry. Home at Normanby, Sinnington N Yorks. Enlisted at Malton, N Yorks.
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235092 Pte Desborough Arthur. Born and enlisted at Finedon Northants.
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205306 Pte Dixon Jack. Born and enlisted at Hull.
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201996 Pte Greaves William Henry Home at The Kings Arms Hotel, St John's Chapel, Weardale, Co Durham. Born Yeadon and enlisted at Darlington. Age 43.
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38764 Pte Lightbown John. Born and enlisted at Darwen.
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16757 Pte Swinburne Henry. Home at Malton N Yorks. Born at Richmond and enlisted at Scarborough, N Yorks.
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