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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APRIL 1918. THE BATTLE OF ESTAIRES.
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10 APRIL. Official despatches reported that the enemy launched heavy attacks covered by Artillery fire about the river crossings at Lestrem and Estaires and succeeded in reaching the left bank of both places; but in each case he was driven back again by determined counter attacks by the 50th Division.
Diary "The Btn held the line taken up on the previous afternoon.
At about 11 a.m. the troops holding the line opposite Pt Vanuxeem [i.e. at right angles to the Front] were driven back.
This retirement eventually exposed our left flank and as we were heavily attacked in front at the same time, we were compelled to fall back on the new line which the troops on our left had taken up.
This line was from 100 to 300 yards East of and parallel to the Trou Bayard - Le Pt Mortier Road.
The 4th East Yorks were on our right and 5th Yorks on our Left.
Casualties - Major Graham A, Lt Farquhason F D, 2 Lt and Adjt Webb H E and 2 Lt Ibbetson H W wounded."
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43560 Pte Clarkson Arthur. Born and enlisted at Leeds, Yorks Died of wounds. Age 18.Buried at La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck.
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23973 Pte Dixon Albert William Home at - 29 Poplar St, Middlesbrough, N Yorks, town of birth and enlistment. Died of wounds 180410 23 Hautmont Communal Cemetery
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43616 Pte Elliott William Born and enlisted at Hucknall Notts. Killed in action 180410 Ploegsteert Memorial
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46504 Pte Jackson James Ernest Home at - High Pittington Durham. Born at Beamish and enlisted at Houghon Le Spring, Co Durham. Died of wounds. buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
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Position at Estaires on the 10th April 1918.
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35325 Pte Long Lawrence Home at Windermere, place of birth. Enlisted at Kendal. Killed in action. Buried at Croix Du Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck.
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240263 Pte Mennell Frank. Born and enlisted at Scarborough, N Yorks. Killed in action. Buried at Croix Du Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck.
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200446 Pte Page John, Percival. Home at Yarm N Yorks. Enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks. Died of wounds. Age 21. Buried at La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck
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201763 Pte Sleath Thomas, William. Born and enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Killed in action. Age 21.Buried at Pont Du Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue.
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180410 L/Cpl Surtes Harold. Home at Waterfall Terrace, Great Ayton, N Yorks, place of birth. Enlisted at Stokesley. Died of wounds. Age 26. Buried at Haverskerque British Cemetery.
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201388 Pte Tait George. Enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Killed in action. Buried at Croix Du Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck.
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German Infantry prepare to attack.
[Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".]
11 APRIL. Diary - "At about 8.0 a.m. the enemy commenced his attack and about an hour later the troops on our left flank fell back and we were compelled to conform with this movement.
During this withdrawal units became very much disorganised. Isolated groups of our men were collected and put into a line.
During the afternoon orders were received that the 150th Brigade was to assemble at four-cross roads West of Doulieu and were to remain there until 1 a.m. the next morning, but at about 4.30 p.m. orders were received to report to Brigade Headquarters at Vierhouck.
Some of the party reached Vierhouck, but the remainder took up a position to rally the men who were retiring from Neuf Berquin. This party became isolated and at dusk withdrew and reported at Brigade HQ which had then removed to Arrewage.
The night was spent in billets in the neighbourhood of Arrewage.
Casualties - 2nd Lt Cliffe W A missing." |
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Pont Du Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue.
Situated about 5k to the East of Estaires.
13 men of the 4th Yorks Btn are buried here.
[Picture courtesy of - "WW1Cemeteries.com".]
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14562 Pte Allison John, George. Home in Ryhope, Co Durham. Enlisted at Sunderland. Killed in action. Age 29. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
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34630 Pte Buckner Frank. Home at - 6 Warwick Place, Ealing, London place of enlistment. Born Shadwell, Middlesex. Died of wounds. Age 22. Buried at La Kreule Military Cemetery Hazebrouck. Ex RASC.
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35170 Pte Howitt Walter, Ernest. Home at - Rotherham Yorks. Born Swindon, Yorks and enlisted Pontefract, Yorks. Killed in action. Buried at Pont Du Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue. Ex 9th T R. Battn
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240810 Pte Skelton Robert, Matthew. Home at Skipsey, Seaton, Hull, Yorks. Born at Bridlington, Yorks. Killed in action. Age 20. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
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12 APRIL. Official despatches reported that at about 8 a.m the enemy attacked in great strength on a Front extending from South of the Estaires - Vieux Berquin neighbourhood. After very heavy fighting...he succeeded in the afternoon in overcoming the resistance of our troops about Doulieu and La Becque, forcing them back in a North Westerly direction.
Diary - "At 5.0 a.m. the party which was reinforced by another party of stragglers took up a line East of Pt Tournant. The 3rd Btn Coldstream Guards were on our left and a party of straggers from 151st Brigade on the right. This line was held until about 4.0 p.m. when it was forced back in considerable disorder. Stragglers were Collected and a very thin line was formed. No attack was made on this line. About 3.0 p.m. the party was relieved by a batch of another Division and marched to La Motte Au Bois where the night was spent in huts. Casualties 2 Lt Clidero H A Wounded." |
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