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Picture
​The War Memorial in Bedale
 
in the churchyard of St Gregory's Church
 
To the glory of God and to the honoured
memory of the men from the parish of Bedale
who gave their lives for their King and Country
in the Great War 1914 - 1919
 
"Their name liveth evermore"
 
1914                                        1915                                        1916
 
Robert Stokell                         Charles Z. Beresford              William Atkinson
Peter Binks                             Henry Bullock
John William Buckle               Harold Hudson
Walter Corps                           Tom Hutchinson
Ralph Goldsborough               John Henry Martin
Alfred Hutchinson                   Richard Nicholson
William Mudd Kay                   Albert Rispin
Frederick Metcalfe                  Harold Morris Thomas
George Metcalfe                     Peter Taylor Watt
William Oliver Watson
           
1917                                        1918                                        1919
George Thomas Hudson        Albert E Bennison                   George Caygill
Walter George Hudson           Frederick Caygill
Herbert Jaques                       Harry Caygill
George Megson                      George Corps
Robert Miller                           John William Jordan
Benjamin Molyneux                Arthur Bertram Lawson
Frederick Owston                   John Edward Leeming
James Sherley                        Charles Metcalf
John William Taylor                Alfred Milner
Frederick Timms                     John Rispin
Walter Webster                       Ralph Sanderson
William Stead                          Joseph Shaw
                                                David Stanley Thompson
           
  
1939 - 1945
Thomas Frederick Bell                                    Frank Hall
Fred Beck                                                       Robert David Hutton-Squire
James A. Beck                                               George Kershaw
Frederick Bennington                                      Samuel William Jarman
Lorenzo Bennington                                        Frederick George Neill
John Raymond de la Poer Beresford-Peirse Christopher Place      
Arthur Braithwaite                                           William Sayers
Malcolm Charlish                                            Austen Smith 
Robert Francis Dunning                                  Walter Henry Thompson                   
John Gibson                                                    Stanley Wainde
Christopher James Barker                             Alfred Watson
 
The Fallen in WW1
 
ATKINSON, William
Farrier Corporal, 2nd Auxilary Park Train, Horse Transport, Army Service Corps. Army no TS/9645.
He was killed in action on Thursday 17 October 1918. He was 36.
He was the son of John T and Mary Atkinson, School View, Hunton.,
He is buried in Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension set between Venice and the Italian Lakes.  His headstone is inscribed: We wished him luck but never thought it was our last goodbye.
 
BENNISON, Albert Edward
Private, 1st Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps. Army no. 14307. He also served as Private, Army no 1757 with Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment).
He was killed in action on 18 July 1918. He was 24.
He was the son of Sarah Bennison, 86 Cobden Street, Eastborne, Darlington.
He is buried in Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension which is south of Bethune.
 
BERESFORD, Charles Zaragoza de la Poer 
Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment, 24 Brigade, 8th Division. 
He was killed in action on Sunday 9 May 1915 in the Battle of Aubers Ridge. He was 22.
He was the son of Mary De Vere Hunt (formerly Beresford), Alexander House, Alma Road, Windsor and the late Lieutenant Commander de la Poer Beresford (RN).
He is remembered on The Ploegsteert Memorial.
 
BINKS, Peter
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no 2110.
He was killed in action on 2 May 1915 at the Battle of St Julien. He was 35.
He was the husband of Minnie Binks.
He is remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
 
BUCKLE, John William
Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 32 Brigade, 11th Division. Army no 8439.
He was killed in action on 7 August 1915 in Gallipoli. He was 33.
He was the son of Charles and Emma Buckle of Aiskew, Bedale.
He is buried in Lala Baba Cemetery, Turkey.
 
BULLOCK, Henry
Private, 15th Company, Army Cyclist Corps.  Army no 7891.
He died from his wounds on Tuesday 4 July 1916. He was 25.
He was the son of Edwin and Maria Bullock, 44 Beech Avenue, Hawton Ville, Newark who lived in Bedale.
He is buried in Méricourt l'Abbé Communal Cemetery Extension which is near Albert. His headstone is inscribed “Peace Perfect Peace”.
 
CAYGILL, Frederick
Private, 9th (service) Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 43 Brigade, 14th Division.  Army no. 201947.
He died from his wounds on Friday 26 April 1918 in Hospital. He was 27.
He was the son of Arthur and Jayne Caygill, Bedale
He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
 
CAYGILL, George
Air Mechanic 2nd Class, 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force, RAF no 297507
He dies whilst on active service on Monday 7 July 1919. He was 32.
He was the son of Elizabeth Caygill, Aiskew, Bedale, and the late Christopher Caygill.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale and his headstone is inscribed “Still to Memory Dear”
Additional information
George Caygill was based at the Fermoy Military Aerodrome in Ireland when he died of shock and haemorrhage from a self-inflicted revolver wound. He was found dead in his hut at the aerodrome on the morning of 7 July 1919. An officer testified at the inquest that he had been seriously depressed about not having received his discharge.
His death was deemed by the inquest jury to have resulted ‘from revolver wounds self-inflicted whilst temporarily insane’.
 
CAYGILL, Harry
Private, 5th Battalion, The Tank Corps,  Army no. 91859. He also served as Private, Army no 39014 with Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment).
He was killed in action on 27 March 1918. He was 20.
He was the son of Arthur and Jane Caygill, Bedale.
He is remembered on The Pozières Memorial.
Additional information
17 tanks of 5th Battalion rallied at Cartigny on 22 March and the next day were ordered to retire over the Somme at Brie to the south. They set of immediately but the German advance had overtaken them and they were unable to cross the river.  To save the machines falling into enemy hands all seventeen were destroyed, along with their stores and kit. Only the Lewis guns were salvaged.
The crews then crossed the Somme at other places and were formed into Lewis gun teams
to form rear guards protecting the retreat. Teams fought at Masvillers and Merlaincourt, others near Villers Bretonneux, Caix, Harbonnières and Marcourt, the retreat carrying them almost to Amiens. Between 24 March and 2 April, 5th Battalion sent a total of 84 Lewis gun teams into the line. They suffered heavy casualties.
 
CORPS, George
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment). Army no. 201990.
He died from his wounds on 16 May 1918. He was 21.
He was the son of Thomas and Sarah Corps, Aiskew.
He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery Kassel, Hessen, Germany.
Additional information 
This cemetery is one of four in Germany where Allied Prisoners of War are buried. Men were reinterred here who had previously been buried in at least 17 other cemeteries. The PoW records reveal that he had been captured on 11 April 1916. He had a wound to his back and he later died on Inflammation of the Chest.
 
CORPS, Walter Henry
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no 518.
He was the son of James and Catherine Corps, Bedale.
He died from his wounds on 5 May 1915 probably in the Hospital at Le Tréport.  He was 21.
He is buried in Le Tréport Military Cemetery.
 
GOLDSBOROUGH, Ralph
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no 1519.
He was killed in action on 25 April 1915 in the second Battle of Ypres when the German Army used Gas Warfare for the first time. He was 22.
He was the son of Bartle and Rebecca Goldsbrough.
He is remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional information
His birth is registered as Goldsbrough and appears thus in SWD but CWGC has Goldsborough as does the Town’s War Memorial
 
HUDSON, George Thomas
Private, C Company, 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd Leeds), The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 106 Brigade, XIX Corps.  Army no. 17/1225.
He died from his wounds on Sunday 18 November 1917. Just two days earlier the Battalion had been transferred to working on the Railways. He was 32.
He was the son of John and Sarah Hudson, Aiskew, Bedale.
He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed Thy will be done.
 
HUDSON, Harold
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no 3883.
He was the son of Charles and Alice Hudson, Leeming Bar, Bedale
He died from his wounds on Monday 4 December 1916 presumably at the major Hospital Centre in Rouen. He was 19.
He is buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
 
HUDSON, Walter George
Private, 8th (Service) Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment, 70 Brigade, 8th Division.  Army no. 34217, he had also served as Private, Army no. 20279 with Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment).
He was the son of Charles and Alice Hudson, Leeming Bar, Bedale.
He was killed in action on 9 April 1917. He was 23.
He is remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
 
HUTCHINSON, Alfred
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no 1829.
He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hutchinson, Aiskew, Bedale.
He was killed in action on Sunday 2 May 1915 in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He was 20.
He is remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
 
HUTCHINSON, Tom
Private, 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Leeds), The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 93 Brigade, 31st Division.  Army no. 15/1264.
He was killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He was 26.
He was the son of Elizabeth Hutchinson, Aiskew, Bedale.
He is remembered on The Thiepval Memorial.
 
JAQUES, Herbert Sedgwick
Rifleman, 8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), 140 Brigade, 47th Division.  Army no. 372732.
He was killed in action near Ypres on Friday 30 March 1917. He was 30.
He was the son of Jonathan Jaques.
He is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Ypres.
 
JORDAN, John William
Private, Army Service Corps. Army no TS/3328
He died on Sunday 17 March 1918. He was 37. He had been discharged from the Army on medical grounds.
He was the son of Elizabeth Jordan, Swans Cottage, Aiskew, Bedale.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale and his headstone is inscribed “R.I.P.”
 
KAY, William Mudd
Gunner, 29th Divisional Royal Field Artillery 67781.
He died on active service at sea on Friday 16 April 1915 near Gallipoli. He was 48.
He was the husband of Louisa Ann Kay, Bedale.
He is remembered on The Helles Memorial.
 
LAWSON, Arthur Bertram DSO and Bar, 3 times Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel, 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars attached to 2nd/5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment. 
He was killed in action on Monday 24 June 1918. He was 35.
He is buried in St. Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq.
To quote from Winchester College records: “He was the son of Sir Arthur Tredgold Lawson, Bart., JP, and Louisa, of Weetwood Grange, Leeds. He fell in action between Calonne-sur-Lys and Robecq on June 24th 1918.
His Brigadier wrote: “He was walking in front of his line on the south side of the Noc stream, he had gone out alone to satisfy himself personally as to certain enemy dispositions. He was seen a few yards from a German post and then disappeared behind a hedge. The sound of rifle shots and bombs was heard and he was not seen again. His body was found some days later and buried close to the Noc (Robecq)… To the 2/5th Glosters it was like a personal bereavement”. He had been awarded the DSO in April 1918 and a posthumous Bar in September 1918. He had been three times mentioned in Despatches and had received the Russian Order of St Stanislas.
 
LEEMING, John Edward
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), 148 Brigade, 49th Division.  Army no. 200454.
He was killed in action on Saturday 13 April 1918 in the Battle of Bailleul. He was 39.
He was the son of Mary and the late Edward Leeming and the husband of Charlotte Leeming, Kirkgate, Knaresborough.
He is remembered on The Tyne Cot Memorial.
 
MARTIN, John Henry           
Private, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) Army no. 2990.
He died as a result of his military service on Tuesday 26 December 1916 in Kings Norton Registration District and his death is registered as a civilian as he had been discharged on 15 November that same year. He was 26.
He was the son of Henry Martin, Boston.
He is buried in Radcliffe on Trent Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “Rest After Weariness, Peace After Pain”
 
MEGSON, George
Private, 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion TF, The Highland Light Infantry, 100 Brigade, 33rd Division.  Army no. 241708.
He was the husband of Edith Alice Wallis (formerly Megson) 14 Durham Street, East Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
He was killed in action on Tuesday 25 September 1917 at the Battle of the Menin Road Bridge, Ypres. He was 30.
He is buried in the Hooge Crater Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “Death Divides but Memory Clings”
 
METCALF, Charles   1918
I have found no record.
 
METCALFE Frederick
Private, 2nd Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment, 16 Brigade, 6th Division.  Army no 7378.
He was killed in action on Monday 9 August 1915 in the fighting called 2nd Ypres which included a major battle at Hooge. He was 31.
He was the son of John and Mary Ann Metcalfe, Aiskew Bank, Bedale and the husband of Mary Jane Evans (formerly Metcalfe), 8 Railway Row, Monmore Green, Bilston Road, Wolverhampton.
He is remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
 
METCALFE, George
Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) Brigade, Division.  Army no. 10703.
He was killed in action on Saturday 7 August 1915 in Gallipoli. He was 30.
He was the son of Agnes and the late William Metcalfe, Tattersfield Street, Ossett.
He is remembered on The Helles Memorial.
 
MILLER, Robert
Private, 2nd Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 21 Brigade, 30th Division. Army no 30684.
He was killed in action on 9 April 1917 in the first Battle of the Scarpe. He was 36.
He was the son of Stewart and Isabella Miller of Kinross and the husband of Ethel Miller, Little Crakehall, Bedale.
He is buried in Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse.
 
MILNER, Alfred
Private, 17th (Service) Battalion (1st South-East Lancashire), The Lancashire Fusiliers 104 Brigade, 35th Division. Army no 300141. He also served as Private, Army no 205035 with the Northumberland Fusiliers.
He was killed in action on Sunday 27 October 1918 at the Battle of Courtrai in Belgium. He was 33.
He was the husband of Mary Milner, Towlers Cottages, Aiskew, Bedale.
He is buried in Vichte Military Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “At Rest”.
 
MOLYNEUX, Benjamin       
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no. 203070. He had also served as Private, Army no 2600 with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry (Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own).
He was the son of Margaret and the late Henry Molyneux, Liverpool and the husband of Alice Molyneux, Catterick. 
He was killed in action on Monday 23 April 1917 at the second Battle of the Scarpe. He was 28.
He is remembered on The Arras Memorial.
 
NICHOLSON, Richard
Private, 1st/5th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 150 Brigade, 50th Division. Army no. 41056.
He died from his wounds on 12 September 1916. He was 23.
He was the son of David and Annie Nicholson.
He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Méricourt l'Abbé.
 
OWSTON, Frederick
I believe that this should be Owston, Frank
Private, 2nd/5th Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment).  Army no. 2731
He died from his wounds on Sunday 25 February 1917 in Hospital in Wimereux. He was 25.
He was the son of Francis Owston, High Street, Rillington and the husband of Emily E Owston, Leeming Bar.
He is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed Rest In Peace.
 
RISPIN, Albert
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 147 Brigade, 49th Division.  Army no. 202854.
He was killed in action on Sunday 3 September 1916 on the Somme. He was 23.
He was the son of John and Ellen Rispin, Aiskew Crossing, Bedale
He is buried in Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval and his headstone is inscribed His life for his country fighting a righteous cause may God give him rest and peace.
 
RISPIN, John
Private, 1st/6th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, 137 Brigade, 46th Division.  Army no. 43673.
He was killed in action on Sunday 29 September 1918 at the Passage at Bellenglise. He was 19.
He was the son of John Rispin, Aiskew Crossing, Bedale.
He is buried in Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension and his headstone is inscribed “His Life for His Country Fighting A Righteous Cause May God Give Him Rest and Peace”
 
SANDERSON, Ralph                  
Private, 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards, 7 Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division.  Army no. 20472.
He was killed in action on Sunday 24 March 1918 in the German attack on Bapaume. He was 41.
He is remembered on The Pozières Memorial.
 
SHAW, Joseph
Private, B Training Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Army no 184706.
He died as a result of his military service on Sunday 3 November 1918. He was 19.
He was the son of J. Shaw, Firley Lodge, Bedale.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale.
 
SHERLEY, James
Captain, Army Veterinary Corps attached to 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
He was killed in action on Tuesday 27 November 1917 in the closing stages of the battle of Cambrai. He was 51.
He was the son of the late William and Rebecca Sherley of Twickenham and the husband of Jessie Sherley, 39 Zetland Street, Southport.
He is buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery near Cambrai and his headstone is inscribed Aut Per Super.
 
STEAD, William
Private, 1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 17 Brigade, 24th Division. Army no. 4451.
He was killed on active service on Wednesday 11 April 1917 at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was 20.
He was the son of Robert and Mary H Stead, Sussex Street, Bedale.
He is buried in Achicourt Road Cemetery, Achicourt, near Arras and his headstone is inscribed Eternal Rest Give To Him O Lord KBS.
His record does not appear in SWD.
 
STOKELL, Robert
Boy 1st Class, HMS Hawke, Royal Navy. RN no J/25783.
He died at sea on active service on Thursday 15 October 1914. He was 17.
He was the son of Eva Stokell, 2 Clapham Yard, Northallerton and born in Bedale.
He is remembered on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Additional information
In February 1913, HMS Hawke joined the training squadron based at Queenstown, Ireland (now known as Cobh). On the outbreak of WW1, HMS Hawke, and the other Edgar Class Cruisers from Queenstown, formed the 10th Cruiser Squadron, operating on blockade duties between the Shetland Islands and Norway.
On 15 October, the squadron was on patrol off Aberdeen, HMS Hawke stopped at 9:30 am to pick up mail from sister ship HMS Endymion. After recovering her boat with the mail, HMS Hawke proceeded at 13 knots without zig-zagging to regain her station. At 10:30 a single torpedo from the German submarine U-9, struck Hawke, which quickly capsized. The destroyer HMS Swift was dispatched from Scapa Flow to search for HMS Hawke and found a raft carrying one officer and 21 men, while a boat with a further 49 survivors was rescued by a Norwegian steamer.  524 officers and men died.
 
TAYLOR, John William
Private, 9th (Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 32 Brigade, 11th Division. Army no. 235792. He had also served as Private, Army no 2044 with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry.
He was killed in action on Saturday 10 November 1917. He was 24.
He was the son of John B and Mary J Taylor, Leases Farm, Bedale.
He is buried in Loos British Cemetery.
 
THOMAS, Harold Morris
2nd Lieutenant, 1st/4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment) 150 Brigade, 50th Division.
He was killed in action on 10 November 1916 at the Butte de Warlencourt to the side of the Albert to Bapaume road. He was 40.
He was the son of W R Thomas, The Elms, West Sunderland and the husband of the late Elizabeth Thomas.
He is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery near Bapaume.
 
THOMPSON, David Stanley
Private, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, 4 Guards Brigade, 2nd Division.  Army no. 21298
He was killed in action on Wednesday 24 July 1918 near Arras. He was 20.
He was the son of Arthur and Mary Thompson, Aiskew, Bedale.
He is buried in Berles New Military Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “Peace Perfect Peace with Loved Ones Far Away”
 
TIMMS, Frederick Augustus
Private, 7th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 50 Brigade, 17th Division. Army no 39035.
He was killed in action on 25 May 1917 near Arras. He was 27.
He is remembered on The Arras Memorial.
 
WATSON, William Oliver
Private, 6th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 32 Brigade, 11th Division.  Army no. 10885.
He was the son of George and Margaret Watson, Albert Row, Bedale.
He was killed in action on 21 August 1915 in the Battle of Suvla, Gallipoli. He was 19.
He is remembered on The Helles Memorial.
 
WATT, Peter Taylor
Private, 7th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 50 Brigade, 17th Division. Army no. 18764.
He was the son of John and Janet Watt, Leeming Bar, Bedale and the husband of Mary Ellen Watt.
He was killed in action on Thursday 27 July 1916 in the battlefields of the Somme. He was 33.
He is buried in Meaulte Military Cemetery near Arras and his headstone is inscribed “He sleeps with England’s heroes, in the watchful care of God M.E. Watt
 
WEBSTER, Walter
Private, 9th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, (Yorkshire Regiment), 69 Brigade, 23rd Division. Army no 36037.
He was the son of William and Mary Webster, Emgate, Bedale.
He was killed in action on 24 September 1917 at the Battle of the Menin Road Bridge. He was 21.
He is remembered on The Tyne Cot Memorial.
 
 
The Fallen in WW2
 
BARKER, Christopher James 
Petty Officer/Stoker, HMS Derwent, Royal Navy D/KX 77212.
He died on active service on Saturday 20 March 1943. He was 40.
He is buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta
He was the son of Edmund and Annie Barker, Northallerton and the husband of Annie Elizabeth Barker, Bedale.
Additional information
On 19 March 1943 while anchored in Tripoli, Libya, HMS Derwent was hit by a Motobomba (pattern-running torpedo) launched by an Italian aircraft. The ship was beached to save her but Christopher Barker was one of the crew that was killed.
 
BELL, Thomas Frederick
Driver, Royal Army Service Corps. Army no. 224281.
He died on Sunday 20 July 1941 on active service in the deserts of North Africa, a Desert Rat. He was 29.
He was the son of Thomas William and Hilda A Bell and the husband of Lillie Bell, Bedale.
He is buried in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery which is close to the Egyptian border and near the coast. His headstone is inscribed Thy Will Be Done.
           
BECK, Frederick known as Fred
Private, 16th Battalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment). Army no. 439117.
He died on active service on Monday 26 October 1942 in the fighting at El Alamein.
He was the son of John T and Mary Beck, Leeming Bar.
He is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “beautiful memories treasured ever of those happy days we spent together”       
           
BECK, James Andrew.
Sergeant, 467 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 641951.  
He was killed on active service on Saturday 28 August 1943. He was 23.
He was the son of Mary Beck, Leeming Bar.
He is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed Rest In Peace.   
Additional information
Lancaster III, EE194 PO-E took off from RAF Bottesford and crashed at Mausdorf. All 7 of the crew were killed
                       
BENNINGTON, Frederick
Warrant Officer Class III, 41 Battery, 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Army no. 1060400
He died on active service on Wednesday 10 April 1940. As he is buried in Bedale, we know that he died in England. He was 35.
He was the son of Thomas William and Ann Elizabeth Bennington and the husband of Nora Bennington, Bedale.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale and his headstone is inscribed Greater Love hath no Man than This, that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends           
BENNINGTON, Lorenzo
Warrant Officer Class II, Royal Corps of Signals. Army no. 2321693.
He died, probably as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese Army, on Tuesday 21 December 1943. He was 32.
He was the son of Alfred and Maud M Bennington and the husband of Vera Bennington, Bedale.
He is buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore and his headstone is inscribed Thoughts Drift Back to Bygone Days; Life Moves on but Memories Stay.    
 
BERESFORD-PEIRSE, John Raymond de la Poer
Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, The Rangers, a Territorial Unit which became 10th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.  Army no. 296758.
He died on active Service on Saturday 11 March 1944. As he is buried in Whorlton, we know that he died in England. He was 20.
He was the son of Major R W Beresford-Peirse, RAOC, and Mrs. Beresford-Peirse, Aiskew.
He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Cross Old Church, Whorlton, Yorkshire and his headstone is inscribed He Gave His Life For His Country.
 
BRAITHWAITE, Arthur
Private, 7th Batttalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment). Army no. 4389610.
He died on active service on Friday 16 July 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. He was 24.
He was the son of Albert T and Annie Braithwaite, Bedale  
He is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily and his headstone is inscribed O, Heavenly Star shine on the grave of a Son we loved but could not save.
 
CHARLISH, Malcolm
Sergeant, 178 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no 2202796.
He was killed on active service on Wednesday 14 June 1944. He was 19.
He was the son of Fred and Margaret Charlish, Bedale,
He is buried in Choloy War Cemetery near Nancy, France and his headstone is inscribed Thy Will Be Done.
Additional information
On 13 June 1944 some 90 planes took off on a mission to bomb the railway yards at Munich. Malcolm Charlish was the Flight Engineer on Liberator EW277 based at the airfield at Foggia No 1, Celone, Italy. EW277 did not return from its mission and was listed as missing in action. It was after the war had finished, when the Americans returned to recover their lost servicemen that the 5 crew members from EW277, mistaken for Americans, were removed from their burial place in Furtenfeldbruck, Germany to St. Avoid in France. Later when the mistake was found they were moved again to Choloy Memorial Cemetery, Nr. Nancy.
 
DUNNING, Robert Francis
Lance Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Army no. 2657312.
He died covering the rear guard in the retreat to Dunkirk on Friday 7 June 1940. He was 22.
He was the son of Albert and Lilian Dunning, Rainton.
He is buried in St. Amandsberg Communal Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed He died that we might live. Gone but not forgotten.
 
GIBSON, John
Private, 30th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Army no. 3133861.
He died on active service on Monday 7 May 1945 near Rome. This is the Day before there was an unconditional surrender of the German Forces and their Allies.
He was the son of Thomas and Charlotte Gibson, Ayr and the husband of Annie Gibson, Bedale.
He is buried in Rome War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed In memory of John beloved husband of Annie, son of T and C Gibson of Ayr, Scotland. Until we meet again.
           
HALL, Frank
Air Mechanic 1st Class, HMS Avenger, Royal Navy. RN no FAA/FX. 81049.
He died on active service on Sunday 15 November 1942. HMS Avenger was an aircraft carrier which was sunk soon after leaving Gibraltar to return to England for repairs by the German Submarine U155. He was 26.
He was the son of Esau and Alice M Hall, Bedale.
He is remembered on The Lee on Solent Memorial.
 
HUTTON-SQUIRE, Robert David
Second Lieutenant, 53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, The Royal Artillery. Army no. 94528.
He died on active service during the retreat to Dunkirk on Thursday 30 May 1940. He was 31.
He was the son of John Redmond and Gladys Maud Hutton-Squire, Leeming Bar.
He is buried in Proven Churchyard, Belgium and his headstone is inscribed In Very Loving Memory.
 
KERSHAW, George
Corporal, 942/943 Balloon Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. RAFVR no. 1118623.
He died on active service on Thursday 31 August 1944. His unit was based in Sutton on Hull defending that city. He was 36.
He was the son of James and Martha J Kershaw, Leeming Bar.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale and his headstone is inscribed God Is Our Refuge and Strength, A Very Present Help in Trouble.
 
JARMAN, Samuel William
Gunner, 234 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Army no. 1751020.
He died on active service on Wednesday 17 December 1941. He was 32.
He was the son of Samuel William and Hannah Jarman and the husband of Jennie Jarman, Bedale.
He is buried in Ripon Cemetery.
 
NEILL, Frederick George
Sergeant, 221 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 976110.
He died on active service on Saturday 12 April 1941. His Squadron was based in Northern Ireland and were flying anti-submarine patrols. He was 22.
He was the son of Hugh Edward and Mary Ainsley Neill, Thorp Perrow.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale.
 
PLACE, Albert Christopher
Private, 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Army no. 4458136.
He died near El Alamein on Friday 5 June 1942. This was the time of Rommel’s greatest victory when the British 8th Amy (The Desert Rats) were hard pressed. He was 24.
He was the son of Harold and Maud Ethel Place, Aiskew.
He is remembered on The Alamein Memorial.
 
SAYERS, William
Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Army no. 2659165.
He died attacking The Gustav Line and Monte Cassino in Italy on Friday 11 February 1944. He was 22.
He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Sayers, Bedale.
He is buried in Minturno War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed A Beautiful Memory a Smiling Face a Broken Link we can never Replace.
 
SMITH, Austen
Sergeant, 144 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no 1504927.
He died on active service on Tuesday 20 July 1943. This was the date of the last air-raid by the German/Italian Air Force on Malta. His squadron was based in RAF Protville II in Tunisia and flew in defence of Malta. He was 28.
He was the son of Ada Jane Smith, Bedale.
He is remembered on The Malta Memorial.
 
THOMPSON, Walter Henry
Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment). Army no. 4399481.
He died on active service on Wednesday 28 June 1944 just three weeks after the Normandy invasion. He was 21.
He was the son of Edward and Frances May Thompson, Bedale.
He is buried in Hottot les Bagues War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed He Lived to Love and Cherish He Died to Help Make Peace.
           
WAINDE, Stanley
Corporal, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Army no. 4200043.
He probably died from his wounds on Thursday 13 July 1944. He had probably been involved in the landings in Normandy. He was 27.
He was the son of Walter and Emma Wainde, Aiskew.
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Gregory’s Church, Bedale.
 
WATSON, Alfred
Warrant Officer Class II, 122 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Army no. 1421557.
He died as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese Army on Monday 9 August 1943. He was 44.
He was the son of George and Margaret Watson, Bedale and the husband of Mary Isobella Watson, Bedale.
He is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and his headstone is inscribed “In Memory of One We Loved Most Dearly. His Loving Wife and Children”
Additional information
The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar). Two labour forces, one based in Siam and the other in Burma worked from opposite ends of the line towards the centre.
The Japanese aimed at completing the railway in 14 months and work began in October 1942. The line, 424 kilometres long, was completed by December 1943.
The graves of those who died during the construction and maintenance of the Burma-Siam railway were transferred from camp burial grounds and isolated sites along the railway into three cemeteries at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is a short distance from the site of the former 'Kanburi', the prisoner of war base camp through which most of the prisoners passed on their way to other camps.
 
Also 2 new entries
 
WATKINSON, Elsie Irene 
Was a Civilian killed when a German aircraft dropped on bomb on Masham on Wednesday 16 April 1941. She was 31.
She lived in Cross Hills, Masham with her husband Douglas WATKINSON a member of the Home Guard who was also killed. He was 33.
They are both buried in Masham.
She was the daughter of John Robert Kitching, 9 Rigby Terrace, Aiskew, Bedale and of the late Polly Kitching.
 
WOLSELEY-LEWIS, Ann
Sister, East African Military Nursing Service.  Service Number EDCC/363.
She died at sea on Active Service on Saturday 12 February 1944. She was 30.
She was the daughter of Christopher and Agnes Stirke, Bedale and the wife of Major Arthur Wolseley-Lewis who was serving with The Kenya Regiment and King's African Rifles.
She is remembered on The East Africa Memorial Kenya.
Additional information
Ann died when her ship, SS Khedive Ismail, was torpedoed off the Maldives. She was on her way to Ceylon as a Nursing Sister in the East African Military Nursing Service. Sailing on 6 February 1944 from Kilindini Harbour, Mombasa, Kenya to Colombo, Ceylon in Convoy KR-8, the SS Khedive Ismail was attacked by a B1 type Japanese submarine and hit by two torpedoes. 1,297 perished.
 
 
 
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