Yorkshire Regiment War Graves, - Croix-du-Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck (France, Nord)

Croix-du-Bac British Cemetery (1)
Photo : Chris Cosgrove.

The cemetery was begun in July 1916 and used by field ambulances and fighting units until March 1918. On 10 April 1918, Croix-du-Bac was in German hands but was retaken by the 23rd Lancashire Fusiliers on 2 September, and a few further burials were made in the cemetery in October.

After the Armistice, Plot I was completed, and Plots III and IV formed, by the concentration of 328 British graves from the battlefields and from the German Plot (II); the German graves were removed to other cemeteries, as well as one Portuguese grave.

There are now 554 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 263 of the graves are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate 140 casualties known to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains two French war graves.

Amongst the graves are those for 46 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
(The majority of Yorkshire Regiment casualties in this cemetery died between 9 - 13 April 1918, when Croix-du-Bac fell to the Germans. It is also noteworthy that quite a number of these dead soldiers were under-age.).

We are extremely grateful to Chris Cosgrove (<trainscpc@aol.com>) who has generously provided the photographs on this page.

Click on a thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.

		Private George Aldred. 35396. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 24893 Manchester Regt. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aldred, of Flixton, Manchester. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 40. Born Flixton (Lancs), Enlisted Wood Green (North Finchley). "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Joseph Arthur Binks. 46152. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 224665 R.E. Son of the late J. W. and Elizabeth Binks; husband of Jane Binks. of Council Houses, Tingley, Wakefield. Native of Morley, Leeds. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 29. Born Morley (Yorks), Enlisted Pontefract, Resided Tingley (Nr Wakefield). "(RELIGIOUS FAITH) CHURCH OF ENGLAND"

		Private Henry Brockbank. 23915. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 9 April 1918. Born Leece (Lancs), Enlisted Middlesbrough. (GH Gazette database has an "H Brookbank, 23015" missing in July 1918) (SDGW has H Brockbank of the 2nd Battalion, died 11 April 1916.)

		2nd Lieutenant John William Brown, MM. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, attached to 5th Battalion. Son of John and Rebecca Brown, of 151, Pasture Rd., Goole, Yorks. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 30. "FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Cecil Percy Harry Cook. 34453. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 8246 Essex Regt. Son of Arthur and Mary Cook, of 13, Wood St., Northfleet. His brother F. Cook also fell. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 20. Born Snodland (Kent), Enlisted Gravesend, Resided Northfleet (Kent). "THY WILL BE DONE" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Frederick Dean. 17299. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Margaret Dean, of Jarrow-on-Tyne. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 35. Born Jarrow, Enlisted Wallsend-on-Tyne, Resided Jarrow. "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

		2nd Lieutenant Albert Victor Deans. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, attached to 12th Battalion. Son of John Edward and Mary Hannah Deans, of Sheffield. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 32. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Joseph Eaton. 35433. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5583 Manchester Regt. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Southport (Lancs), Enlisted Ashton-under-Lyne, Resided Southport. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Sergeant John Evans. 20182. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 11 April 1918. Born Wolverhampton (Staffs), Enlisted Middlesbrough. (To the rear of Serjeant Evans' headstone can be seen a Yorkshire Regiment headstone for an unknown soldier).

		Private John Faricy. 35409. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 48941 Manchester Regt. Son of Cornelius and Jane Faricy. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Oldham, Enlisted Ashton-Under-Lyne, Resided Oldham (Lancs). "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Charles Ernest Fearne. 46103. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Sefton and Catherine Fearne, of 8 Wellington St., Barbican Rd., York. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 21. Born York, Enlisted York. "WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER"

		Private Thomas William Goldsborough. 48190. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5/11060 87th T R Battn. Son of George and Elizabeth Goldsborough, of Heighington, Darlington. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Heighington (Nr. Darlington), Enlisted Darlington. "REST IN PEACE"

		Private Frank Halliwell, 35302. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 39704 7th T R Battn. Son of Annie Halliwell, of 7, Jackson Terrace, Jackson St., Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, and the late Frank Halliwell. Killed 12 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Manchester, Enlisted Manchester. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private George William Hedditch, 35297. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3/46724 74th T R Battn. Killed 12 April 1918. Born Darwen (Lancs), Enlisted Blackburn, Resided Darwen. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT "

		Private Arthur Johnson. 27253. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Durham, Enlisted Durham. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Percy Lambert, 34851. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (formerly 86203 91st T R Battalion). Son of Thomas and Selina Lambert, of 17, Elliott St., Silsden, Keighley, Yorks. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 19. Born Silsden (Yorks), Enlisted Keighley, Resided Silsden. (A photo and further details on Percy Lambert can be found on http://www.cpgw.org.uk/viewDetail.cfm?sID=343-01) "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Albert Long. 35205. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 34643 9th T R Battn. Son of Arthur and Sarah Long, of 54, Bowling Rd., Ware, Herts. Killed 8 April 1918. Aged 17. Born Ware (Herts), Enlisted Hertford, Resided Ware. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Lawrence Long. 35325. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 39371 72nd T R Battn. Killed 10 April 1918. Born Windermere, Enlisted Kendal, Resided Windermere. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Charles Lowes, 20180. 1st/5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed on 11 April 1918. Born Stillington (Durham), Enlisted Middlesbrough, Resided Thornaby-on-Tees.

		Private Edwin Marshall, 35207. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 96244 85th T R Battn. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Stockton, Enlisted Stockton, Resided Stockton-on-Tees.

		Private Frank Mennell. 240263. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 10 April 1918. Born Scarborough, Enlisted Scarborough.

		Sergeant Thomas Mennell, 20740. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Richard Mennell, of Bickley, Hackness, Scarborough. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 22. Born Bickley (Yorks), Enlisted Scarborough, Resided Bickley "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT "

		Private Arthur Kenneth Millwood. 35211. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Elder son of Harry Millwood, of 19, Alwen St., Wordsley, Stourbridge, and the late Emily S. Millwood. Native of Kingston, Herefordshire. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Kusglon (Hereford), Enlisted Brierley Hill , Resided Wordsley (Near Stourbridge). "BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Arthur Percy Monether. 35328. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 46947 74th T R Battn. Son of Margaret Monether, of 40, Grove St., Bootle, Liverpool, and the late Thomas Monether. Killed 9 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Bootle (Lancs), Enlisted Waterloo, Resided Bootle. "STILL LIVING STILL LOVING, STILL ...."

		Private Oswald Morgan. 25002. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 11 April 1918. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Middlesbrough. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private George Morpeth. 46669. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Hannah Morpeth. of The Square, Blanchland, Shotley Bridge, Co. Durham, and the late Thomas Morpeth. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 22. Born Shopley High Quarter (Northumberland), Enlisted Hexham, Resided Riding Mill. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private William Herbert O'Hare. 35222. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mr. T. H. and Ruth O'Hare. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Bradford, Enlisted Bradford. "UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS"

		Private Herbert Parker. 29560. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 29811 Notts & Derby Regt. Killed 13 April 1918. Born Willenhall (Staffs), Enlisted Willenhall. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Joseph Powell. 35228. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/34710 9th T R Battn. Son of Joseph and Esther Powell, of 38, Military Rd., Canterbury. Killed 27 May 1918. Aged 19. Born Swalecliffe (Kent), Enlisted Canterbury. "FOR EVER IN MY THOUGHTS MOTHER"

		Corporal Robert Herdman Robson. 46129. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 143324 Royal Engineers. Son of Thomas Chapman Robson and Jane his wife, of Northallerton; husband of Fanny Maud Robson, of South Parade, Northallerton. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 33. Born Northallerton, Enlisted Northallerton. "HE ANSWERED THE CALL"

		Private Frank Leonard Rowe. 43598. 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 110492 87th T R Battn. Son of Stephen and Eliza Rowe, of 9, Wormald St., Almondbury, Huddersfield. Killed 9 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Huddersfield, Enlisted Halifax, Resided Huddersfield.

		Private John Durnford Ryall. 48433. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/71856 87th T R Battn. Killed 13 April 1918. Born Stow-on-the-Wold, Enlisted Leicester. The photo of Pte Ryall's headstone is from the War Graves Photographic Project. To obtain a full size image, please contact the War Graves Photographic Project.

		Private Arthur Sanderson, 20864. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed on 11 April 1918. Born Thornaby, Enlisted Thornaby, Resided Thornaby-on-Tees. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Herbert Sergeant. 43601. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.. Formerly 110363 87th T R Battalion. Son of Robert and Emma Sergeant, of West Field Cottages, Cliffe, Selby, Yorks. Born at Melton, Brough, Yorks. Died 12 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Melton (Yorks), Enlisted Selby. (Name also appearred on the PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, but is no longer in the CWGC register for that memorial. Name spelt "Sargeant" in SDGW).

		Private Samuel Smith. 35363. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 39714 72nd T R Battn. Son of William and Mary Smith, of 37, Leader St., Wigan. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 18. Born Wigan (Lancs), Enlisted Wigan (Lancs). "PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONES FAR AWAY" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Lance Corporal Tom Stead. 47879. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 170252 Royal Engineers. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Stead, of Dewsbury; husband of Annie Eliza Stead, of 44, Sherbourne Rd., North Shore, Blackpool. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 33. Born Dewsbury (Yorks), Enlisted Huddersfield. "THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED" The photo of L/Cpl Stead's headstone is from the War Graves Photographic Project. To obtain a full size image, please contact the War Graves Photographic Project.

		Lance Corporal Joseph Sullivan. 34736. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/2930 1st T R Battn. Son of Mrs. E. Sullivan, of 12, Reuben Place, Park, Sheffield. Killed 11 April 1916. Aged 19. Enlisted Sheffield. Inscription on the headstone not fully visible on the photograph.

		Private George Tait. 201388. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 10 April 1918. Enlisted Middlesbrough. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private James Taylor. 35436. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment,formerly 3397 Manchester Regt. Husband of Mary Taylor, of 153, Harrowby St., Queen's Rd., Miles Platting, Manchester. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 24. Born Bradford (Lancs), Enlisted Manchester. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Thomas Thwaite. 242720. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Hawes (Yorks), Enlisted Leyburn, Resided Hawes. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Frederick Tinsworth. 35265. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 34683 9th T R Battn. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Cambridge, Enlisted Cambridge. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Albert Tookey. 48187. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 5/110304 87th T R Battn. Killed 11 April 1918. Born Leicester, Enlisted Leicester. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Serjeant Joseph Sydney Towse, MM. 240030. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. S. Towse and the late Mr. G. H. Towse, of Bempton, Bridlington; husband of Florence L. Towse, of 54, St. John's Walk, Bridlington, Yorks. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 32. Born Bempton (Bridlington), Enlisted Bridlington. (SDGW has Regtl No as 240039; GH Gazette database has 240030) "HE GAVE THE MOST THAT MEN CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private Charles Watson. 21068. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 12 April 1918. Born Sporle (Nr Swaffham), Enlisted Middlesbrough. "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT " "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private George Edward Wilkinson. 34774. 12th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly TR/5/5909 2nd T R Battn. Only son of Susanah Wilkinson, of 154, Wellholme Rd., Grimsby, and the late Edward Wilkinson. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 19. Born Grimsby (Lincs), Enlisted Grimsby. "UNTIL THE DAY BEAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

		Private James Wray. 35381. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 3/45894 74th T R Battn. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Williams (formerly Wray), of II, Copeland St., Everton, Liverpool. Killed 11 April 1918. Aged 19. Born Liverpool (Lancs), Enlisted Liverpool. "HE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT HE UNDERSTANDS" "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY"

Croix-du-Bac British Cemetery (2)
Photo : Chris Cosgrove.

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