St. Edward The Confessor, Brotherton, and municipal cemetery

The churchyard here has no extant wargraves, but there is a prominent memorial close by. Across the road from the church is a very overgrown area of graveyard, but this again has no wargraves.

A little further up the hill from the church is the municipal cemetery. Here a single war grave can be located.


812793  L/Sjt  Taylor, G.
Royal Artillery
19th October 1945  Age 36

St, Jame's, Fairburn

Fairburn was once a little known hamlet passed by without notice by the many travelers on the A1, but since the rerouting of the A1 some years ago, it is a peaceful quiet village. The church has an information board with local history by the main gate. This board talks of a WW1 soldier killed in an accident near the local pub. Whether this is the same soldier Lazenby listed below is unclear.

Four graves can be seen in this churchyard

13106205 Pte  Rigby, A. W.
Pioneer Corps
20th November 1943  Age 40

1514792  Sgt  Barker, C. D.
W/T Navigator, RAF
7th July  1943  Age 22

999793  A/c 1st Class  Woolley, G.
RAF
7th April 1947

33975  Pte  Lazenby, A.
Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
12th September 1916  Age 30

Tadcaster Cemetery and St. Mary's

The graveyard of St Mary's, Tadcaster has no recent burials, and hence no extant wargraves. However, this impressive church, which is open to the public and very much worth visiting in its own right, does contain a bronze memorial, plus a stained glass window, the 'Sykes and Charlesworth' window, dedicated to two fallen soldiers.

Tadcaster's municipal cemetery however holds quite a few wargraves. This large town plot is situated just on the outskirts of the town. Of interest are two graves with 1950's dates.

There are also some private memorials to servicemen, and a neatly tended row, however most are scattered around the cemetery. One is to a Lieutenant Earnest Fulton Reynolds, RAF. Another is to Captain Stearne Tighe Edwards DFC, RAF. Aged 25years, who died of 'injuries sustained on Armistice day'

The extant interments are as follows -

2654902   Turner, H.  Sgt
Corps of Military Police
28th June 1941

Harnett, B.M.  Flying Officer
RAF
18th March 1953  Age 21

243051   Smith, J.  Pte
Lancashire Fusiliers
17th October 1918

62859  Collihole, T.J.  Air Mechanic
Royal Flying Corp
13th March 1917

S/344031   Tullett, J.  Cpl
Army Service Corp
13th June 1918  Age 21

7441 Blake, H.  Pte
West Yorkshire Regt
28th February 1919  Age 32

19174  Ward, E.  Gnr
Royal Field Artillery
29th October 1918

Theobald, C.S.  Flight Cadet
RAF
26th October 1918

143176  Whincup, T.N.  Pte
Machine Gun Corps (inf)
19th August 1919  Age 34

564134  Constable, J.S.  Cpl
RAF
22nd July 1940  Age 26

1532802  Franklin, F.W.
Royal Artillery
9th July 1940  Age 22

7687767  Wilson, G.  L/Cpl
Corps of Military Police
24th April 1941

4610154 Starr, W.S.  WOII (CSM)
The Duke of Wellingtons Regt
18th January 1944  Age 35

Douglas Allanby,  Lt (F)
Royal Navy, HMS Fulmar
6th January 1955  Age 25

1590833  Richardson, R.  Sgt Air Gunner
RAF
15th January 1945

11055450  Harland, A. Gnr
Royal Artillery
10th December 1943  Age 38

1100861  Wilson, J.E.  Sgt  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
RAF
28th December 1941  Age 21

1064089  Gawthroup, S.  Aircraftsman 1st class
RAF
1st November 1941  Age 25

Widening the search

The Google Earth image below shows my search area. Pushpins in blue are those sites already surveyed. Those in green are yet to be done

As can be seen, many of these are at the extremities of my search region. Its no longer a case of popping along to a site when I have a few spare moments. Now, I have to plan to visit and survey a group of sites as a dedicated trip.

St. Peter and St. Pauls, Drax

 In the shadow of one of the UKs largest power stations lies the spired church at Drax. Here are to be found two extant war graves

27804  Newsome, J.D.  Pte
West Yorkshire Regiment
24th May 1918

8719  Smith, H.  Sapper
Royal Engineers
3rd September 1916. Age 26.

A few out of area - Snaith, East Cowick and Rawcliffe

The municipal cemetery and church at Snaith, Holy Trinity church at East Cowick, and St. James' church, Rawcliffe, are all technically outside of my research area, but only just. As I needed to pass by them in order to reach my next survey location within my research boundary, they were visited anyway, and included here because they did provide some extant graves to record.

Neither Snaith cemetery, nor the Abbey, have any extant war graves, however the abbey is rather impressive

Holy Trinity church, East Cowick, another red brick and slate building, contains three extant interments, two of which are the same surname and the same regiment, but a conflict apart.

4/9691 Stephenson, G.R.  Pte
West Yorkshire Regiment
25th January 1917. Age 43.

821595  Penistone, F.  Driver
Royal Field Artillery
16th October 1920. Age 33.

4347487 Stephenson, J.C.  L/Cpl
West Yorkshire Regiment
31st December 1942. Age 19.


St. James', Rawcliffe, holds four war graves

5283  Denby, T.H.  Pte
Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
16th February 1919. Age 41

68138  Adcock, J.B.  Pte
Royal Army Medical Corps
17th October 1917. Age 32.

80744  Bedford, A.  Driver
Royal Field Artillery
16th April 1920

12/433  Richardson, C.  Pte
East Yorkshire Regiment
21st January 1920

St. Pauls, Hensall

I hadn't actually located this church on my planning maps or satellite overheads, but was heading towards Great Heck and there it was! A lucky find, and an interesting location,

There is just one extant war grave here, but other interments in the churchyard carry the same surname, which suggests this soldiers family to have been resident in Hensall for many generations.

41220  Bell, A.  Pte.
Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
14th December 1918. Age 27.

A reminder that not all losses are from the world wars

It is important to remember, that not all losses are those of the big campaigns. Britain has been involved in small wars, police actions, UN interventions etc, for almost as long as we've ventured beyond the sea to trade and colonise. On the whole, the losses in modern small conflicts are, for want of a more appropriate word, 'moderate'. Hence it is less likely to come across an interment for such a death outside of the large military and municipal burial grounds.

This one almost passed me by. We had a family day out last week, and whilst looking at Marmion tower, we chanced to explore the church beside it, St Michaels, West Tanfield, North Yorkshire. With my little boy to watch over I only gave this one a cursory glance, and due to the slightly different headstone style and the date, 1994, initially thought it was a normal family interment but with service details recorded, not uncommon, especially for a high rank.

But afterwards, it niggled me, this was a Major, aged 33. Thats young for a non service death. So I did some online research -

Maj Christopher Dockerty (33) PWOR 2 June 1994 West Tanfield Parish Church, West Tanfield, Ripon. N. Yorks.

Major Dockerty, of the Prince of Wales Own Regiment, was aboard the RAF Chinook that crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994.

St. Wilfreds, Brayton

Located in large grounds which include a dell consecrated for scattering ashes, and which contains a shallow pond, this large church is also popular with wildlife, with a breeding pair of greater spotted woodpeckers being seen in the grounds.

Despite the ample grounds, the graveyard is rather small, but spread out.

Only two extant war graves are located at this church -

1061578  Sgt  Cryer, N.D.
Pilot, RAF
5 August 1941  Age 20

4684630 L/Sgt  Walker, E.
43rd Searchlight Rgt, Royal Artillery
5th Bn The Duke of Wellingtons Rgt
27 September 1946  Age 39

Selby Cemetery

Selby councils municipal cemetery covers a large town plot and is divided into several sections, due to how land has been acquired in time.

There were a few surprises here. I knew from satellite images that there was a small war cemetery section in the southern corner, but was surprised to find that the majority of the 24 or so interments there were of the RAF. This is a nicely kept plot alongside a wall that also holds a WW1 cenotaph, and, surprisingly, a memorial to the dead of the Boer War and South African campaigns.

More poignant however, is the grave of an unknown member of aircrew. This intrigues me. I can understand how a sailor lost at sea, or an infantryman killed in an artillery barrage,  might become impossible to identify, but aircrew would be in a particular aircraft, and even if a body could not be identified, I would have thought the process of elimination from the other aircrew of the ship would have been sufficient. This is something I will have to research further.

Many more war graves are to be found dispersed throughout the cemetery grounds. These include a George Medal, A Battalion Sargent Major, and a Wing Commander, winner of both DSO and DFC.

Some sixty two war graves are extant in Selby Cemetery -

4017913  Sgt  Anson, G.A.
Pilot, RAF
16 February 1942  Age 29

912524 Cpl  Howes, K.I.
RAF
28 February 1942  Age 27

Volunteer  Porter, E.
10th West Riding Bn, Home Guard
5 August 1941

738072  LT/KX, Stoker 2nd Class RNPS  Allerton, G.W.
HMS "Sir Francis Drake"
21 August 1945  Age 18

4347259 Sapper  Dye, C.A.
Royal Engineers
28 February 1945  Age 24

1381732 Sgt Sneesby, R.
Wireless Op./Gunner  RAF
25 June 1943  Age 21

1592761 Aircraftsman 2nd Class, Clarkson, K.
RAF
7 November 1943  Age 19

13010605  Sgt  Coles, G.
Royal Pioneer Corps
6 December 1947  Age 42

Flying Officer  Ewin, E.H.
Air Gunner, RAF
5 March 1945  Age 23

Flying Officer  Hooper, J.
Navigator, RAF
5 March 1945  Age 34

Pilot Officer  Smith, C.M.
Air Gunner, RAF
8 February 1945  Age 24

Flying Officer  Evans, T.L.M.
Pilot, RAF
18 November 1944  Age 23

550323 Flt Sgt  Benfield, V.H.
RAF
19 June 1943  Age 24

1802077 Sgt  Saines, K.E.D.
Air Gunner, RAF
14 November 1944  Age 30

Wing Commander Wilkerson, D.S.S.  [DSO, DFC]
Pilot, RAF
16 September 1944  Age 27

Flt Lt  Day, M.C.
Pilot, RAF
21 July 1944  Age 21

1011171 Leading Aircraftsman  Rudge, H.
19 June 1943  Age 23

1111437 Sgt  McDermott, D.
Flight Engineer, RAF
10 May 1944  Age 21

511509 Sgt  Francis, E.D.
RAF
19 June 1943  Age 31

1622397  Sgt  Rockingham, P.H.
Navigator, RAF
10 May 1944  Age 21

1312076 Aircraftsman 1st Class  Stubbs, S.M.
RAF
19 June 1943  Age 35

1623490 Sgt  Lee, L.
Flight Engineer, RAF
26 November 1943  Age 20

1374432 Leading Aircraftsman  Taylor, R.M.
RAF
16 June 1943  Age 35

1390412 Sgt  Harwood, J.L.
Pilot, RAF
31 August 1943  Age 29

1479455 Aircraftsman 2nd Class  Cousin, J.R.
RAF
19 June 1943

1391617 Sgt  Gamble, A.J.
Air Gunner, RAF
7 September 1943  Age 22

An Unknown Airman of WW2
19 June 1943

1807584 Sgt  Peck, G.H.
Air Gunner, RAF
12 July 1943  Age 19

1374424  Aircraftsman  Smith, H.
RAF
19 June 1943

Flying Officer  Tremear, J.H.
U/T Navigator, RAF
12 July 1943  Age 36

1419217  Aircraftsman 2nd Class  Powell, J.E.
RAF
19 June 1943  Age 32

1130523  Sgt  Salad, J.
Flight Engineer, RAF
3 May 1943  Age 27

1600881  Aircraftsman  2nd Class  O'Donnell, A.C.
RAF
19 June 1943  Age 21

4345865 Sgt  Greenhorn, W.
Pilot, RAF
3 May 1943  Age 30

415200 Sgt Pheloung, C.E.
Pilot, RNZAF
4 April 1943  Age 25

995669  Flt Sgt  Whyte, G.H.
Wireless Op/Gunner, RAF
21 January 1943  Age 22

538177 Sgt  Wardrope, S.M.C.W.
RAF
25 January 1943  Age 24
(Temporary Marker - Headstone renovation)

1261299 Sgt  Tremain, J.T.
Air Gunner, RAF
7 February 1943  Age 22

R.52121  Sgt  Drake, J.L.
Flight Engineer, RCAF
26 February 1943  Age 24

404068  Flt Sgt  Hodsell, J.H.
RNZAF
15 August 1942  Age 22

400689 Flt Sgt  Baxter, R.W.  [GM]
RAF
7 August 1942  Age 24

403768  Flt Sgt  Rowe, N.R.
Observer, RNZAF
12 August 1942  Age 22

755837  Flt Sgt  Tipple, A.R.
Wireless Op/Gunner, RAF
7 August 1942  Age 21

5440446  Pte  Inchley, J.
Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry
24-25 January 1941

1583393 Gunner  Whittam, L.W.
Royal Artillery
8-11 July 1941  Age 27

1416342  W.O.II [Bn Sgt Mjr]  Bowyer, E.G.
Royal Horse Artillery
12 October 1941

1333817 Sgt  Weller, H.
Air Gunner, RAF
7 August 1942  Age 21

T/4349557  Driver  Yardley, W.E.
Royal Army Service Corps
16 December 1944  Age 33

516750 Sgt  McKenzie, C.W.
Observer, RAF
9 August 1940  Age 24

208519 Pte  Nutt, H.
West Yorkshire Regiment
7 July 1918  Age 18

10684  Pte  Lowry, L.
West Yorkshire regiment
28 March 1919  Age 30

TRB172901  Pte  Quinn, H.
88th Training Reserve Bn
28 December 1916

45223 Pte  Lamb, B.
Lincolnshire Regiment (Egypt)
3 October 1917

200158 Pte  Lumley, W.
West Yorkshire Regiment
16 November 1918  Age 24

8428 L/Cpl  Forster, J.
East Yorkshire Regiment
31 December 1915  Age 27

T4/057490  Driver  Stead, A.R.
Royal Army Service Corps
12 March 1916

3614 Pte  Walker, J.W.
West Yorkshire Regiment
11 August 1916

M/416734 Pte  Bickerton, E.I.
Army Service Corps
12 November 1918  Age 31

WR/203692  Sapper  Pickering, P.
Royal Engineers
17 November 1918  Age 23

6485 Guardsman  Otley, B.J.
Coldstream Guards
28 August 1919

133545 Staff Sgt  Bosworthick, T.E.
Machine Gun Corps
26 January 1920

39320 Pte  Dobson, R.
West Yorkshire Regiment
18 February 1919

St Mary's, Church Fenton

Church Fenton, or Kirk Fenton as it is otherwise, including on the church notice board, known, served not only the parish, but also, until its final closure a short while ago, the RAF airfield of Church Fenton. It is perhaps odd to see an otherwise ancient church equipped as St Mary's is with a set of Aircraft Warning Lights!

St. Mary's Church Fenton has one extant war grave. There is also a plaque on a family interment, Detailing one Michael Gaunt, died age 20 on 16 April 1948, and marked specifically as RAF. This I think deserves a little further research. The date is post hostilities for WW2, but of course the RAF were serving still in many parts of the world in 1948. This could be a family marker to reflect a loss interred in some remote commonwealth cemetery.

The extant grave is also interesting as it seems to show a change in unit, perhaps as a result of an injury during service.

Extant war grave St. Mary's, Church Fenton -

1802143  Gunner  Darley, W.
53rd Searchlight Rgt, Royal Artillery
Late of 5th batt. Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
9 June 1944  Age 35

This grave also contains family interments.

All Saints, Saxton

There are no extant war graves at All Saints, Saxton

A small memorial stands by the gate at the corner of the church yard.

Holy Trinity, Barkston Ash

Holy Trinity is a far newer building than its construction would suggest, being paid for by the village. Its grounds contain only a small garden of remembrance, for cremations only. Burials are either carried out at Sherburn or Saxton.

There are no extant war graves

St. Mary's, South Milford

St. Mary's chruch South Milford is enclosed by a small but well wooded churchyard, and accompanied by a neat modern municipal cemetery across the road.

 It has a small rose window, but the compactness of the grounds make this a difficult church to photograph.

The small cenotaph, somewhat hidden away, records over twenty first world war losses, of which a significant number are KOYLI

The two extant war interments are neatly located in the corner of the churchyard

St. Mary's South Milford extant war graves -

5/223183  Pte  Walker, J.R.
KOYLI
16 February 1919  Age 18

22075  Pte  Grimbley, T.  (Thomas)
West Yorkshire Rgt
16 June 1919  Age  29

All Saints, Sherburn In Elmet

All Saints church, Sherburn In Elmet, affords a large area of consecrated ground. A hilltop site, the hill drops away sharply to the north, commanding an impressive view over the vale of York.

 

Four extant war graves are to be found here. Unlike most churchyards, these are not arrayed neatly

This is the first graveyard in which I have located an extant KOYLI grave. These are of particular significance to me, as KOYLI is an antecedent of 8LI, and hence KOYY(LI), my regiment.

Also of interest, Sherburn holds the grave of a soldier of the Artists Rifles.
 

Of particular interest, are the dates of the WW1 graves. These are all 1919, post hostilities. In many ways this makes sense, as the majority of those killed during WW1 are interred in commonwealth cemeteries close to the battlefields.

Extant  war graves at All Saints, Sherburn In Elmet -

4690839  Pte  Gatenby, G.E.
KOYLI 

22 April 1944  Age 24

4693135 Craftsman Atkinson, G.
REME
6 December 1942  Age 24

WR/29809 Sapper  Whittaker, F.
Royal Engineers
24 February 1919  Age 42

2019 Pte  Rhodes, C.A.
Artists Rifles
31 October 1919  Age 29

Survey coverage

This survey is to encapsulate the Selby District. The map below indicates the area covered by the district and the villages and towns that this survey will visit

Learning as I go

Already, I am learning a  few interesting lessons as part of this project.

Firstly, I do not posses a shift lens, so I have to be wary of non-perpendicular lines when photographing the churches. This is to be expected, but can be minimised by taking shots carefully composed.

Second, not to assume that all war graves will be of the standard 'commonwealth' headstone pattern, and not to assume that all of that pattern are war graves! An example of each aspect here can be seen at Monk Fryston Cemetery. One private grave, located due to the presence of a British Legion remembrance cross, is a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 'death in service' dated 1943. This of course does not follow the expected pattern. There is also, conversely, what looks initially to be a correct war grave headstone, including a Kings Own Scottish Borderers crest. But this is also a private grave, with dates that clearly preclude death in service.

There are also interesting details to be found on non-war graves, which give an insight into the wartime lives of those interred there. The example here being the Royal Navy subaltern and his Wren sweetheart who are interred at Hambleton.

St. Mary's Hambleton, Hambleton Methodist Chapel, and Hambleton Cemetery

St. Mary's, Hambleton has no graveyard within its grounds.

Hambleton Methodist chapel, as for most Methodist and Wesleyan chapels to my knowledge, also has no consecrated grounds.

Hambleton is served by its own small municipal cemetery. There are no extant war graves within this cemetery. However, interestingly, there is a joint husband/wife grave of a retired Royal Navy Lieutenant, with dates showing likely war service, and his W.R.N.S. wife, a wartime romance?

St. Wilfred's, Monk Fryston, & Monk Fryston Cemetery

No Wargraves extant at this church.

One 'official' wargrave, and one family plot containing a WW2 death in service are extant at the Monk Fryston Cemetery -


24604, S.Sgt Collins, G.H.
 Royal Army Service Corps.
12 December 1916

Bedford, Frank.
 RAF (VR)
 3 December 1943 Age 20

St. Mary's, Birkin

No extant Wargraves at this church.