Attested 25 August 1914 at Prime Street Recruiting Office Hull – Medal Index Card entered 2b Balkans 14 July 1915 with 6th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – 6th Battalion Missing Casualty List Hull Daily Mail 15 September 1915 – Effects to Sister Mrs Ruth Token – Commemorated East Yorkshire Regiment War Memorial Beverley Minster East Yorkshire

6th East Yorkshire Regiment Tekke Tepe

At midnight on the 8th-9th August 1915 we were withdrawn from a position to the E of the SALT LAKE, which we had occupied with slight opposition, to an old Turkish trench about ¾ mile nearer the sea. At about 4 AM on the 9th orders were received that we were to make a dawn attack on the hill known as TEKE TEPE. “D” Company 6th East Yorkshire Regt was on the left nearest opposite to the hill. Lieut Colonel Moore Commanding 6th East York R. ordered as many of us as possible to advance immediately for dawn was now nearly up.

We started about 100 strong & came under heavy rifle fire from both flanks as we approached the foothills & particularly from the position from which we had been withdrawn during the previous night. Capt Grant Commanding “D” Company was hit & I took charge. At the foothills Col. Moore gave me the necessary orders & the position I was to make for. We started up TEKE TEPE about 60 strong. Lieut Wilson, who was killed, leading the party on my left & I leading the other party. Lieut RAWSTORNE was to collect men who came later & to join up on my right. When about half way up the hill we extended having come under rifle fire from the higher ground above. Nearly at the top we found that a deep fold separated us from the top of the hill. It was impossible to advance further, the enemy were in large numbers round by on the East of the hill. I waited for reinforcements. We were now about 30 strong & under heavy rifle fire.

LIEUT COL. MOORE, Lieut STILL & MAJOR BRUNNER RE came up about 15 minutes later with some more men & I reported to Col MOORE that the enemy were above us in very superior numbers & after considering he ordered us to retire with the remnants. I took charge of a small party to cover the retirement where necessary. When nearly at the bottom of the hill we were surrounded & Col MOORE ordered us to surrender. When we had surrendered Col MOORE made an attempt to sit on the bank of the ravine & was bayoneted through the back, he died about 10 minutes later.

Lieut RAWSTORNE, who I did not see at all until we were at the HQ of General LEMON VON-SANDERS, appears to have taken up about 10 men. The men captured consisted of about 6 taken with Lieut RAWSTORNE, a number of men who did not get beyond the foothills, some who did not get the order to retire & 3 or 4 signalers & other men who arrived down safely with Col MOORE, Lieut STILL & myself. Whilst up the hill I could see the remainder of the Battalion being attacked so we could not expect reinforcements and I was powerless to help them.