Attested November 1904 – Private. 2nd Battalion. E Coy Service Pay Class 1st @ 6d granted from 19/4/1906 under Army Order 203 of 1905. – 2nd Battalion Granted Class I service pay @ 6d 15 December 1906 Snapper January 1907 – 2nd Battalion granted 1st Good Conduct Badge 07 July 1907 – 2nd Battalion. granted 2nd Good Conduct Badge November 1911 – Private Army Reserve Transfer December 1912-January 1913 – Medal Index Card entered France 8 September 1914 with 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – Commemorated East Yorkshire Regiment War Memorial Beverley Minster East Yorkshire
Battalion History
Tuesday 3rd November 1914
On the morning of the 3rd we were shelled, about 10 a.m., by a couple of heavy guns. Two shells fell in a brewery, where we had the best part of two Companies, and caused a loss of 5 killed and 23 wounded, and we had to clear from that part of the town and bivouac about Armentieres Station. It was a most unpleasant half hour. Battalion Headquarters were in a very comfortable little house, the first really comfortable billet we had had, and as a joint was cooking for us—at that time a most unusual luxury—we did not forsake it, and were later rewarded by being allowed to enjoy it in peace. The owner of the house had visited us, and given us the key of his cellar, going down with us to show us the brands he most recommended. He was quite the most hospitable Frenchman I have encountered, and I hope his house still stands, and that he still lives to retake possession later on. That evening we left Armentieres at 4 p.m., and relieved the West Yorkshire’s in the trenches at Rue du Bois, just on the right of the ones we had fought in on the 28th. In these trenches we remained for three weeks of wintry weather, snow, and cold winds. We did a lot of digging, back trenches, communication trenches, and dug-outs. We were shelled every day, German snipers were always busy, and we had a poor time. We could not light fires, and the only hot meal the men got was the evening tea brought down after dark, and none too hot on arrival.