Previous page: The original cover for the book was in light blue featuring members of the battalion on their way to Egypt.
TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN, OF THE I0TH (SERVICE) BATTALION THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918.
So they gave their bodies to the Commonwealth and received, each for his own memory, praise that will never die, and their story is not only written, but lives on without visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other mens lives. Pericles Funeral Oration.
Hull Commercials
A History of the 10th (Service) Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment
David Bilton
First published in Great Britain in 2018 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS
Copyright David Bilton 2018
ISBN 978 1 47389 556 0
eISBN 9781473895584
Mobi ISBN 9781473895577
The right of David Bilton to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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A page from the original book .
The City of Hull Memorial at Oppy (France) .
Original Preface
The story of the Hull Commercials has never been completely told. It has remained through the years in the recollections of those who served in its ranks, coming to life at reunions and then lying dormant until two or three get together to live again through those momentous days and to go once more over the old familiar ground. The 10th (Service) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment began in the atmosphere of a happy family, and, in spite of all the changes in personnel which the vagaries of war bring to a unit on active service, a happy family it remained to the end.
This story is, therefore, in the main a family affair and not an attempt to make a contribution to the history of the War or to enlarge on tactics and strategy for the military student.
We are indebted to many members and relatives of members who have been very helpful in lending diaries, letters, cuttings, photographs, etc., and it is not possible to refer to them all by name, but among those who have given more active assistance we should like to mention and thank Captain Ivor Jackson and Mr. W. Hall for reading the manuscript and verifying facts and details; Captain C. I. Hadrill for editing and finally shaping the book; and the members of the General Committee, especially Mr. F. W. Harrison and Mr. J. B. Fay.
We should like to express our gratitude to the Historical Section, War Office, for permission to use the Battalion War Diary; to the Officer Commanding the Regimental Depot at Beverley, for access to the Battalion records in his keeping; to the Photographic Section, Imperial War Museum, for their help in finding suitable photographs; to Messrs. W. Duncan and W. H. Berry for permission to use photographs; to Messrs. The City Engraving Company for valuable advice regarding the making of the half-tone blocks for the Plates, and to the Publishers, Messrs. A. Brown & Sons, Ltd., for their willing co-operation in the production of this volume.
Finally, it will be appreciated that, owing to lapse of time, the records are incomplete, and we realise that there may be some omissions from the lists in the Appendices, although every care has been taken in compiling them from the information at our disposal.
R. B. CARVER.
J. M. FENWICK.
J. W. GRAYSTONE.
F. G. PAGE.
C. W. THIRSK
List of Illustrations
The City of Hull Memorial at Oppy (France).
Lieutenant Colonel A.J. Richardson.
Roll Call parade at Wenlock Barracks.
Marching down Walton Street, September 1914.
The triangle of error, September 1914.
The officers Hornsea, 1915.
Christmas Tree Hut, Atwick, 1914.
Hut interior at Hornsea, 191415.
The Band Ripon, 1915.
Approaching Ripon, June 1915.
Warrant officers and sergeants, Ripon, July 1915.
Ration parade, Egypt, 191516.
HMT Minnewaska en route for Egypt, December 1915.
The Sweet Water Canal near Kantara.
Deck shuffle-board, Captain Ivor Jackson HMT Tunisian.
Pontoon bridge Kantara, January 1916.
Port Said embarkation on HMT Tunisian, February 1916.
Bus-les-Artois, 1916.
Longpr-les-Corps-Saints, March 1916.
The Sucrerie, near Colincamps.
Lewis gun section, near Doullens, July 1916.
Transport on the march, near Doullens, July 1916.
D Company near Louvencourt, July 1916.
Richebourg-Boar's Head.
The Old Front Line, Serre, May 1919.
Hbuterne as the war left it.
Robecq, 191617.
Authie Suzannes.
Oppy Wood, 1917.
Mont St Eloy from La Targette Road.
The ground behind Oppy Wood, 1917.
The Tonics.
St Venant, 191617.
Merville, 1918.
The barracks, St Omer, 1918.
Chteau de la Motte, Hazebrouck, April 1918.
Members of the original battalion at Armistice St Omer.
German field kitchen captured at Harlebeke, October 1918.
Loading transport for home, 1919.
Cadre on parade at Paragon Station, Hull, 26 May 1919.