Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery. 6k South West of Ypres town.
After the War burials from smaller cemeteries were brought in.
[Picture courtesy of - "WW1Cemeteries.com".].
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25 MAY
The Battalion began to arrive back at the hutments on the West side of Ypres.
At night the remainder of the garrison of our trenches were relieved and straggled back.
Capt Bowes-Wilson and his Company getting in about 3.30 am on the 25th; then Captain Leather, then Capt Dorman,
then Capt Constantine and Captain Charlton last. The men were nearly exhausted.
They had been at the centre of the gas and all suffering from it more or less.
Captains Charlton and Bowes-Wilson,
though they did not go to hospital, were in a terrible state.
Major H.L. de Legh though suffering neuritis worked like a slave among the men who were lying about being sick at
intervals.
Captain Leather's work in getting the remnants of the Battalion back was splendid. So ended the 24th
and 25th May 1915.
The casualties of NCOs and men stood at 30 killed, 70 wounded and 98 missing and wounded.
These latter were almost all accounted for in different hospitals either wounded or gassed, where all ranks did well.
1648 Pte Ebbs Isaac. Home at Skinningrove N Yorks. Born at Sea Palling, Norfolk.
Enlisted at Skelton in Cleveland, N Yorks. Killed in action. Menin Gate Memorial Ypres.
2092 Pte Latheron Walter Christopher. Born and enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks.
Killed in action. Buried at Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery.
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Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery.
About 60k South West of Ypres and used by Casualty Clearing Stations. Three
4th Yorks' men are buried here.
[Picture courtesy of - "WW1Cemeteries.com".].
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[Walter was one of three brothers who died during the Great War. One of his brothers was Edwin Gladstone Latheron
(known as Eddie, or Pinky), who was a rising professional footballer playing for Blackburn Rovers and England -
in fact he is still the 4th highest goalscorer in the club's history!]
1442 L/Cpl Paterson Archibald James. Born at Garston, Liverpool and enlisted at Middlesbrough,
N Yorks. Died of wounds. Age 24.
Buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery.
2543 Pte Williams Fred Bertrand. Enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks. Killed in action.
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
26 MAY to 6 JUNE
They stayed at the huts recovering, although on the 26th they began
sending working parties to the trenches, the first party being 150 men, which was all the men in the Battalion able
to move.
During this time Capt R A F Montanaro joined and took over the Adjutancy.
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In this month Lt George Dudley Gardner was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He had joined the Bn Sept 12, 1914 and was an articled
clerk in his father's Solicitors firm, G J E Gardner of Northallerton, N Yorks. His father was a Captain in the Bn in 1914 and not
known whether he also went to the War. Lt Gardner became Captain Jan 1917 and Major 1918. He was mentioned in Dispatches 3 times and was awarded
the MC and Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour serving in Egypt from Dec 1915 to July 1916 and Macedonia July 1916 to July 1918.
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The 4th Yorks Bn were part of the line in Sanctuary Wood.
The enemy in Shrewsbury Forest.
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27 MAY
2143 Pte Benson Henry George. Born and enlisted at Richmond, N Yorks. Killed in action. Age 26.
Menin Gate Memorial Ypres.
1665 Pte Richardson Herbert. Born and enlisted at Guisborough N Yorks. Died of wounds.
Age 23. Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery.
2 JUNE.
In the 6 weeks from embarkation to the end of May, the 50th Division had sustained terrible losses.
During this time its units had been attached to other Divisions and its Artillery held at first in Reserve.
Now it was ordered to take over a section of the Line on its own.
2001 Pte Jemmeson James. Home at - 74 Commercial St, Norton, Malton, N Yorks,
place of birth. Enlisted at Northallerton, N Yorks. Died. Age 22. Ste Marie Cemetery Le Havre.
3 JUNE.
2437 Pte Walker Charles Edward. Born and enlisted at Middlesbrough, N Yorks. Killed in action.
Age 19. "A" Company. Harlebeke New British Cemetery.
6 to 23 JUNE.
The Battalion were in trenches in Sanctuary Wood.
The Bn Diary says "there was no fighting". The German offensive had ceased but the attrition went on and during
this period 3 men were killed and 12 wounded.
8 JUNE.
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Capt G H Bowes-Wilson.
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1151 Pte Downes Arthur Banks. Home at Saltburn N Yorks, place of birth. Enlisted at Redcar, N Yorks.
Died of wounds. Saltburn and Marske [Saltburn] Cemetery.
15 JUNE.
Capt George Huttton Bowes-Wilson was killed outside his dug-out by a stray bullet. Home at Middlesbrough, N Yorks.
Buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.
[His photograph kindly contributed by Kevin Galloway of Thornaby on Tees.]
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