THE VILLAGE WW1 MEMORIAL OUTSIDE THE ENTERANCE TO HEALAUGH ST JOHNS CHURCH THE NAMES WERE ADDED IN OCTOBER 2005.
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CAPTAIN STAMP BROOKSBANK.
UNIT/REGIMENT: 3rd Bn.Yorkshire Regiment. BORN: Healaugh.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 26/09/1915. AGED: 28.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
Stamp was named after his fathers brother who tragically passed away aged 23 in 1884, he was the elder brother of Hugh Godfrey (see below) Edward York Born 1889 and Margaret Graham Born 1890.
In 1901 Stamp was attending Eton boys public school, he then in 1905 went on to study at Trinity Hall College Cambridge.
I would like to thank Bob Coulson of Middlesbrough for the following information about Stamps service career.
Commissioned in 1914 Stamp joined the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment in January 1915 at Sailly, Stamp saw action at Neuve Chapelle, Festubert and Givenchy during the spring and summer of 1915.
On September the 25th at 03.00 hrs Stamp was with "D"company under the command of Captain Richardson and throughout the day the battalion attacked the cross roads to the north east of Hulluch where they encountered strong resistance, by evening the battalion had dug in close to the quarries.
It was thought the quarries had been cleared but by 23.00 hrs the Germans had encroached into the northern part and firing could be heard.
Stamp was sent out with a platoon of men to "turn them out" however a message was soon received that heavy resistance was being encountered by a party of at least 50 Germans and that Stamp had been wounded, unfortunately no word of Stamp Brooksbank was received throughout the night and he lays there today where he fell.
Stamp is remembered on Loos Memorial at Dud Corner along with 20,692 other brave men who gave their lives for the Battle of Loos in September and October 1915.
PANEL: 44 and 45.
CEMETERY: Loos Memorial.
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SECOUND LIEUTENANT HUGH GODFREY BROOKSBANK.
UNIT: 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment. BORN: Healaugh. GAVE HIS LIFE: 16/12/1914. AGED: 21.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
CEMETERY: Healaugh St Johns the Baptist Church. GRAVE: Rear of Church.
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LANCE CORPORAL GEORGE BENSON
SERVICE NUMBER: 15080. UNIT: 12th Bn.West Yorkshire Regiment.
BORN: Healaugh. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 17/08/1916. AGED: 22.
CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial. PANEL: 2A. 2C. and 2D.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
George was the son of Arthur a cowman Born Barwick in Elmet 1870 and Alice Smith Born Healaugh 1871 sister of Charlie and Fred Smith see below who married in 1892.
Arthur and Alice also had a daughter named Annie Born Healaugh 1898.
Yorkshire Evening Post Leeds Reported.
"Lance Corporal George Benson of the West Yorkshires has been reported Killed in Action.
Lance Corporal Benson was 24 years of age, his parents live in Wighill Lane, Tadcaster."
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LANCE CORPORAL HAROLD BLACKER
SERVICE NUMBER: 23102. UNIT: 1/4th Bn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
BORN: Healaugh near Tadcaster. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 21/10/1917. AGED: 21.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh. / Bolton Percy.
Harold was the son of Arthur John Born Sheffield 1853 and Fanny Stead Born Tickhill nr Doncaster 1855 who married in Leeds in 1879.
Harolds father owned Church Hill farm Healaugh where is sons worked as labourers.
Harold had three brothers Bertie Born 1881 Sydney Born 1883 and Nigel Born 1889 all born Healaugh.
Harold lost his life fighting in the third battle of Ypres.
Note the Leeds Pals 15th West Yorkshire cap badge.
CEMETERY: Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium. PANEL: 108 to 111.
PRIVATE RALPH POOL
SERVICE NUMBER: 345. REGIMENT: 2nd Bn Australian Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron.
BORN: Healaugh nr Tadcaster. ENLISTED: Holsworthy New South Wales.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/11/1917. AGED: 22.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh. Tootool Australia.
Ralphs Gravesite in 1920 (Copyright AWM. Gov)
CEMETERY: Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. GRAVE: F. 44.
A special thank you to Ralph Mclean of the South African War Graves Project for the above picture.
Ralph surname is spelled Poole on the Australian service records and the Commonwealth War Graves Site indeed the local memorial in Healaugh spells it this way.
However on census records going back to 1851 and his birth certificate it is spelled Pool.
Ralph was born in 1895 to John Pool who was born in the village of Steeton nr Colton Tadcaster in 1856.
John was the son of William born Maryton Yorkshire in 1812 and Marie born Ellerton Yorkshire in 1817. John had three brothers William 1851, Joseph 1853 and Robert 1860.
On the 24th October 1885 John married Kate Huscroft in Healaugh St Johns Baptist Church.
Kate was born in Healaugh in 1862 to John Huscroft born Tadcaster 1820 and Ann born Tadcaster 1823. Kate had two sisters Elizabeth 1850 and Ann 1860.
Ralph had two brothers Fred born 1889 and Frank born 1891 and one of these brothers emigrated to Australia with Ralph.
In 1901 the family were living in Healaugh and Ralphs father John was working as a domestic gardener probably at the Old Vicarage or Healaugh Old Hall.
At the outbreak of WW1 Ralph was in Australia and on the 1st of December 1914 Ralph aged 19 years and 9 months enlisted into B Sqn of the 7th Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron in Holsworthy Sydney.
At his medical he is described as being 5ft 11 inches tall weighing 168 lbs a chest measurement of 37- 40 inches a dark complexion gray eyes and brown hair.
Ralph left Sydney the Ayrshire on the 20 December 1914 presumably for Egypt and in 1915 set sail for Gallipoli on H.M.T Kiteon ?
On the 10th October 1915 Ralph reported sick with Diarrhea and was placed on the hospital ship Assaye which took him to Malta.
On the 16th October 1915 Ralph was admitted to St Patricks hospital on the island and he was transferred to Ghain Tufficha on the 23rd of that month.
In early November Ralph was transferred to Imtarfa Hospital with Enteric fever and in early January was feeling well enough to be transferred to Cairo Egypt on board H.M.T Valdivia.
Ralph had obviously emigrated with one of his brothers as on the 9th of January 1916 a F.Poole of "French Park the Rock Sydney N.SW" sent a letter to the officer in charge of Victoria Barracks Melbourne asking for details of the whereabouts and Health of his brother Ralph.
A reply was sent explaining Ralphs next of kin was in Tadcaster England and an address in Malta was given for any letters to be sent to Ralph. I do not know which brother this was either Frank or Fred.
Ralph was still not well enough to be sent back to the front and was sent home for a three month convalescence onboard the Hospital ship "Nestor" leaving Malta on the 12 February 1916 arriving in Melbourne on the 13th March 1916.
Ralph rejoined the war on the 12th of September 1916 from Melbourne on board "Hymettus" with the 21/7th Light Horse Infantry landing at Moascar.
In December of that year Ralph was taken on strength into the 2nd Bn Machine Gun Sqn.
Ralph fought with the Squadron and the next record of Ralph was noted on the 6th November 1917 where Ralph is reported to have been wounded with gunshot wounds to both thighs and testicles and admitted into the 65th Casualty clearing station at Ismara.
On the 14th of November Ralph was transferred to the 14th General Hospital and was reported to have been dangerously ill.
Ralph was finally moved to the 31st General Hospital in Port Said Egypt and on the 20th November 1917 passed away from his wounds, he was buried on the 26th of November in Port Said cemetery Egypt the service being carried out by Chaplain W.A. Ceayes.
Yorkshire Herald York July 1916
A letter was received by the Australian authorites on the 7th January 1918 from a Mrs Celia Rothery of Northcote Avenue Kilara N.SW in it she explained she had received a letter from Ralphs bother who was described as living up country stating that he was not aware or had received any notification of Ralphs passing.
She went on to say she had received a card from Ralph dated the 14th November 1917 saying he had been wounded and indeed her son who served with Ralph himself invalided on the 9th of November had heard of Ralphs passing.
It was explained that only the next of Kin on the soldiers form would be informed this indeed was his father and mother in Healaugh Tadcaster.
This was done in early 1918 and on the 23rd of January 1918 Ralphs mother Kate was issud with a war pension of 40\ shillings.
On the 20th June 1918 Kate signed for the return of Ralphs personal belongings.
The final chapter in Ralphs story is regarding his pension in that in 1920 Ralphs brother "F" applied to take over the 40\ shillings i can only presume that John and kate, Ralphs parents had passed away.
was it Fred or Frank who was in Australia can you help?
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PRIVATE WILLIAM JAMES STUTTARD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 55316. UNIT/REGIMENT: 9th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.
BORN: Healaugh. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/04/1918. AGED: 20.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
William was the son of Arthur Edward and Gertrude Raper who married in 1896 in York and were residing at Healaugh Manor when William gave his life.
GRAVE: III. E. 11.
CEMETERY: Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery Belgium.
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PRIVATE CHARLIE SMITH.
SERVICE NUMBER: 24051. UNIT/REGIMENT: 1st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers.
BORN: Healaugh. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 19/05/1916. AGED: 31.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
CEMETERY: Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension. GRAVE: Plot 1. Row A. Grave 5.
Charlie was the son of John a farm labourer Born Healaugh 1849 and Elizabeth Born Bishopthorpe nr York 1847.
John and Elizabeth had a daughter Alice Born 1871 who's son George Benson is remembered above and sons William Born 1880 Fred 1883 (see below) and Horseman Born 1887 all born Healaugh.
In 1901 Charles was working as a groom at the Falcon Inn on Chapel Street Tadcaster.
Where Charles is at rest was an important Railhead and Hospital centre and this is where Charles more than likely passed away from wounds received.
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PRIVATE FRED SMITH.
SERVICE NUMBER: 35529. UNIT/REGIMENT: 6th Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
BORN: Healaugh. ENLISTED: Harrogate.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 09/04/1917.AGED: 36.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST LEEDS APRIL 26TH 1917
"Pvt F.Smith K.O.Y.L.I. killed in action was the son of Mr and Mrs Smith of Healaugh Tadcaster.
He leaves a widow who resides at Harewood."
CEMETERY: Arras Memorial. PANEL: Bay 7.
Brother of above. (picture to be added)
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PRIVATE FRANK TATE.
SERVICE NUMBER: 31399. UNIT: 16th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment. ( Labour Corps ).
BORN: Healaugh. ENLISTED: Tadcaster.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 30/09/1917. AGED: 40.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
Frank was the son of Richard born 1841 in Healaugh and Elizabeth born Sherburn 1840.
Frank had brothers William, Thomas, Herbert, and Alfred.
In 1901 Frank was working as a farm laborer in the neighboring village of Catterton.
The area where Frank was laid to rest was used as a clearing station ( hospitals ) away from the front lines and this is where Frank most likely passed away from wounds received in battle.
CEMETERY: Lijssenthtoek Military Cemetery. GRAVE: XXIV. B. 16.
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ABLE SEAMAN JOHN WILLIAM DARNTON.
SERVICE NUMBER: J/47427. UNIT Royal Navy, H.M.S Britannia.
BORN: York. GAVE HIS LIFE: 09/11/1918. AGED: 19.
CEMETERY: Portsmouth Naval Memorial. PANEL: 29.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh.
John was serving on H.M.S Britannia a Dreadnought battleship King Edward V11 Class. Built in Portsmouth in 1904 .
She was 453 feet long and had a top speed of 33 kmh or 18 knotts, and was armed to the teeth as you would expect from a ship of this size, and had a ships complement of 777.
Two days before the Armistace was signed the Britannia was at Cape Trafalger which is a headland off South West Spain near Cadiz reportedly heading for Gibralter when she was struck by a torpedo from U Boat 50.
It was reported at the time that she took three hours to sink and lost 50 men John William being one of them.
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