Kingston upon Hull War Memorial 1914 - 1918
The story of Hull in World War 1
Over, 7,500 Hull men died in the First World War. Over 1,200 of these were sailors working with the fishing fleet, or serving with the Merchantile Marine, the Royal Navy and the Royal Navy Reserve. They carried out vital war work, bringing in supplies, transporting troops and minesweeping the seas
There were nearly another 1,500 men who were born in Hull, but who lived elsewhere. They died fighting for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and America. There are many others, who enlisted in Hull or who were associated with the City, but are not usually remembered on Hull war memorials. As Hull had four large hospitals and was the port of entry for repatriated prisoner of wars, servicemen from all over the world are buried in Hull. The Kingston Upon Hull Memorial aims to remember all those with a Hull connection who died in the First World War.
There are over a hundred families on the Hull Memorial that lost two or more of their family. Sometimes fathers, sons and brothers were lost on the same day. Some families lost three sons, other Hull families lost four sons, including all their children in the First World War. At least one in six Hull families lost a direct relative. Many others would lose close friends, work colleagues or others known to them. Each death was irreplaceable and an individual tragedy for someone.
Unfortunately, not all deaths were recorded in official casualty figures, particularly if soldiers died of sickness, accidents or were discharged home with wounds, of illness. By 1924 the Ministry of Pensions reported that there were 20,000 war wounded living in Hull. Although they survived the war, they are rarely recorded on war memorials. What follows here are snippets of some of those people who died, whose deaths were reported in the local newspapers.
The conditions experienced by soldiers in the trenches of the Western front were unique. The use of mechanical warfare with high explosive and rapidly firing heavy artillery aimed at men restricted in trenches with no route of escape, meant that conditions were more destructive and oppressive than had ever been previously experienced. High explosives, gas, … Read more
Hull City Police Force WW1 Memorial Plaque Name Rank Regiment Died Age Buried No: Address Mitchell, Ernest Frederick Pte Coldstream Guards, 3rd 15/09/1916 24 Thiepval, Somme, France 3 Wyndham Street, Hull Edlington, MM, John Holmes Pte Coldstream Guards, 1st 27/08/1918 24 Croisilles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France 7 Park Terrace, Seaton Street, Hull Bird, William … Read more
Name Rank Regiment Died Age Buried No: Address Mitchell, Ernest Frederick Pte Coldstream Guards, 3rd 15/09/1916 24 Thiepval, Somme, France 3 Wyndham Street, Hull Edlington, MM, John Holmes Pte Coldstream Guards, 1st 27/08/1918 24 Croisilles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France 7 Park Terrace, Seaton Street, Hull Bird, William Pte Coldstream Guards 2nd 26/10/1914 30 … Read more
“TO THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918. THIS ORGAN AND OAK TABLET WITH NAMES INSCRIBED THEREON WERE GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE OF NEWLAND AND DEDICATED BY THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ON THE 11TH NOV 1920. JESUS SAID … Read more
St John The Baptist Church WW1 Memorial, Newington, Hull St John The Baptist Church, Newington, Hull. Unveiled on 11th August 1921, the white marble, WW1 Memorial, records 302 names, in five columns in alphabetical order. St John The Baptist Church, is a large red-brick, Victorian town church, built in 1878 in the Hessle Road area … Read more
30/05/2015 by admin These 27 Hull Teachers died in the 1914-18 War. Their names are recorded on a Memorial, Bronze Plaque, located at the Hull Guildhall. The following provides details of their full name, rank, serial number, regiment, date and place of death, their age and their last known address. Hull Teachers WW1 Memorial Plaque, Guildhall ALEXANDER, … Read more
This section is work in progress. The Hull Museum’s page notes that: “Hull also formed its own 32nd Divisional Ammunition Column, from members of the City Police Force and Tramways. This was commanded by Lt Col, James Walker. The original artillery of the 32nd Division moved to France to join the 31st Division on 8 December … Read more
Reckitt’s is a Hull based company, formed in 1842, internationally renowned for its health and cleaning products. By the time of the Great War it had already pioneered a number of scientific breakthroughs to create revolutionary cleaning products, such as Robins Starch (1899), the UK’s first liquid metal polish Brasso (1905), and the silver polish, … Read more
John Richard Millett, was lost on the Trawler “Othello” in October 1915. His brother, Alfred Ernest Millett, served with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and was killed in action, on 28/07/1918, aged 34. Both were born in Hull.
Here are 10 facts that tell the story of World War One at sea. Although primarily a land-war, there were significant skirmishes at sea. 1. The Battle of Heligoland Bight (August 1914) was the first naval battle of WW1 The British fleet ambushed and sunk three German light cruisers and one destroyer. 2. In 1914 SM U-9 (a German … Read more
‘HMT ARGYLL H923’ sunk 15th June 1915 On the 15th June 1915, the Hull vessel, was torpedoed by the submarine UC-11, off the Harwich coast. All seven Hull fishermen were lost: * ALDAN Albert (46), 4 St Andrews Street, Hull. Chief Engineer * BOWLES Fred (35), 6 Rugby Terace, Rugby Street, Hull. Deckhand * COWLAM Jack (29), 3 … Read more
John Rumble, was skipper of the fishing vessel “Jersey”, lost at sea, on 5th November 1915, aged 27. His brother, Lance Corporal, Watson Burnham Rumble, 6th East Yorkshire Pioneers was killed at Gallipoli, on 9th August 1915, aged 20. Another brother, James Henry Rumble was a deckhand in the Royal Naval Reserve, and died in Hull on 19th … Read more
Samuel Wass, 20th Hussars, George William Wass, 2/5th West Riding Regiment, James Wass, 6th east Yorkshire Piioneers, and John Wass, 8th East Yorkshire battalion, were four Hull brothers all dead within 16 months of the war. They were the only children of Luke James Wass and his wife, Clara, at 4 Robinson Place, Princess Street, … Read more
Arthur Septimus & Harriet Perry, of 81 Hessle Road lost: Stoker, ARTHUR WILLIAM PERRY, Royal Navy – 26/12/1918, Aged 21. Private,JOHN THOMAS PERRY, 6TH EYR, on 6/09/1916, Aged 24. Private, HAROLD JAMES PERRY, 19TH Middlesex regiment, on7/10/1918, Aged 19. Priavte, JOHN WILLIAM O’NEIL, EYR, killed in action at Oppy Wood, on 3/05/1917, Aged 20, was the cousin of the above brothers. All thier … Read more
George and Emma Booth, of Chapel Lane, Hull, lost their son Fred Booth serving on Minesweepers, in March 1916, another son, John William Booth, at the Battle of Jultland in May 1916 and their third son, Private, Albert Edward Booth, on the Somme, on the 2nd April 1918.
Fred, Matthew and Robert Driver, were three brothers, from 3 Devon Grove, Sculcoates Lane, Hull, that died in the war.
Kate and John Hedges, of 16 Goodrick Terrace, Cave Street, lost their three sons. Noel Victor Hedges died of wounds recieved on the Somme, on 8th July 1916, aged 19. their eldest son, Mark Ellis Hedges, died at Ypres on 26th September, 1917, aged 27. Their other son Frank Arthur Hedges, died on the Menin Road, after only one month at … Read more
Anthony and Catherine Walsh, from Gordon Street, Hull, lost three sons, from their family of ten children. Their eldest son Anthony had served in the military for10 years before re-enlisting at the outbreak of war. He was discharged from the army with mania and committed to Beverley Asylum, where he died in May 1916. Their other … Read more
The three Diglin brothers (photo below) were George Diglin, East Yorks Regt, service no 13/505, killed 13/11/1916, Walter Diglin, York and Lancaster Regiment Service no 203159, killed 24/0/1917 and William Diglin, East Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, Service No. 3/33418, killed 25/04/1917. A 4th brother who served – Ernest Diglin, Kings Royal Rifle Corps 6th Battalion Service No: Y624 was discharged from … Read more
John Edward Lilley and Mary Ann Lilley, of 7 Holderness Villas, Rhodes Street, Hawthorne Avenue, Hull, lost their three sons: Pte, Sydney Lilley, 13th EYR, killed on 13/11/1916, aged 20; Pte, Fred Lilley, MGC, killed 10/10/1917, aged 29; and Pte, George Lilley, 10the EYR, killed 15/08/1918, aged 23.
Robert and Emma Sergeant lost the following three sons: Pte, Robert Sergeant, 12th EYR, killed 13/11/16, age 27; Driver, Edwin Sergeant, RFA, killed 23/3/18, age 34; and Pte, Herbert Sergeant, Yorkshire Regiment killed 09/04/18, aged 18.
Thomas and Sarah Dimmack, of Strickland Street, Hull, lost three of their six children in the war. Pte, Thomas William Dimmack, East Surreys, killed 7/8/16, aged 33; L/Cpl, Thomas Dimmack, 1st EYR, killed 21/4/18, aged 36, and Pte, Joseph Dimmack, 12th EYR, died 19/10/18, aged 22.
John and Sarah Galloway of 46 Cleveland Street, lost the following three sons. Private, George David Galloway, 7th EYR, who died of wounds on 7th July 1916, aged 30 and is buried at Hedon Road Cemetery; Private, Thomas Galloway, 1st EYR, killed on the Somme, on 16th September 1916, aged 24; and Gunner, Evans Galloway, RFA, who … Read more
James & Mary Ann Grayburn, of 7 Talbot Terrace, Toogoode Street, Hull had eight children. They lost their sons; George, killed with the Border Regiment on 16/9/16, aged 30; John, killed with the 13th EYR on 20/7/17, aged 27, and William killed with the 10th EYR on 26/9/18, aged 23.
Pte Simon Levine 5288 and Pte Harry Furman (pictured), 6868 of the 1st/4th East Yorkshire Battalion were both recipients of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. These two young men died on the Somme for their country in January 1917. They were sons of recent East-European Jewish immigrants to Hull. My grandfather’s eldest brother … Read more
Max Chayet (1891-1916) The Roll of Honour in Pryme Street Shul includes the name Private M Kaye of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). The story of this young soldier, where he was born, where he died and his real name was the subject of my talk entitled “Finding Private Kay” at Hull Day Limmud … Read more
During the First World War, Hull was a much smaller, more crowded city, than it is today. Most people lived in the City Centre or were crammed around the fish docks of Hessle Road and the warehouses of Wincolmlee. In 1914, Hull’s population was around 300,000 people, a much larger number than the 248,000 now. … Read more
New Laws – Restricting Public Rights to win the war. The Government introduced new laws to help pay for and win the war. This started with the ‘Defence of the Realm Act or (DORA) in 1914‘. Basic tax increased from 6% to 30% and the number of people in Britain who paid tax, tripled to … Read more
Hull Citizens celebrated the end on the war on the 11th November 1918. Bells pealed from the church towers; the shipyard closed down until Thursday; munitions works closed all day; and schools that were not already closed by the ‘Spanish Flu’ epidemic got a half day holiday. The streets were thronged with people all afternoon … Read more
On the 7th August,1915, the Yorkshire regiments landed at Sulva Bay to capture a number of commanding hills. Tekke Teppe Hill above was most prominent and its capture promised a break through to the stalemate at Gallipoli. THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN Background. The Gallipoli Peninsula runs in a south-westerly direction into the Aegean Sea between the Hellesport (now known as the Dardanelles) … Read more
OPPY WOOD, 3rd May 1917 – The Hull Pals Attack After the fall of Vimy Ridge, the Germans withdrew to the high ground of Oppy Wood, North East of Arras, The Capture of Oppy Wood was an engagement between May and June 1917. The Germans were in possession of a fortified wood, to the west of the village of … Read more
World War 1, lasted four years, three months and one week (1,564 days). About about 10 million military personnel and about 7 million civilians died in World War 1, with some 23 million wounded – an estimated casualty total of 40 million people. As calculating casualties is often complex and controversial, others estimate that the … Read more
‘SOUTHWARD HO’ was a 169 GRT steam trawler completed in 1899 by Doig & Broadley for S. T. While & Co. Ltd. and registered at Hull as H.456. She was reported missing on 27 May 1915 and is believed to have been lost approximately 88 nautical miles East by North of Spurn Head as a result … Read more
HMT ‘EMLEY 123’ sunk in the Firth of Forth, on 28th April 1918, with the loss of 8 crew. COLLEY, ROBERT , Trimmer (no. 7801TS), H.M. Trawler Emley, †28/04/1918, Memorial:Chatham Naval Memorial FITZPATRICK, GEORGE WILLIAM , Deck Hand (no. 9198DA), H.M. Trawler Emley, †28/04/1918, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial MACDONALD, JOHN (20), Leading Deck Hand (no. 14142DA), H.M. Trawler Emley, †28/04/1918, … Read more
HMT ‘COMMANDER FULLERTON’, was a destroyer, lost on 12th December 1917, trying to protect a convoy in the North Sea. She was sunk by SMS EMDEN and destroyers of the German Third Half-Flotilla on 12th December 1917. Destroyers PELLEW and PARTRIDGE, together with trawlers COMMANDER FULLERTON, LIVINGSTONE, LORD ALVERSTONE and TOKIO were escorting a Scandinavian convoy when attacked by the Germans. The … Read more
On the 15th June 1915, the Hull vessel, was torpedoed by the submarine UC-11, off the Harwich coast. All seven Hull fishermen were lost: * ALDAN Albert (46), 4 St Andrews Street, Hull. Chief Engineer * BOWLES Fred (35), 6 Rugby Terace, Rugby Street, Hull. Deckhand * COWLAM Jack (29), 3 Willows Grove, Somerset Street, Hull. Fireman * SOARDES … Read more
CREW LOST ON ‘CELIA (H989)’, in the North Sea, 8th January, 1915. Never seen again. HALDENBY, Thomas (43), 7 Claremont-Villas, Liverpool Street, Hull. Cook KINGDOM, Thomas (23) , 2 Clumber-Ave, Flinton Street, Hull. Deckhand LAVERACK, Daniel (18), 9 Florence-Terrace, Wassand Street, Hull. Fireman LONGTHORNE, Wilfred (27), 8 St. George-Avenue, Selby Street, Hull. Skipper MITCHELL, Alfred (20), Florence-Avenue, Westbourne Street, … Read more
CREW LOST ON ‘SEBASTIAN’, lost in the North Sea, 22nd May, 1915. Lost with all hands. AGNES, W. A (26), 12 Arthurs-Terrace, Walcott Street, Hull. Trimmer COWLING, Frederick (23), 13 Seaton-ter, Walcott st, Hull. 2nd/Engineer ELLIS, Herbert (26), 12 Fern-Grove, Eastbourne st, Hull. Cook FLEY, Albert (28), 11 Welton-ter, Wassand Street, Hull. Bosun GILLARD, Arthur (16), 34 Edinburgh … Read more
EARL (H436) was a Hull steam trawler, reported missing in the North Sea on 21/1/1916 BROWNHILL, A (51), 140 Regent Street, Hull. Cook BUCHAN, William (17), 30 Haddon Street, Hull. Trimmer COATES, William (20), 6 Empringham-Place, Daltry Street, Hull. 3rd/Hand COATES, William (59), 25 Buxton-ter, Daltry Street, Hull. Skipper JACKSON, Frederick (34), 236 Boulevard, Hull. 2nd/Hand … Read more
‘EROS’ was mined in the North Sea on the 8th June 1918. 7 lives, lost including Skipper. LOST CREW – HMT EROS AVERY, STEPHEN FREDERICK (32), Spare Hand, Steam Trawler Eros, †08/06/1918, Son of Robert Avery and the late Florence Avery; husband of Bertha Louisa Avery (nee Linkins), of 8, Princes Avenue, West Dock St., Hull. Born at … Read more
‘SOUTHWARD HO’ was a 169 GRT steam trawler completed in 1899 by Doig & Broadley for S. T. While & Co. Ltd. and registered at Hull as H.456. She was reported missing on 27 May 1915 and is believed to have been lost approximately 88 nautical miles East by North of Spurn Head as a result … Read more
CREW LOST ON ‘SHAKESPEARE (H994)’, sunk on 7th February 1917 by a U-boat gunfire. BRYON, Arnie, (-), 346 St. George’s Road, Hull. Skipper FARNSWORTH, James (28), 26 Brighton Sreet, Hull. 3rd/Hand HARRISON, James (40), 13 Flinton Street, Hull. Mate HUTCHINSON, John (30), Calthorpe-Gardens, Newington Street, Hull. Chief Engineer LAWRENCE, Charles (31), 8a Bedford-Place, Boston. 2nd/Engineer LEE, … Read more
‘INDUSTRIA‘, was built by Cook, Welton and Gemmell Ltd, Hull, 1887. It was sunk in the North Sea, on 21st March 1917, with the loss of nine lives. ACUM, John, (17), Trimmer, 18 Ireland terrace, Gillette Street, Hull BARKS, Thomas, (65), Cook, BURNETT, Walter, (53), Chief Engineer, 380 Boulevard, Hull CARNEY, Peter, (42), Deckhand, 22 Gillette … Read more
‘MALABAR’ was a steam trawler, completed in 1903 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd., for the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co. Ltd. and registered at Hull as H.754. She had left Hull on 20th December 1915 and was posted missing on 3rd January 1916 in severe weather. The cause of her loss is unknown.There were … Read more
Richard Jackson Douglas was born in Hull 1881. He enlsited in Hull as a Private in the 7th East Yorkshire Regiment and was killed in action on the 18th September 1918. He left his wife Elizabeth and 4 children at 140 Cumberland Street. He enlisted with Ernie Wilson an orphan he took in off the … Read more
These 27 Hull Teachers died in the 1914-18 War. Their names are recorded on a Memorial, Bronze Plaque, located at the Hull Guildhall. The following provides details of their full name, rank, serial number, regiment, date and place of death, their age and their last known address. ALEXANDER, James, Lance Bombardier, 151758, RFA, died 05/12/1918, … Read more
Private, John Joseph Linford, 10th East Yorkshire Regiment, died a prisoner, on the 22nd September 1918, aged 31 years. He was the son of Thomas and Margaret Linford, at 2 Victoria Terrace, Newton Street. His brothers, George was reported missing in April 1918, Harold was also a prisoner of war, and Arthur was serving in France … Read more
Private, William Horsfall, known as ‘Sunny’ died of flu in Berlin on 15th October 1918, aged 22. He had married Alice Maud Hugman in 1917 and lived at 68 Marshall Street. His parents lived at 90 Alexandra Road. He is commemorated on a brass plaque at the Holy Methodist Church, Newland Avenue.
