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.
Hull has historically been a recruiting ground for the Royal Marines, who are world famous for fighting ‘On Land and Sea’. Thirty Seven Royal Marines from Hull died in the First World war, and another thirty Hull men died serving with the Royal Navy Division. At the start of the war there were between 20-30,000 … Read more
The Merchant Navy descibes Britain’s commercial ships and crews. It has existed throughout British history, and expanded greatly with the growth of the British Empire, and the resulting increase in trade. At the start of the war Britain controlled over 40% of the world’s merchant shipping. This proved vital during the First World War, in … Read more
The Steamship ‘CALYPSO’ was a 2,876grt British Merchantship built in 1904 by Earle’s SB. & Eng. Co., Ltd., Hull and owned by T. Wilson, Sons & Co., Ltd., Hull . There was accommodation for 57-1st, 44-2nd and 863-3rd class passengers.Taken up by the Admiralty in November 1914, she was renamed HMS CALYX and armed with … Read more
The ‘ZARA’ was a 1,331-ton cargo-passenger ship that measured: 257.0 x 35.2. Wm. Hamilton & Co., Port Glasgow built and completed her as Yard No.130 in June 1897 for Bailey & Leetham, Ltd., Hull. In 1903 she was owned by T. Wilson, Sons & Co., Ltd., Hull. In 1917 the registered owner was Ellerman’s Wilson Line, Ltd., … Read more
The Trawler ‘EGRET‘ was Launched on 30/09/1898; It was originally a Hull registered trawler (H.21) and owned by Great Northern Steamship Fishing Co., Hull; Requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1918, the Vessel was torpedoed and sunk without warning, 2 miles E x N of Spurn Light vessel; 11 lives were lost including the Master. LOST … Read more
Hull provided experienced sailors and a large number of ships to the war effort. They served in all the World’s Seas. Hull ships Crew’s often contained many sailors from abroad, who lived either on board or around the docks of Hull. Some of these overseas seamen are remembered here:- Emanuel KARIOTHIS, from Crete, Greece, lost on … Read more
The following are examples of some Hull Seamen, not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:- Fireman, Joseph Smith, lost at sea, on the Steam Ship, ‘Hildago’ on the 28th August 1917, aged 27. Cook, George Nunn, lost on the ‘Montebello’ on 21st June 1918. He was a 32 year old fisherman. Son of Sarah Nunn, 95 … Read more
Another Hull FC Rugby player, Lieutenant, Jack Harrison, VC, MC, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously, at Oppy Wood, on the 3rd May 1917. Jack Harrison was a record try scorer for Hull, scoring 52 tries in one season and 106 tries in 116 matches up to 1916. He was … Read more
Walker Street WW1 Memorial Hull’s Walker Street war memorial is a grey, marble, obelisk, located outside the Church of Holy Apostles (Thornton Community Hall). It is dedicated to the men of Parish, killed in the First World War. Like most Hull memorials it was initiated by the local church, erected in the early 1920’s and paid … Read more
Private, Charles Francis McCol, 11/81, 1/4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, was executed for desertion, aged 26. He was the son of Annie McCol, of 6 Bramhan Avenue, Woodhouse Street, Hull. McCol had given up a reserved occupation to enlist in the 11th EYR in September, 1914. He had served in Egypt from November 1915, and … Read more
Pte, Richard Hill, a box maker at Reckitt’s, was killed on the Somme on the 1st October 1916. He left a brother Harold and five sisters. He lived at 2 Cicero Terrace, Swann Street and his family lived on Kent Street.
George Dugdale Banning, from 270 St Georges Road, enlisted in the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers. This was a Pals battalion made up of North Eastern Railway workers. He died of wounds on the 5th July 1916 leaving his fiancée Annie. He was one of 12 ‘pals’ from Hull who died with this battalion.
Driver, Henry Binks, Royal Field Artillery who had served in France for three years, died of influenza on the day the war ended. His best friend and Brother in Law, Cpl James Nix had been killed in action on the 21st May 1918, and another Brother in Law, Sgt, Charles John Nix, MM, had been … Read more
Pte, Charles Bell who before the attack tossed a coin with his friend Pte, Surfleet, to decide who would train the new recruits. Pte, Bell lost and was killed in action on the 13th November 1916.
, Female typists at work in the records room of prisoners property held by the POWIB. The offices of the institution were at 49 Wellington Street, Strand, London.
Pte, Harold Banks, 1/4th EYR, was taken prisoner on the 27th May 1918. He died in Cologne, on the 18th November 1918, aged 20 years old. He was the son of Zachariah & Eleanor Banks, 1 Floral Avenue, Edinburgh Street, Hull. His older brother Ted had been killed in France in 1916, aged 19 years.
Pte, William Ashwell, had his left leg amputated while a prisoner of war, and died from his wounds on the 18th June 1918. He was 38 years old and is buried at Sissons. He was the son of Robert and Martha Ashwell, and lived with his wife Annie and son at 69 Queens Street.
Stoker, Thomas Bennett, from the ‘Hawkes’ Battalion, Royal Navy Division, was captured and died on the 8th June 1917. He left a wife Harriet and children at 10 Albert Villas, Holland Street. He was 42 years old and buried at Groningen. Female members of the staff of the POWIB being taught German. The offices of … Read more
Private, Colin Edward Barker, of the 13th East Yorkshire Regiment, died as a German prisoner in Berlin, on the 2nd December 1916. He was 22 years old and lived at 118 York Street. Pte, Cornelius Bird died as a Turkish Prisoner of War. He had been captured at Gallipoli serving with the 6thEast Yorkshire Pioneers in 1915. … Read more
Private, Robert Scaife, 7992, West Yorkshire Regiment, died on the 23rd November 1914, in a German hospital. He died from wounds received at Mons. He was the son of Robert and Jane Scaife, at 12 Hope Terrace, Walker Street. He was 26 year old, and remembered on the Walker Street war memorial, outside the Holy Apostles … Read more
Lance Corporal, Henry Nolan, 2/6th South Staffs Regiment, died as a Prisoner of War in Germany on the 24th September 1918. He was aged 19. His parents Frank and Mary Maud Nolan, lived at 24 Bridlington Street. He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour, at St Charles Borromeo Church, Jarratt Street, Hull.
Private, James AARON, MM, 19728, 8th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, killed in action on 1st July 1916, aged 23. Son of Faith Hampshire (formerly Aaron), of 46, Egton Street, Hull and the late James Aaron, of the Hull Western Synagogue. Awarded the Military Medal for courage. Commemorated on the Thiepval memorial. Private, SAMUEL ABRAHAMSON, 548, … Read more
Private, Myer Black, 11th EYR, killed on 13th November 1916, age 23, lived at 47 Dock Street. He was one of the first to enlist in the Hull Pals Battalion, and his family ran a local shoe repair business. His name is commemorated on the family grave in the Hebrew cemetery, Marfleet, Hull.
Pte, Samuel Solomon Sugarman, 10/1331, 12th East Yorkshire Regiment, died on the 15th August 1916, aged 21. He is buried at the Caberet Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez near Arras. He was the son of Mark Sugarman, of 4 Park Street, Hull and Bocksburg, South Africa. Sam Sugarman had been a clerk before the war, and … Read more
Pte, Joseph Annowitch, ex Durham Light Infantry, who died on the 3rd December 1918, is buried at Hull’s Hebrew Cemetery. He was the son of Jacob and Mary Annowitch, at 61 Barnsley Street and his Grandparents, Isaac & Jane lived nearby at 41 Courtney Street, East Hull. Pte. James Aaron, 8th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, … Read more
Pioneer, Maurice Feldman, Royal Engineers, died in Italy, of sickness on the 30th July 1919. aged 21 years old. He was the son of Samuel and Ann Feldman of 76 Lister Street, Hull.
The Hull Western Synagogue, contains a beautiful war memorial, commemorating those from Hull’s Jewish community, lost in the war. They include:- Corporal, Harry Silverstone, 9th Essex Regiment, died 3rd July 1916, aged 39. He is commemorated on the Somme memorial to the missing at Thiepval. His brother, Private, Marcus Silverstone, 1st Royal Fusiliers, died on the … Read more
Private, MAURICE WILLIAM MORACK, 10/225. Born in Leeds in 1894, Maurice was the eldest of three children to Matilda Morack of 32 Pryme Street, Hull. A Tailor’s Machinist before the war, Maurice signed up for the fledgling 10th Battalion having queued in those long uneven lines of the first week of September 1914. He served … 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 in … Read more
Lieutenant, Edward Myer Gosschalk, 6th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was born in Hull in 1884. He was killed at Deville Wood on the 28th August 1916, aged 32. He was the son of Edward and Esther Gosschalk, 11 Crown Terrace, Anlaby Road. His brothers also served. He is commemorated on the Hymer’s College Memorial … Read more
This web site is provided as a public service at no charge. While we attempt to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the user is cautioned that whilst every effort is made to verify the accuracy of the information, no responsibility is taken or accepted for information deemed to be erroneous. You may … Read more
Pte, Raymond Millington, left the Reckitt’s factory in Hull to join the Durham Light Infantry in 1914. He was discharged with a weak ankle, but later rejoined the Army Service Corp in 1915. He was killed by a bomb dropped from an aeroplane on his supply column, on the 1st September 1917. He lived with … Read more
Sapper, Eric Simpson, Royal Engineers, was accidentally drowned in the River Dwina, aged 20, and is buried at Archangel in Russia.
Cpl, Jack Andrews, Royal Engineers, from 75 Eastbourne Street, died of fever in Mesopotamia, aged 27.
George Richard Pickering, 18 Massey Street, died of wounds in Ireland, aged 17. Lieutenant, Edward M. Thompson, 5th Yorkshire Regiment, killed 22/2/16, aged 28. Son of Frederick & Adeline Thompson at 113 Stepney Lane.
Arthur Mowforth from 40 Louis Street died of wounds in Greece in 1917, aged 21.
Pte, Reginald Gorley was killed while carrying water.
Driver, Gerald Pitts Parker was killed while feeding his horse. He was born in Hull in 1891 and before the war had worked at Reckitts. He left a widow Minnie and two children at 101 Rosmead Street.
Pte, Horace Kirman, from 46 Folkestone Street, was killed by a sniper, rescuing a wounded Officer, at Oppy Wood. He received no medal.
Sgt, Ernest Marritt, 11th EYR from 24 Montrose Street, was killed on the 8th November 1917, capturing a machine gun. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions.
L/Cpl Arthur Moore died on his 21st Birthday on the 1st July 1916. He had originally joined the Hull Pals as number 122, but was transferred to the Accrington Pals instead. He died with the 11th East Lancashire Battalion, on the first day of the battle of the Somme and is buried at Serre. His … Read more
Cpl, James Jollands, of the 1/4th EYR, lived at 151 Sculcoates Lane. He had only been abroad for 10 days before he was killed on 5th May 1915.
Gunner, Frank William Owens, had just returned to Flanders after 10 days leave when he was killed on 31st July 1917. He had worked for his Father’s Grocery business at 43 Brunswick Avenue and he is commemorated on the Hull Grammar School Roll of Honour.
Pte, Francis Knaggs, 1st EYR was killed on the 20th September 1914. He died on the same day with seven other Hull men from the 1st East Yorkshires, halting the German advance at the Marne. Casualties continued. Pte, Charles Hodges, 1st EYR, from 8 Buckingham Street was killed on the 18th October 1914, aged 21.
Pte, Francis Knaggs, 1st EYR was killed on the 20th September 1914. He died on the same day with seven other Hull men from the 1st East Yorkshires, halting the German advance at the Marne. Casualties continued. Pte, Charles Hodges, 1st EYR, from 8 Buckingham Street was killed on the 18th October 1914, aged 21.
Pte, William Brook, from Regent Street, aged 18, had served only 9 weeks at the Front before he was killed on 24th August 1915.
Pte, Mark Lockwood, Coldstream Guards, came from Bright Street. He was one of many Professional Soldiers from Hull, despatched with the original British Expeditionary Force. He died at the Marne on the 9th September 1914, halting the German advance.
Sapper, Joseph Burn, Royal Engineers, of 18, Grove Terrace, Spyvee Street, Hull, had served in France, before being posted to East Africa. He committed suicide, by cutting his throat, on 10th June 1917, aged 23. He had served in the army for over five years, was judged to be of sound mind and his family … Read more
Not all deaths were a result of active service. Many deaths were caused by accidents or friendly fire in training. For example there were five fatal shootings and three serious injuries in August 1914, at the beginning of the war, all involving soldiers from Territorial regiments ar home. Three of the killings involved soldiers being … Read more
