Private 40192 James York

Killed in Action on Thursday, 4th October 1917, age 28.
Buried in Grave XXXII. F. 15. at New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

'D' Company of 21st Bn., Manchester Regiment. 91st Brigade of 7th Division.
Formerly 76125 Royal Field Artillery, and 18540 South Staffordshire Regiment.

Brother of Thomas Jabez York, of 1 Court, 5 House, Wood St., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Unknown.

First landed Balkans, 29th September 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/453337/

Genealogical Data

Birth of James York registered September quarter 1889 at Dudley.

1901 Census
49 Coppice Street, Tipton, Staffs.
James York (38, Widower, Labourer, born Tipton), and his three children: Thomas (16, General Labourer, born Tipton), Rachel (15, born Tipton), and James (11, born Tipton).

1911 Census
The Stop, Grand Union Canal, Braunston, Northants.
Canal Boat Grimsby: Master William Pountney.
James York (22, Canal Boat Mate, born Tipton).

Personal Data

James enlisted on 13th January 1915 in Wolverhampton as Driver 76125, Royal Field Artillery (RFA). On the next day he was posted to No. 5 RFA Depot, Athlone, Ireland for training.

His address was 2 Coppice Street, Tipton, this was likely to have been his grandmother’s house (Mrs Mary Johnson). He was recorded as being 27 years and 287 days old, this was not quite correct as he was born in September quarter 1889 and therefore 25 years old. He was single, 5 feet 5½ inches tall with a 37½-inch chest, weighed 140 pounds, and his physical development was noted as ‘Good’. His occupation was given as ‘Boatman and Horse Driver”. Both his parents had died, and his next of kin was his grandmother, Mrs Mary Johnson of Coppice Street, Tipton.

After 2 months with the RFA, James requested a transfer to the South Staffs regiment which was granted. He was at that time with the 30th Reserve Battery at Ballincollig, near Cork. He arrived at the South Staffs Depot at Lichfield on 14th April becoming Private 18540, then arrived in Jersey on 24th April for infantry training.

On 15th September 1915, he “embarked for 7th Battalion” who had been in the Gallipoli theatre since July 1915, and had lost heavily at Suvla Bay with 175 Other Ranks killed in the month of August. His records show that the first landed in the Balkans (Gallipoli) on 29th September. At this point, the 7th South Staffs (7/SS) had already seen most of their fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, but conditions were always unpleasant and dangerous.

The Gallipoli Campaign was unsuccessful, and the only option was a strategic withdrawal which was done by the 7/SS in December 1915 when they moved to Egypt. The 7/SS served in Egypt until 5th July 1916 when they embarked from Alexandria for France, landing in Marseilles on 10th July.

For an unknown reason, James was at No. 9 Infantry Base Depot in Beaumarais (near Calais), possibly after being wounded or sick, and was transferred to the 21st Manchester Regiment joining them on 4th September 1916 as Private 40192.

On 2nd April 1917, James received a GSW (gun-shot wound) to his left wrist, described as slight. He was treated at No. 22 Field Ambulance, No. 11 Casualty Clearing Station and No. 2 Canadian General Hospital at Le Touquet, re-joining his battalion on 28th May.

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £13/1/2d (13 pounds, 1 shilling and 2 pence); this was paid to his guardian and sole legatee (actually his grandmother), Mrs Mary Johnson, in March 1918. His War Gratuity was £12/10/0d (12 pounds and 10 shillings), this was shared equally between James's uncles William Johnson and Samuel Johnson in January 1920. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that James had enlisted in approximately February 1915.

Mrs Mary Johnson, James’ grandmother, was awarded a Dependant’s Pension of 5/0d (5 shillings) per week, commencing on 30th April 1919. Mrs Johnson’s address at that time was 2 Coppice Street, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

On the 4th October 1917, the successful Battle of Broodseinde implemented General Plumer's 'Bite and Hold' tactics during the Third Battle of Ypres, gaining a thousand yards during the day. The main thrust was provided by I and II Anzac Corps, with a flanking attack provided by X Corps which included the 21st Manchesters in the area of Polygon Wood. The flanking attack advanced 800 yards achieving most of its objectives, although unsubdued German artillery fire from behind the Ghevulelt Plateau caused 8,000 casualties in the three attacking divisions.

During September 1917, the 21st Manchesters had been training over 20 miles west of Ypres; late in the month they began their move to the Ypres salient. They took up position in Polygon Wood on the night of 3rd October, in readiness for the attack on the morning of 4th October. The attack in their sector was to be carried out by the 1st South Staffs taking the first objective, and the 22nd Manchesters passing through and taking the final objective. The 21st Manchesters were to be the reserve battalion; in fact, 3 of the 4 Companies of the 21st Manchesters were placed under the control of the 22nd Manchesters for the attack on the 4th October.

James was in ‘D’ Company which was sent forward to support the 22nd Manchesters. The War Diary of the 22nd Manchesters says “At 10.25am, one company of 21st Manchesters was sent to reinforce the 22nd Battalion. At 12.45pm, the Company of the 21st Manchesters had arrived in the front line and taken up a position between the Battalion and 2nd Border Regiment on the left. Consolidation was in progress. Trouble was experienced from Machine Gun fire and Snipers from Judge Copse.” This was ‘D’ Company of which James was a member.

42 men of the 21st Manchesters were killed on that day, including James York. James was initially buried at a point about 800 yards south-west of Polygon Wood but in April 1921 his remains were exhumed and re-buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, just north of Ypres. He was identified by 2 Discs containing both his Manchesters and South Staffs Regimental Numbers.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Daily Post 13th November 1917
RANK AND FILE MIDLANDS MEN.
The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates:
KILLED.
MANCHESTER REGIMENT- York, 40192, J., (Tipton).