30 April 2006

I am greatly indebted to Colin Appleby, who contacted www.yorkshirehistory.com and very generously offered his research and family history connections with the Waggoners to this site. Please see his own web site at: http://www.colinappleby.com/ Colin very kindly sent the images of the four Hodgson brothers Wagoner 57 Ernest Hodgson in mufti; Wagoner 312 Mark Hodgson, similarly in mufti; Wagoner 352 Herbert Hodgson in uniform; and Wagoner 502 Fred Hodgson proudly standing at ease in his uniform.

Concerning these men, Colin said “My Grandmother had four brothers in the Wolds Waggoners who were Ernest Hodgson WG 57, Mark Hodgson WG 312, Herbert Hodgson WG 352 and Fred Hodgson WG 504. All survived the war and lived into old age and I have photographs of all the brothers in Waggoners uniform. They are listed in the Big Book in Sledmere Church and Fred, Herbert and Mark are also listed on the Plaque in St. Mary's Church at Fimber.
“Also Ernest William Holtby WG 281 was I think related to Billy Holtby who married my Grandmothers Sister Hilda Hodgson. Billy was accidentally shot while in the Home Guard at Driffield in 1940 by one of the recruits he was training .”
As an aside, Colin later said “Reference the photos. My Mum has confirmed the pictures as far as Fred and Ernest are concerned. The other two Herbert and Mark could be swapped over. No way to tell as know body [now] remains to identify them sadly.” It has to be said however, that as all four brothers are here represented, and I feel sure they would forgive some slight misidentification.

The PDF file which can be accessed here is a list of 1,127 men of the Wolds Waggoners and their details, compiled by Colin Appleby, and given freely to this site, for which every one should be grateful. It means that the memory of all these men can now be preserved and viewed by any and all with an interest. Thank you Colin!

I want now to make a request of any and all that might yet have family photographs of the men of the Wolds Waggoners. If you do have such images, please share them on this site, the more we can gather together means, I hope, that some of the men at least who can in some small way be reunited.

Richard Hayton © 2006

RM/9 Claude Megginson:

	from Steven Megginson who is the son of Claude Megginson. Included with the letter was an original photo of Claude Megginson. Steven is now 83 [2006] years old and remembers my Hodgson Family at Towthorpe. [Colin Appleby] (click on the image for a larger version)

CHT/33 George Mason Scholes

transferred to become a Lance Corporal with the Durham Light Infantry 13th BN
Date of Death 04/08/1916
Service No. 13573
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/ Memorial Reference Pier and Face 14A and 15C
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial.

CHT/218 Cyril Scoles

brother of CHT/33, Driver Royal Engineers, No. 1 Pontoon Park
Date of Death 18/02/1919
Service No. 362307
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave at South - East Corner of Church
Cemetery Fimber (St. Mary) Churchyard.

CHT/322 James Harbottle (Harbattle) Hodgson

James Hardbattle Hodgson - sometimes the spelling is out due to non education or scribes hearing and writing as they heard the name pronounced - anyway - the answer in short is -Yes that James is part of the family. His mother was a HARDBATTLE girl who married a Hodgson and this son James was given her maiden name as a middle name There were Hardbattles in Lund for several generations (since 1795)………. Thanks to Lynn Hardbattle, East Kilbride, Scotland, for this input.

Wagoner Roadmaster 383 John Henry Holdridge

‘Jack’ Holdridge was born at North Carr Farm, North Cliffe (near Market Weighton) on 27th January, 1889. The second son of John Henry and Margaret Holdridge (nee Adair), he attended Pocklington School, playing cricket and football, and was also awarded the Mathematics prize in 1905 By this time, his father had moved to Nunburnholme Wold farm, on the Londesborough estate, and it was whilst working for his father that he enlisted as a wagoner in July 1913. He was designated a roadmaster, probably because he had attended Pocklington, and was by this time helping his father run the substantial farm at Nunburnholme Wold on the Londesborough estate. He served with the 2nd Bridging Train; in Ireland from 7th to 17th August, and then abroad from 18th August 1914. He was consequently awarded the Mons Star, in common with all those who were under enemy fire during the first part of the war. In January 1916, he was wounded, ‘shot in both legs’, and did not return to action until May of that year. I believe that it was whilst convalescing in Duncombe Park in Helmsley, that his relationship with Daisy Frank, who was working there, blossomed. They married on 16th February, 1918. He was commissioned on 21st December, 1916, in the 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, serving once more in France with the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry from March 1917. On 24th September 1917: after infantry training, he joined a battalion of the Manchester’s, which was re-designated 12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Bn, the Manchester Regiment, and he remained with this regiment until demobilized on 27th February 1919.

CHT/419 Frank Meek;

Private, Essex Regiment, 1st/4th Bn, DOD 05/11/1917, Service No 36937, Grave E. 373, Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
ROLL OF HONOUR News has been received by Mr Wm Meek, Washington Street, Driffield, that his third son, Private Frank Meek, of the 4th Essex Regt., died of wounds on the 5th November, in a hospital in Egypt. The wounds consisted of a gunshot wound in the left leg and other injuries. He first went out with the Waggoners’ Reserve, and spent some time in France. At the expiration of his time he joined up again and was attached to the Essex’s, and went out with an Expeditionary Force to Egypt. Mr Meek has another son serving with the colours, he having been wounded twice and is now in hospital, suffering from trench fever.
Thanks go to Colin Appleby for this information.

555 Ernest Richard Ellis

Granddad was born on 28/02/1886 and died aged 77 on 13th July 1963. He did marry ???? Buttery (nee Monkman) and had 2 sons Herbert (my father) & Ernest from this marriage (both now deceased) he also 'acquired' step sons George, Harry, Jack, Harold & step daughter Lily.  We believe after the war he worked as a green keeper at Southcliff Golf Club, Scarborough. My sincere thanks to Liz, his grand-daughter for the image and information.

 

CHT/567 John William King

	My Grandfather was a Wagoner, 567 John William King. I am sorry to say that I did not meet my Grandfather and although he survived the Great War and successfully returned to farming in the Wolds, he was taken ill with appendicitis and died in 1927 in Scarborough Hospital. My Mother was only two years old at the time and memories and exploits during the campaign are lost to us. I also believe that W117 F King, Fm 526 H (Harry) King and Wg H (Henry) were his brothers. It seems to tie in with some of the census returns that I have found. Thanks to Richard White for this information and the image of his grandfather, let’s hope further family investigation provides for yet more Waggoners!
CHT/ 764 George Robinson	My sincere thanks go to Colin Yorke, who also provided the following: My grandfather George Robinson was in the Wagoner's Reserve and served throughout the First World War. After the war he came to live in Burton Fleming and I believe became a shepherd at Fordon. He died in December 1931 of pneumonia before I was born. The well preserved documents pertaining to George’s service with the Wagoners tell their own story, my thanks again to Colin for sharing these. Of particular interest is the “Thank you” letter, thanking him for…… I recommend you read it for your selves! One cannot help but wonder how many more of these letters were sent out, and what the reaction was when read by the Wagoner it was addressed to.

CHT/863 Henry Duffin

Thanks to Ed. Who kindly sent me the image of his grandfather, CHT/863 Henry Duffin, dressed here in the uniform of the Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs), which he joined after serving with the Waggoners. According to his medal card, he was attached to the 4 th Reserve Park, A.S.C., from whence he transferred to the Durham Light Infantry, and subsequently to the East Kent’s. Edmund, his grandson describing briefly his history stated: “born 12th August 1892 in Nafferton to Charles and Hannah Duffin, (1 of 14); married Dec 1st 1920 in Langtoft to Jane Nicholson; moved to Bainton; worked on farm; had 6 children; died 19th May 1970; buried Bainton Cemetery”.

CHT/868 James Malster

“James Malster was born in 1879 in Sudbourne Suffolk and died 19 April 1962 age 83 at 3 Church View, Garton. At that time he was described as a retired agricultural labourer of Little Driffield.
When James joined the Wolds Waggoners [sic] in 1914 he gave his place of birth as Orford, which is where his family moved to in the mid 1880s.
James enlisted as Waggoner 868 in the Wolds Waggoners [sic] on 7 February 1914 at Driffield and entered the theatre of war 20 August 1914. He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
James was a labourer in 1915 and the family lived at High Cottages, Cowlam ”.
Thanks to Christine Snowden of Kilham Driffield for the above, sadly there seems to be no remaining photograph of James Malster, but there is a copy of his medal card:
[Extract from WW1 East Yorkshire Soldier's Letters & News.]

CHT/894 Frederick Walker
CHT/ 899 Thomas Walker

	“Fred and Tommy volunteered for the Waggoners .Mark Sykes was the squire of the area. On the first day of the war Fred and Tommy were 'called to the colours' and within a few weeks were sent to the Front. They joined the retreat from Mons. Their job because they were used to looking after horses was to drive the carts pulled by horses to the men at the front. The carts were used to carry goods to the front and injured men back. The land was very muddy and alot of horses sank and couldn't escape so had to be shot, which still upset my grandad years later when he spoke about it Tommy was a bit of a rebel and was often punished .One of the punishments was to strap him to the gun wheel. So grandad would then sleep under the cart that night and when all was quiet would release Tommy then he would sleep under the cart as well and grandad would strap him up again next morning. Obviously looking after his little brother. Some time between 1915/16 they both returned from France and were reengaged into the Mounted Machine Gun Corps Cavalry and sent to the North-West Frontier where they were not allowed to come home until 1919.They used to lead pack ponies in a hilly region. The ponies had a gun strapped to each side of them.
	“My grandad  Frederick (Fred) Walker was in the Waggoners along with his brother Thomas (Tommy). They were born at Crambe [between York and Malton RGH]. My grandad eventually moved to Huddersfield as a chauffer /gardener. I knew my grandad well as he lived to age 94 when I was in my 30s. He was born 14 Nov 1893 and died 22 Jan 1988. “Apparently there were 2 Waggoners reunions. Grandad attended the first on Sat 8th August 1964 at the Town Hall Driffield. I've got the programme as well as a newspaper cutting.”
CHT/921 George Barker	My sincere thanks to Mr. Frank Barker for this image of Wagoner 921 George Barker, who, Frank tells me “As far as I am aware CHT 921 George Barker was born in Great Givendale and my fathers family have always been based around Pocklington, Bishop Wilton, Great Givendale and even Wetwang. I know that’s probably not much help but at the moment that’s as much as I know.” Research continues into George’s military history, but in the meantime, he is most welcome into this gallery of his former colleagues.

W1105 David Nicholson

This is a photograph of my husbands grandfather David Nicholson who was born at Kilham 2nd August 1874.His number was 1105 and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal but as he never talked about this we are not certain of the details as to why. He was 38 when he enlisted at Driffield and left behind a pregnant wife (Elizabeth nee Woodmansey) and 7 children, the eldest of which was 12 years old. His third son Edwin died while David was away - in 1916 aged 5 years.David survived the war and died in 1956 aged 81 years and is buried in Chanterlands Avenue Cemetery, Hull. My sincere thanks to Heather Nicholson and her husband for sharing the image and biography of 1105 David Nicholson.

462 George Monkman

My thanks to Anne for these images of her family, I will let her words explain them:

My name is Anne Smith (nee Buttery). I am a cousin of Liz Milligan (nee Ellis) who wrote to you about Waggoner Ernest Richard Ellis and mentioned her Uncle George. These photographs are of George Monkman (my uncle) and John William Buttery (my father). They were true brothers, sons of Jane Ellis formally Buttery nee Monkman. Ernest Richard Ellis was their step-father and hence my step Grandad (I knew him as Grandad as my own Grandad died before I was born). George Monkman was waggoner number 462 recruited on December 18th 1913 by Captain Sykes at a meeting held at the Pigeon Pie Sherburn. George went back into farming at Sherburn and Irton Manor and as far as I know until he retired.

John Buttery (known as Jack) was private 38339 East Yorkshire Regiment. I have enclosed 2 photographs, 1 of John in uniform and the other of George with his wife and son. John joined Leeds City Police in 1919 and served for 30 years. He then became a licensee at Duke William Pub (near Tetley's Brewery - Leeds) and then the Star Inn Burton Fleming near Bridlington from where he retired to Staxton. I hope this information is of some use to you.

 

CHT/565 Ernest West

from his Grandson Paul West.

He was a Norfolk Boy from East Runton near Cromer. He told the tale that work was scarce and he moved up to Scarborough to help finish the latter stages of the Marine Drive construction. By 1907 he was working on a farm at Wykeham near Scarborough where he stayed for 3 years. By 1913 he was living around the Staxton area and joined up in Flixton. He was wounded I think with a broken leg around the middle of the war and when recovered ended up in Egypt.

After the war he moved out Scampston Rillington way and was a shepherd. He lived there around 40 years and died in 1958. He had 3 children one being my Grandad Charles Herbert West 1910-1993 the others being Elizabeth Mary who died in 1997, and my Great Aunt Florrie who celebrated her 90th birthday last year. Florrie lives at Rillington.

Thanks for putting him once again with his comrades.

CHT/388 Ernest (Jim) Porritt

“Ernest Porritt was born in West Lutton in 1893. He lived with grandparents Joseph and Mary Porritt at West Lutton and I believe worked as a carter. He died serving in France on 23April ( St Georges Day) 1917 and is buried at Hibers Trench Cemetery Wancourt. Ernest Affectionately known as Jim by his family was unmarried.” Thanks to Pat Sutterby for these family details and from Jim’s cemetery in France: “755674 “C” Bty 251 st Bde. Royal Field Artillery” from which it is plain he had transferred from the Wagoners to the RFA.

CHT/233 Thomas Potter

“Mr. and Mrs. John Potter, two well-known inhabitants of the village [of Whitwell] have four sons serving with the Colours. One of these, Pte. Tom Potter, is in the Royal Army Service Corps, which he joined at the outbreak of the war. He served four years with the Waggoners’ Reserve, and went to the Front last August.” Yorkshire Herald supplement courtesy of Tony Wright via Mrs Spencer of Whitwell.

CHT/269 Louis Chapman

	“Driver Louis Chapman (Waggoners’ Reserve). Formerly farm servant with Mr. Ramsden, Whitwell Grange.” Yorkshire Herald supplement courtesy of Tony Wright via Mrs Spencer of Whitwell.

CHT/892 Edward Wright

This picture of Edward Wright, has pencilled on the back: "d[ied] as a result of gas poisoning, 1st World War, about 1917 or 18". I think that this was by his niece, Janet Raines. His age is probably wrong at his attestation. He was born in 1888 and would have been 25/6 in 1914. Image from the pages of The Yorkshire Gazette. Courtesy of Tony Wright, many thanks Tony. Further to this is added: “I discovered only today that my first cousin twice removed (son of my great grandfather's brother), Edward Wright, was a Wagoner. I know little about him, except that he was born at Warthill, where his father, John had a farm in about 1888 and moved to Crambe, with the family, which is where they were living when the war started. He had been a farmhand for a Mrs Spaver. His niece told my Aunt that he was gassed in France in 1917 and never recovered, dying in 1922 and being buried at Crambe on 29th June. He is on the Roll of Honour in the Church there but his death was outside the time in which he would qualify for a CWGC entry.” Thanks Tony.

CHT/895 Fred Wright

	Image from the pages of The Yorkshire Gazette. Little more currently known other than on the Nominal Roll; this image courtesy of Tony Wright.

CHT/39 John Peck

click on image for a larger version

John Peck (known as Jack) as a young horse lad most likely taken at Hawold (or is it Haywold), near Huggate, he is the youngest on the right. Incidentally his brother William Peck (my other grandad) is second from the left. John was born about 1888 at Hawold the youngest son of Frederick Peck and Jane (nee Sissons).

I know their parents died when they were quite young and another Hawold family the Hara's helped to look after them. My granddad William also looked after John and they worked together, as seen in the picture. John managed to do quite well for himself eventually buying a house on Westgate in Driffield. He never married though. John is buried in Driffield cemetery; he died in the early 1970s. Sadly there is no gravestone but I know approximately where he is. I hope that this can become a more notable epitaph for him and he is remembered with friends.

My sincere thanks to Andrea Armstrong for this concerning Wagoner John Peck, and also for the image and information about CHT/1123 William Dowson [see later]

CHT/1123 William Dowson

My uncle Cliff Dowson (William's son) presented a framed photo of William to the Waggoner's Museum in Sledmere a few years ago but I have not had chance to see it yet although my mum (William's youngest daughter) and I have visited.

William Reed Dowson was born in 1888 at Langtoft and he married Ada Anderson (born 1887 in Bishop Wilton) in 1912 at Cowlam (the church in the farm yard). They had ten children, the youngest Mary been my mother.

William and Ada lived in Kirby Grindalythe (New Row) with William working at Lowmowthorpe Farm in Duggleby and at Manor Farm in Kirby (Lightfoot family farm). Ada died quite suddenly in William’s arms after heart problems on the 30 May 1962. William continued to live in Kirby Grindalythe but later moved to live near his daughter in Tadcaster. He died on the 19 June 1973 in Tadcaster aged 85. He never spoke about his experiences in the war. William and Ada are buried at the churchyard in Kirby Grindalythe.

My thanks again to Andrea Armstrong for the images and family history of these two Wagoners, it is hoped they are and will remain reunited with their friends and comrades.

Yorkshire Post ; Monday August 10 1964

“The Waggoners Return – 50 Years After
Survivors of a private army of 1,200 men met for the first time in 50 years on Saturday (writes Frederick Knowles). There were 186 of them, men in their 70’s and 80’s; men who accepted the “Silly Quid” from the late Sir Mark Sykes, joined his “Waggoners’ Reserve” and were shipped off to France within days of the start of the First World War.
In France, these expert horsemen trained on the rolling Yorkshire Wolds, were split up among the British regiments. When the war was ended, they came back to their villages in the East Riding, but never met again as a unit.
For them there was no annual dinner or re-union until Saturday night at Driffield, E. Riding, Town Hall, 50 years to the day since they first set foot on French soil.

Clubs Help
To gather them all together, the committee enlisted the support of the Press, radio and TV. Letters poured in from ex-Waggoners throughout Yorkshire. Members of local Lions and Rotary Clubs and Round Tables provided cars and coaches to take them to Driffield and the re-unions were a touching sight.
Hands clasped as men in the fading years of their lives recognised their comrades of the trenches of France. Old photographs were brought out to recall memories of their youth. Addresses were exchanged and they promised not to lose touch again.
They were surprising men – so young for their years, so sprightly in their walk. The oldest of them, a man of 87, hardly needed the stick that he carried.

Son Tells the Story
Sir Richard Sykes, son of the man who started it all, told them that his father’s idea was conceived in 1905, nine years before war broke out. He thought that great use could be made of drivers of horse-drawn vehicles to solve transport problems in the war he was sure was coming.
The War Office were not interested. But that did not discourage him, and by 1909 he had laid the foundations of his Unit. By 1911, when Germany was arming, the War Office realised the value of these Yorkshire horsemen, and gave their support to this unique army.
They trained for annual competitions, and accepted a golden guinea (the Silly Quid) from Sir Mark, promising to go to war if it broke out.
Sir Richard reminded the ex-Waggoners too of the controversy with Nazi Germany in 1938 about some of the carvings on the Waggoners’ memorial at Sledmere. They were considered offensive – “wicked English horror propaganda” they were called.

German Demand
The German embassy in London demanded that the offending panels of the monument be removed. “This caused me absolute dismay,” Said Sir Richard. “The carvings were entirely allegorical representing in a crude manner an absurd contrast between friend and foe.”
Sir Richard asked for advice on what to do. The Foreign Office followed the appeasement policy of the Government and said it might be a good idea to comply with the request. “I was unable to agree, and took no further action,” Sir Richard said “Let us now hope it will remain for all time and never the the subject of misunderstanding ever again.”

At the Waggoners Reserve reunion [1964] Mr. Tindall Wilson [then] 75 [CHT495](left), and Mr. Teasdale Bielby [then] 77 [CHT602], both from Tibthorpe, Driffield chat over old times.

Sir Richard Sykes makes a presentation to Mr. Tom Binge, [then] 87 [CHT182], the oldest ex-Wagoner present.”

www.Yorkshirehistory.com wishes to express sincere thanks to the Yorkshire Post at http://www.ypn.co.uk/ for allowing, and granting permission to reproduce this item in full. An extensive search of the newspaper archive failed to locate the originals of the above photographs however, so these could be the soul surviving images, and therefore unique.

And finally but by no means least, here, a photograph taken in the early 1980’s of the then surviving Waggoners at a reunion dinner held at Wenlock Barracks. My sincere thanks go to Tina for the loan of this wonderful image of a group of be-medalled old soldiers.

Designed by Richard Hayton 2006
email richard@yorkshirehistory.com