Yarm 1914

Walter George Sherwood. Joined the 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, August 1914. Served in France. Died of Wounds, 20th July 1916

He was the son of George and Mary Sherwood and born 12th August 1883 in Helmsley, North Yorkshire.His sister Mary Jane Sherwood was born in 1888. In 1890 his mother married Robert Metcalfe a Shoemaker in Pottergate, Helmsley. They had a daughter Minnie Beatrice born in 1891. In 1893 his step father died aged 47 whilst his mother was pregnant with Harry. His mother became a Charwoman to make ends meet and the family were living in Church Street by 1901. By then, Walter George had left Helmsley and was living in Richmond.
He subsequantly moved to work fot Egglescliffe Chemical Company, Urlay Nook where he met Ada Honeyman. They married in the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene in Yarm, on 29th October 1910 and lived in Adams Yard in Yarm. His father George is recorded as deceased on the marriage certificate.
They had 3 children, Thomas born 25th November 1911, Walter George born July 17th 1914, Ada born September 15th 1916, shortly after her father's death. He enlisted in the 10th Batallion, Yorkshire Regiment at the outbreak of war in August 1914. The 10th (Service) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) was a Kitchener Battalion raised at Richmond on 30th of September 1914. They joined the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division and moved to Berkhamsted and then on to Halton Park near Tring for training in October. Between November 1914 and May 1915 they were in billets in Aylesbury whilst training before returning to Halton Park. In August 1915 they moved to Witley Camp then proceeded to France on the 10th of September 1915, landing at Boulogne. They saw action in the Battle of Loos and in 1916 were in action at The Battle of the Somme. Walter will have been wounded in the early days of the offensive.
His name is recorded on the Egglescliffe Parish War Memorial and the Egglescliffe Chemical Company Memorial, Urlay Nook as well as Helmsley War Memorial. He is listed in the Commonwealth War Graves Register as the son of Mrs Metcalfe of High Street, Helmsley, North Yorkshire and buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France.
Below are two photographs taken of the 10th Yorkshire regiment whilst training in Aylesbury in 1915. Walter George may well be one of those shown.

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Yarm 1914 Research ________________

The Yarm 1914 Commemoration Group is carrying out research on the soldiers listed. We are finding where they lived in Yarm and will represent the findings in a wall of poppies presentation. More details will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and this web site. If you have any information please contact us. Left click on the picture below.