| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Robert 'Bob' Binnington was born in Beverley on Christmas Day 1889 and baptised at Beverley Minster the 6 Apr 1890, the son of Edward Binnington, carpenter, and Margaret (nee Gleadhill). The family lived in Tindall Lane, off Wednesday Market but later moved to 20 Sloe Lane. By 1911 Bob was working as a general labourer.
On 4 Aug 1914, Bob became a “Beverley Terrier”, enlisting in Beverley as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment in the Territorial Army. He arrived in France on 15 Apr 1915 and was immediately thrust into battle at St Julian, near Ypres in Belgium. He would have been involved in subsequent actions in this area in the Second Battle of Ypres. In early 1916 Bob extended his commitment to the regular army until the end of the war, a choice the Territorials were given. The 5th after the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) in Mar 1918 were switched to a quieter part of the frontline on the Aisne, but on 27 May the German Attack (Operation Blucher) led to a rapid retreat in which large numbers of the 5th (including senior officers) were taken prisoner, including Bob. He was sent eastwards to Schneidemuhl POW camp in Pomerania, now Poland. Conditions were tough and food in short supply. He was released after the end of the war and returned to Beverley on 27 Dec 1918. He had been wounded when captured and due to illness he was invalided out of the Army on 24 Apr 1919 and awarded a Silver Badge in addition to the 1914-15 Star and the War and Victory Medals.
Bob continued to work as a labourer living with his mother who died in 1952. He died in Oct 1979 aged 80 and is buried at Queensgate Cemetery.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |