| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Arthur John Suddaby was born on 16 Jan 1893 in Beverley, and was baptised at Beverley Minster in Mar 1893, the son of John William and Martha Ann Suddaby. In 1901 the family lived near Wilbert Lane, by 1911 the had moved to Bethany Lodge, Grovehill Road. Arthur started work as an apprentice baker.
Arthur enlisted, aged 21, in 1914. His enlistment papers are damaged but they tell us he was a member of the Boys Brigade for 8 years before joining up. He joined the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, a Territorial regiment recruited locally. The regiment was involved in fighting during the 2nd battles of Ypres and reports and letters in the Beverley Guardian for May 1915 give us a glimpse of the terrible experiences they were going through.
"Our local territorials the 5th Yorks Regt. have been in action within a week of leaving these shores. Many people imagined they would be placed on the lines of communication or receive further preparation at the base, but they were so well trained during the eight months spent in the neighbourhood of Newcastle that the responsible military leaders were satisfied that they could take their place besides regular soldiers in the fighting line. The Territorials were brought into the front line following the assault on St Julien, with dauntless courage they bore it for hours, until, at last, in one final rush, they gained place. Then among the ruins, they got a little of their own back with bayonet, for the Germans had held their ground."
Eight Beverley men were wounded in the Battle for St Julien but no one was killed.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |