Home The Great War Stories from the War Battle Honours – Local Decorations in Great War – A Remarkable List of 250 Heroes

Battle Honours – Local Decorations in Great War – A Remarkable List of 250 Heroes

December 1918

Mexborough and Swinton Times December 28, 1918

Battle Honours.
Local Decorations During The Great War.
A Remarkable List

We give below a list of the men of this district to whom our attention has been directed as having been decorated for gallantry dining the war. The list is as accurate and complete as we are able, within the limits of our information, to make it, but it is probably capable of addition and amendation.

As it stands, however, it constitutes a monument to the gallantry of the splendid men that this district sent to the war. It ought to be said here that for every man in this list it is probable that at least three other local men earned decoration by some specific deed of gallantry, and by chance went recognised.

The asterisk indicates deceased.

Victoria Cross.

Sapper William Hackett, R.E., Crossgate, Mexborough *
Pte. G. W. Chafer, East Yorkshire Regiment, Ravenfield
Sergeant Laurence Calvert 1st/5th K.O.Y.L.I. 19, Beech Hill,  Conisboro’. (Also M.M.)
Acting Corporal Thomas Norman Jackson, lst Battalion Coldstream Guards, 3, Market street, Swinton.

Mexborough.

Military Cross.

Lieutenant Cyril Paxman Tiptaft, R.A.F.
Second Lieutenant. R. C. Snow, R.G.A.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sgt. Hophni Lockwood, R.F.A.
Com. Sgt. Major J. W. Gill, K.O.Y.L.I.
James- Leadbeater, Royal Engineers
David Squires, Connaught Rangers.
Lance Corporal H.Humphreys, York and Lancaster
Private Walter Cook, York and Lancaster
Pte. H. Cavill, Leicester Regiment.
Sergeant (now Sec.-Lieut.) Eric Downing, Royal Field Artillery
Cpl. J. M. Atkinson, York and Lancaster
Major Arthur R. Hammond, A.S.C., M.T.
Sergeant Major. W. Wells, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Private J. T. Halleron, York and Lancaster (also M.M) also Russian. Order of St. George, also French Croix de Guerre).

Medaille Militaire.

Private Herbert Atkinson, R.M.L.I.

Croce di Guerra (Italian).

Lance Corporal Alfred Newey, Yorkshire Regt.

Croix de Guerre (Belgian).

Sapper Richard Spaven, Royal Engineers
Sergeant H. C. Humphrey, Tank Corps.

Meritorious Service Medal

Quartermaster Sergeant Henry Stanley Smith A.M.C.

Military Medal.

Pte. Fred Ainley, Tank corps.
Corporal C. Axon, Lancs; Fusiliers.
Ptia. Clement Allen, West Riding Regt.
Cpl. Ernest Thomas Ash., Grenadier Guards.
Pte. Robert Boon, Army Cyclist Corps.
Sgt. C. F. Crowson, York and Lancaster
Sgt. C. E. Dainty, West Riding Regiment
Air-Mechanic Horace Flather,
Cpl. Archie Freeman, South Wales Borders.
Sgt. J. C. Goodliffe, Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons
Spr. Seth Holloway, Royal Engineers
Sgt, J. W. Horton, York and Lancaster
Sgt. J. R. Hey, Royal Engineers
Captain J. Harrison, York and Lancaster
Pte. E. -Greensmith, York and Lancaster
Pte. Harry Jevons, Coldstream Guards.
L.cp. T. Jordan, Royal Engineers
Pte. Thomas King, K.O.Y.L.I.
Corporal G.E.S.  Lowe, York and Lancaster
Pte. David Kirbyson, R.A.M.C.
Sapper F. Meanwell Royal Engineers
Pte. J. Nadin, York and Lancaster
Sapper E. Pycock, Royal Engineers
Lance Corporal A. V. H. Robinson, Royal Engineers *
Pte. E. Robbins, York and Lancaster
Gunner Mark Thompson, R.F.A.
Lance Corporal John West, York and Lancaster
Bdr, Horace Yarnold, R.F.A.
Sergeant Harold Wrigley, A.S.C.

Swinton

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Captain (Flight Commander) C. Ronald Steele, R.A.F.

Military Cross.

Captain Arthur Baker York and Lancaster

Second Lieutenant Edger Oliver, M.G.C.

Croix de Guerre (French).

Sergeant Eric Daykin, York and Lancaster (also D.C.M.)
Gunner Henry Lambert, Royal Field Artillery

Croix de Guerre (Belgian).

Sgt.-Major George Oldfield, York and Lancaster (also Conspicuous Gallantry Medal )
Petty Arthur Jones, Royal Navy (H.M.S. Ocean), Piccadilly

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sgt. C. N. Fretwell, West Yorkshire Regiment
Pte. J. A. Steele, Grenadier Guards
Pte. Frank Robinson, York and Lancaster
Pte. John Lee, Northumberland Fusiliers
Sgt. A. Gwynette, York and Lancaster

Military Medal.

Lieut. Joseph W. Beaumont, York and Lancaster
Ft.. Jack Golicher, York and Lancaster
Sgt. John Horton, York and Lancaster
Pte. Wilfred Jackson, York and Lancaster
Spr. Ernest Metcalfe, Royal Engineers
Bty. Sgt. Major A. McLachlan, R.F.A. (and Bar).
Sgt. Frank Oliver, York and Lancaster
Private G. Turpin. M.G.C.
Bdr. Norman Tyas, R.F.A.

Denaby Main.

Croix de Guerre (French).

Sergeant B. Thompson, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sergeant Major F. W. Rudd, York and Lancaster (also M.M.)
Gnr. S. Wright, York and Lancaster (also M.M.)
Sergeant J. Keywood, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Corporal Charles Wharton, York and Lancaster
Humphrey Humphries, Machine Gun Corps

Military Medal.

Petty-officer F. Adkins, ROYAL NAVAL DEPARTMENT
Lance Corporal A. Bridden, Sherwood Foresters.
Rifleman R Butcher, K.R.R.C. *
Lance Corporal Albert Baker, ROYAL NAVAL DEPARTMENT
Petty-officer Cheetham ROYAL NAVAL DEPARTMENT
Corporal W. Corney.
Private Arthur Devey, K.O.Y.L.I. •
Lance Corporal J. Gascoyne, York and Lancaster
Private. Luther Goodwin.
James Gedney, R.F.A.This
Sergeant Hodgkinson
Private W Hutchinson, York and Lancaster
Sergeant-Major Thomas Lyons, K.R.R.C.
Private John W. Miller, York and Lancaster
Lance Corporal A. Robinson, K.O.Y.L.I.
Private. Lewis Stones, Royal Army Medical Corps
Second Lieutenant George Wheeliker, York and Lancaster
Corporal. Luther J. Wren.
Bombardier G. T. Worth, Royal Field Artillery *

Conisborough

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gunner G.Taylor, Royal Garrison Artillery
Private George Lowcock
Private Percy Hall
Sergeant Henry Ellis, Royal Engineers (also Military Medal)
Private R Stephenson, Royal Army Medical Corps
Pioneer Joseph Turnbull, Royal Engineers
Private Albert E Atkinson, Worcester Regiment

Croix de Guerre (Belgian)

Sergeant R.A.Jarvis, York and Lancaster (also Military Medal)

Military Medal

Private T Clamp, York and Lancaster
Sergeant J Forward, Lancashire Fusiliers
Quartermaster Sergeant Charles Hill, Royal Field Artillery
Sergeant Arthur G Moore, Northumberland Fusiliers
Sergeant F Woods, York and Lancaster

Wath on Dearne

Military Cross

Captain E.D.B.Johnson, York and Lancaster
Captain Basil Pickering, West Yorkshire regiment
Lieutenant Walter Stones, Tank Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Sergeant Arthur Calvert, York and Lancaster
Lieutenant G Briggs, York and Lancaster, West Melton
Corporal (now Second Lieutenant) F.F.Duffy, Connaught Rangers (now Inskilling Fusiliers)
Lance Corporal H Osborne, York and Lancaster
Sergeant William Oldham, Royal Engineers
Lance Corporal J McCall, K.R.R.C.
Sergeant E Butler
Corporal A Boulton, Cheshire Regiment, West Melton
Sergeant (now Second Lieutenant) F Riley, Royal Engineers (Also Military Medal)
Able Seaman Dan Bullen, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Military Medal

Rifleman B. Baker, London Regiment, West Melton
Sapper W Barrass, Royal Engineers, West Melton
Bombardier Arthur Foulkes, Royal Field Artillery
Sapper G Garbutt, Royal Engineers
Corporal Fred Galloway, York and Lancaster, West Melton
Private George Heppinstall, York and Lancaster
Corporal Bernard Lord, York and Lancaster
Corporal (now Second Lieutenant) O.L. Riley, West Yorkshire Regiment
Private F Townend, South Wales Borderers
Corporal Alfred Williams, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Wombwell

Military Cross

Captain E.P. Cropper, West Yorkshire regiment (also French Croix de Guerre)*
Second Lieutenant Ernest Caroll Nicholson
Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieutenant John Hirst, Royal Force

Medaille Militaire

Sergeant Charles Swift

Croix de Guerre (Belgian)

Sergeant John Sykes York and Lancaster
Gunner J Charlesworth, York and Lancaster
Corporal J Parsons, York and Lancaster
Corporal E Thorpe, York and Lancaster

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Sergeant W Barraclough, King’s Royal Rifles Corps
Sergeant Major G Lumb, York and Lancaster, Jump
Lance Corporal LH Norris, Royal Engineers
Corporal Thomas Foster, Leicester regiment
Lance Corporal J Newbury, Royal Engineers
Corporal J Turnbull
Sergeant J Bradley, Royal Field Artillery
Lance Corporal William Clarke, Lancashire Fusiliers, Concrete
Sergeant Major W Beck

Distinguished Service Medal

Able Seaman Charles Mitchell, Royal Navy

Military Medal

Private F.W.Bradley, West Yorkshire Regiment
Private James Billington, York and Lancaster
Private P Bedford York and Lancaster
Corporal T.W. Foster
Sergeant E Grant, Royal Engineers
Corporal Joseph Handley, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Corporal J.C. Harston, East Lancashire Regiment
Seaman W Leatham, Royal Naval Department
Sergeant William Lowther, York and Lancaster
Lance Corporal W.H.F. Wroe
Private Ewart Stott, York and Lancaster
Private Samuel Seward, York and Lancaster
Lance Corporal H Shepherd, York and Lancaster
Gunner A.H. Sykes, Royal Horse Artillery
Sergeant S Scargill, Royal Engineers
Private Edward Thorpe, South Wales Borderers
Sergeant Israel Woolcott, York and Lancaster
Lance Corporal H Waring, Scottish Borderers

Darfield.

Military Cross.

Lieutenant W. Clifford Watkin, Royal Engineers

Croix de Guerre (Belgian).

Sergeant J. Sykes, York and Lancaster
Lance Sergeant J. Hinchcliffe, London Regiment

Croix de. Guerre (French).

Lieut. Reginald Brass, York and Lancaster (Also Medaille Militaire).
Gunner R. Pugsley, M.G.C.

Distinguished Service Medal.

First- class-Stoker Thos. Hy. Bird, H.M.S. New Zealand.

Military Medal.

Lance Corporal Walter Briggs, Royal Engineers
Sergeant J. E. Davis, Royal Army Medical Corps
Drummer G. H. Jones, York and Lancaster
Driver Arthur Robinson, West Yorkshire Regiment
Private Thomas Tate, York and Lancaster
Private A. Taylor, York and Lancaster
Corporal Percy Wright, K.O.Y.L.I.

Great Houghton.

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Sergeant Major G. Wardle, York and Lancaster
Lance Corporal Albert E. Parker, Durham Light Infantry
Sergeant C. P. Coates, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Military Medal.

Private J. S. Bladen, Royal Irish Regiment
Private H. Geeves.
Corporal. Hanby .*
Private G. Killey, York and Lancaster
Private. Luther Lodge.
Lance Sergeant. E. C. Morley, York and Lancaster
Driver Arthur Robinson, Army Service Corps
Lance Corporal P. H Stockley, York and Lancaster
Corporal Horace Seakins, Queen’s Royal West Surrey.
Private James Henry Wilby, York and Lancaster
Corporal J. C. Harston, East Lancashire Regiment *

Goldthorpe.

Military Cross.

Captain. P. T. Hough, Royal Engineers

Lieutenant Paul Dalton, Hickleton.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sergeant G. H. Lewis, Royal Field Artillery (also M.M.)
Sergeant Alfred Brown, York and Lancaster
Private Ernest Barnes.
Private W. Harding. (Also Belgian Croix de Guerre).
Private Elijah Rodgers, .Grenadier Guards.

Military Medal.

Corporal G. A. Austwick,
Gunner G.Butler, Royal Garrison Artillery
Private G.C. Brooke, West Riding Regiment
Private J. F. McGowan.
Private Dan Guy.
Private John Hall.
Lance Corporal G. Longden, York and Lancaster
Sapper E. Stones, Royal Engineers
Spl. Percy Smith, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Corporal R. H. Spencer, Royal Engineers
Private G. W. Wordley, East Yorkshire Regiment
Private A. Taylor, York and Lancaster Highgate

Bolton-on-Dearne.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Lance Corporal J.E. Crookes, Royal Engineers (Also M.M.)

Meritorious Service Medal.

Company Sergeant Major J.S. Gray, Army Service Corps

Military Medal.

Corporal T. Cooke, York and Lancaster
Corporal G. B. Harris, Royal Army Medical Corps
Corporal R.Q. Derwent, Answer Regiment
Private H. Hart, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Sapper G. E. L. Venables, Royal Engineers

Thurnscoe.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Sergeant C. Morrell, Royal Engineers
Private J. Gill, K.O.Y.L.I
Private T. Gill, K.O.Y.L.I.

Croix de Guerre. (Belgian).

Corporal. T. Lancaster, RE
Corporal. J. H. Saunders, R. G. A, (Also Order of Leopold).

Military Medal.

Bombardier Joseph Butler, R.F.A.
Private. Arthur Mims.
Private. W. Cliff, R.A.M.C.
Private. Join A. Cooke, Y. and 1_
Corporal. T. W. Fox, West Riding Regt.
Bombardier. J. Gough. 11
Walter Mills, Essex regiment
Private. E. Stones.
Sergeant G. Teece.
Petty-Officer T. Tindall, Royal Naval Department
Private. E. Wilson, York and Lancaster

Kilnhurst.

Croix de Guerre (French).

Private J. T. Spencer; York and Lancaster

Croix de Guerre (Belgian).

Lance Corporal C. Staniforth, York and Lancaster

Military Medal.

Private H. F. Cutts, York and Lancaster
Sergeant C. H. Dungworth, York and Lancaster
Private John Hy. Muscroft, Royal Engineers
Staff-Sergeant J. Harvey, R.A.M.C.
Private L. Meggitt, York and Lancaster
Private Fred Price, York and Lancaster
Corporal. Vincent H. Reed, Household Brigade.
Mr. W. Rowley, Royal Field Artillery Highthorne.
Lance Corporal F. Walker, York and LancasterThis