Appendix 5.    Commonwealth War Graves Commission

This appendix contains the attribution to Private George Dodsworth by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are two entries. The first entry may be found on the web site www.cwgc.org, the second is an entry donated by David Hanlon from an older version of CWGC data on the web.

The First World War as it may have affected George Dodsworth

War with Germany was declared at 11pm on the 4th August 1914. The First World War lasted for over 4 years and finished with the signing of the armistice which came into effect at 11.00am on 11^th day of the 11^th month, November, 1918.

Newspaper articles in the Boroughbridge Observer as early as January 1914 show that the nation was preparing for war. Notices appeared regularly in this local weekly newspaper appealing for volunteers to join a squad to drill. Here follow a few examples of these articles and advertisements.

The newspaper cutting shown for the 8th January 1914 (Figure 68) is aimed at men between the age of 17 and 35 years of age. Those recruited would join H Company of the 5th Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own, West Yorkshire Regiment and would be required to drill on three evenings that week - to attend a lecture (on some aspect of warfare), to drill and at Pateley Bridge Miniature (firing) Range.

By July 1915, Britain had been at war for almost a year. Notice of a recruiting campaign appeared in the Boroughbridge Observer of 22nd July 1915  (Figure 69). Those who wished to enlist would be able to do so at offices in the drill halls of the villages and towns throughout the area from which the 5th Bt. West Yorkshire Regiment took recruits. The drill halls named included York, Ripon, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Green Hammerton, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge, Wetherby, Tadcaster and Selby among others.  For those unsure of whether to enlist or how to go about doing so, officers would traverse the whole area giving advice and assistance. A typical advertisement appears separately in the same newspaper (Figure 71) showing that men between the ages of 19 and 40 years of age could join Kitchener’s Army (the Regular Army) at the recruiting office at 33 Market Place, Ripon.

Letters from men at the battle front appeared regularly in the Boroughbridge Observer. One such in the newspaper of 3rd June 1915 (Figure 73) is from two sergeants from the Ripon area. It thanks several donors of cigarettes, tobacco and chocolate etc., gives an account of life and conditions experienced whilst fighting and ends with a list of names of some Ripon men serving at the front.

The Boroughbridge Observer of 5th August 1915 (Figure 70) gives notice of a recruiting rally to be held at Ripon. It details various musical bands which are to parade the streets of the city of Ripon, and the speakers who are to address the assembled men in the Market Square. The article expresses the hope that there will be a further good response from the young men of the area to join the colours and thus help their fellows to a more speedy victory in France.

The newspaper of 15th June 1916 (Figure 75) shows a picture of  ‘Ripon Lads on Active Service’. This gives some idea of the uniforms worn during the war. None of the men are named.

Conscription for men between the ages of 19 and 40 years became compulsory under the Military Service Act of 1916.

The army is divided into units as shown below :-

Figure 76 : Hierarchy of the British Army

From the formation of the army (as it is known today) in 1660, the basic fighting unit has always been the regiment. The ordinary soldier has always given his loyalty:-

• Firstly   to his regiment
• Secondly to his sovereign
• Thirdly  to his country.

Contrary to popular belief, the sovereign is commander-in-chief and not the government.

The West Yorkshire Regiment

There were 37 battalions raised for the duration of WW1 and they saw service in Flanders, France, Gallipoli, Italy and Egypt.

The Regimental Motto ‘Nec Aspera Terrant’ translates as ‘Difficulties do not deter’.

The emblem of The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) is the White Horse of Hanover in a galloping attitude on a ‘wreath’ or ground inscribed ‘West Yorkshire’. For officers the White Horse and ground are in silver plate and the scroll in gilt or gilding metal; for other ranks ( as Private Dodsworth) the badge is in white metal and gilding metal.

The Regiment was named Prince of Wales’s Own after Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward V11 – the eldest son of Queen Victoria.

Figure 77 : Regimental Amalgamation

The notes below are taken from the extract ‘Trench Warfare’ obtained from the Yorkshire Regiment, and from the accompanying letter. There are so many movements of various factions of the 5th Battalion mentioned in the notes that it is impossible to be precise as to where George Dodsworth was at any given time without knowing more than that he belonged to that battalion. Therefore, the table below may have inaccuracies.

5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.