List of Records in East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service Relevant to the Great War

List of records in East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service relevant to the Great War

Many of these records are photocopies of personal records, letters and accounts where the originals are still held by the family.

For more information please search the online catalogue at

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DDX1206/6/10

CARTOONS & CARICATURES BY EDWARD MOORE ROBSON

The cartoons were drawn by Lieutenant Edward Moore Robson of Pocklington during the time he spent serving with the 5th Battalion Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own (Yorkshire Regiment), also known as the ‘Green Howards’, between 1915 and 1918, and contain humorous drawings of officers that he knew, and also ‘made-up’ sketches that poke light-hearted fun at the typical British soldier. Edward Moore Robson received the Military Cross for his bravery during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, but was killed in April 1918.

DDX890

DORIS TOMLINSON OF NORTH FRODINGHAM, FIRST WORLD WAR LETTERS AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS (COPIES)

These are a set of letters sent to DorisTomlinson from the frontline by her brothers Albert, Alec, Frederick, Jack, Tom, and Bill. Of the six brothers, only Albert and Alec survived the war.

DDX1464

EDWIN OLIVER OF HESSLE RECORDS

Edwin Oliver was born on 6 Feb 1898, his father having a small ironmongery business in Osborne Street, Hull. Edwin Oliver left school in 1912 and joined the Wilson Shipping Line on 15 Jul 1912. He was a member of the 4th East Yorkshire Territorials and was called up at the beginning of World War One. He was declared missing in action in 1915. He was wounded in Jan 1916 and sent back to England. In Apr 1917 he stayed at JesusCollege, Cambridge, to study for a commission in the Labour Corps. He saw action on the front line and was gassed in Oct 1918. He married Evelyn Boyce on 15 Sep 1919 at the CentralBaptistChurch, Hull. In Jan 1934 he was taken ill and diagnosed with tuberculosis his respiratory system having been weakened by the mustard gas attack during the war. He spent 3 months at the Raywell Sanatorium, Cottingham, and then died at home on 2 Oct 1937. His wife died 2 months before her 101st birthday in 1998.

The collection includes many letters he wrote to Evelyn from the front. Describing his surroundings he wrote

“…but here, if you will just try to picture say the whole of Hessle blown down & you can only go as far as the Humber bank by climbing over old walls, bricks, etc…You would be amused to see the furniture of my tent, bedstead table, stool, towel rail and cupboard all made out of old boxes by my servant, and further I have a lovely pile carpet of sandbags”

DDX824

DIARY OF HAROLD W LYON OF MARKET WEIGHTON (TYPESCRIPT)

Contains the diary of Harold W Lyon of Market Weighton who fought in the Middle East during the First World War 1915-1919

DDX1215

GEORGE KNIGHT, FIRST WORLD WAR RECORDS

Contains postcard to George Knight's mother [c.1916], blank German postcard showing a German soldier with his sweetheart [c.1916], letter from No.2 Infantry Record Office to Mr Knight's next of kin regarding his being wounded by a gas shell 1918.

DDX1476

MAJOR WILLIAM HENRY HEAP HUTCHINSON MC, WAR SERVICE DOCUMENTS (PHOTOCOPIES)

Contains bound compilation of photocopy letters and forms relating to the service and experiences of Major Hutchinson during the First World War 1915-1919, compiled c.2005. William Henry Heap Hutchinson born at Cottingham in 1885. After education at RugbySchooland Oxford he was articled to Price Waterhouse and Company in London and Belfast in 1912, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. At the outbreak of the First World War, Will was 29 and he joined the Royal Artillery in Northumberland in 1914. He served in the Somme, Paschendale and Verdun, France, and was wounded in the chest and taken prisoner in May 1917. He was reported missing for 6 months until the Danish Red Cross found him in a hospital at Wurzberg. Following the Armistice he was repatriated and awarded the Military Cross (MC) for devotion to duty.

Whilst at a London military hospital he met his wife, Myfanwy, who was working there as a nurse and they married in 1919. After the First World War, Will set up in business inHull as a Chartered Accountant.

BOBE/13/1/1

Letter book

Contains carbon copy 'out' letters of the Clerk to the Local Tribunal relating to exemptions from military service. Indexed.

DDX473

RECORDS RELATING TO GROUP CAPTAIN GORDON HYAMS OF THE ROYAL NAVY AIR SERVICE
Group Captain Gordon Hyams joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917 and was attached to the aircraft station at Hornsea Mere. He piloted early flying boats and sea-planes including the 'Sopwith Baby'. Records include: Photograph album of aircraft and people, Royal Naval Air Service Pilots log book (1917-1918) includes descriptions of following submarines and hitting balloons, Royal Naval Air Service Pilots log book (1918-1919) compiled whilst stationed at Alexandria, Egypt and Port Said, Egypt, reports of flights (including one where his seaplane engine failed and he had to be rescued by a Hornsea fisherman)

DDX952

RECORDS OF ERNEST ENGLAND

Lieutenant Ernest W England served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 26th September 1916 aged 18. This small collection includes letters he wrote to his mother (including one sent the day he died stating “everything seems to be going swimmingly out here, the Germans were pushed back heaps yesterday'.) The collection also includes his Will, the telegram to his parents and a number of letters of condolence and letters from his commanding officers after his death.

DDX1270

FIRST WORLD WAR POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND PRINTED RECORDS

Includes propaganda records 1914-1918, recruitment records 1914-1918, war savings association records 1914-1918, posters 1914-1918 and domestic economy records 1917-1918.

DDST

STRICKLAND-CONSTABLE FAMILY

Letters from Admiral Sir William Christopher Pakenham from the war period including the Battle of Jutland.

TAF

EAST RIDING TERRITORIAL AND AUXILIARY FORCES ASSOCIATION RECORDS

DDYC

EAST RIDING YEOMANRY OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION RECORDS

Includes some WWI photographs

DDX1410

HARRY SMITH'S FIRST WORLD WAR RECORDS, ADDITIONAL NOTES AND PHOTOCOPIES

Contains Harry Smith's First World War records. Includes portrait photograph of Harry Smith as a serving soldier, photograph of Hull Pals' war memorial, photocopy of a report on a daylight operation carried out by 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on 12 Jul 1918 in which Harry received a mention, and typescript account of his military life.

DDX1412

PRIVATE WILLIAM CALVERT, FIRST WORLD WAR SERVICE RECORDS (PHOTOCOPIES)

Contains colour photocopies of certificate of transfer to Army reserve on demobilisation 1919, protection certificate and certificate of identity 1919, First World War Field Service postcard 1917, certificate of employment during the War 1918, Borough of Beverley notice that William Calvert had been sent to fight in the War [c.1915], and [Hull News] press-cutting 9 Nov 1918 relating to Battle of the Ancre 13 Nov 1916 in which Private Calvert was severely wounded.