Medals of the York and Lancaster Regiment

Harvey

8273 Private Samuel Harvey, 1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery in "Big Willie" trench on 29th September, 1915. During a heavy bombing attack by the enemy, and when more bombs were urgently required for our front, Private Harvey volunteered to fetch them. The communication trench was blocked with wounded and reinforcements, and he went backwards and forwards across the open under intense fire and succeeded in bringing up no less than thirty boxes of bombs before he was wounded in the head. It was mainly due to Private Harvey's cool bravery in supplying bombs that the enemy was eventually driven back. "Big Willie" Trench = near the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France LG 16/11/1015

Riggs

No. 20695 Sjt. Frederick Charles Riggs, M.M., late 6th Bn., York & Lanc. R. (Bournemouth). For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the morning of the 1st October, 1918, near Epinoy, when, having led his platoon through strong uncut wire under severe fire, he continued straight on, and although losing heavily from flanking fire, succeeded in reaching his objective, where he rushed and captured a machine gun. He later handled two captured guns with great effect, and caused the surrender of fifty enemy. Subsequently, when the enemy again advanced in force, Sjt. Riggs cheerfully encouraged his men to resist, and while exhorting his men to fight on to the last, this very gallant soldier was killed. LG 3/1/1919

Daykins

No. 205353 Cpl. (A./Sjt.) John Brunton Daykins, 2/4th Bn., York & Lane. R. (T.F.) (Jedburgh, Scotland). For most conspicuous bravery and initiative at Solesmes on 20th October, 1918, when, with twelve remaining men of his platoon, he worked his way most skilfully, in face of heavy opposition, towards the church. By prompt action he enabled his party to rush a machine gun, and during subsequent severe hand-to-hand fighting he himself disposed of many of the enemy and secured his objective, his party, in addition to heavy casualties inflicted, taking thirty prisoners. He then located another machine gun which was holding up a portion of his company. Under heavy fire he worked his way alone to the post, and shortly afterwards returned with twenty-five prisoners and an enemy machine gun, which he mounted at his post. His magnificent fighting spirit and example inspired his men, saved many casualties, and contributed very largely to the success of the attack. LG 3/1/1919

Caffrey

No. 9730 Private John Caffrey, 2nd Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery on 16th November, 1915, near La Brique. A man of the West Yorkshire Regiment had been badly wounded and was lying in the open unable to move in full view of and about 300 to 400 yards from the enemy's trenches. Corporal Stirk, Royal Army Medical Corps, and Private Caffrey at once started out to rescue him, but at the first attempt they were driven back by shrapnel fire. Soon afterwards they started again under close sniping and machine-gun fire, and succeeded in reaching and bandaging the wounded man. but, just as Corporal Stirk had lifted him on Private Caffrey's back, he himself was shot in the head. Private Caffrey put down the wounded man, bandaged Corporal Stirk and helped him back into safety. He then returned and brought in the man of the West Yorkshire Regiment. He had made three journeys across the open under close and accurate fire and had risked his own life to save others with the utmost coolness and bravery. LG 22/1/1916

Sinnott

Lance-Corporal John Sinnott 84th Regiment

For conspicuous gallantry at Lucknow, on the 6th of October, 1857, in going out with Serjeants Glinn and Mullins and private Mullins, to rescue Lieutenant Gibaut, who, in carrying out water to extinguish a fire in the breastwork, had been mortally wounded, and lay outside. They brought in the body under a heavy fire. Lance-Corporal Sinnott was twice wounded. His comrades unanimously elected him for the Victoria Cross, as the most worthy. He had previously repeatedly accompanied Lieutenant Gibaut when he carried out water to extinguish the fire. Despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, ,Bart., G.C.B., dated 2nd December 1857. LG 24/12/1858

Anson

Captain The Honourable Augustus Henry Archibald Anson. 84th Regiment (now of the 7th Hussars)

For conspicuous bravery at Bolundshahur, on the 28th September, 1857. The 9th Light Dragoons had charged through the town, and were reforming in the Serai; the enemy attempted to close the entrance by drawing their carts across it, so as to shut in the cavalry and form a cover from which to fire upon them. Captain Anson, taking a lance, dashed out of the gateway, and knocked the drivers off their carts. Owing to a wound in his left hand, received at Delhi, he could not stop his horse, and rode into the middle of the enemy, who fired a volley at him, one ball passing through his coat. At Lucknow, at the assault of the Secundra Bagh, on 16th November, 1857, he entered with the storming party on the gates being burst open. He had his horse killed, and was himself slightly wounded. He has shewn the greatest gallantry on every occasion, and has slain many enemies in fight. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 12th August, 1858. LG 24/12/1858

Boulger

Lance - Corporal Abraham Boulger. 84th Regiment.

For distinguished bravery and forwardness; as a skirmisher, in all the twelve actions fought between 12th July, and 25th September, 1857. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17th October, 1S57.) LG 18/6/1858

Lambert

Serjeant-Major George Lambert 84th Regiment.

For distinguished conduct, at Onao, on the 29th of July; at Bithoor, on the 16th of August; and at Lucknow, on the 25th of September. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-Gcneral Havelock, dated 17th October, 1857.) LG 18/6/1858

Holmes

Private Joel Holmes 84th Regiment

For distinguished conduct in volunteering to assist in working a gun of Captain Maude's Battery, under a heavy fire, from which gun nearly all the Artillerymen had been shot away. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17th October, 1857.) LG 18/6/1858

Mylott

Private Patrick Mylott 84th Regt.

For being foremost in rushing across a road, under a shower of balls, to take an opposite enclosure; and for gallant conduct at every engagement at which he was present with his Regiment, from 12th of July, 1857, to the relief of the garrison. Elected by the private soldiers of the Regiment LG 24/12/1858

MacKenna

Colour-Serjeant (now Ensign) Edward MacKenna 65th Regiment

For gallant conduct at the engagement near Cameron-town, New Zealand, on the 7th. of September, 1863, after both his officers, Captain Swift and Lieutenant Butler, had been shot, in charging through the position of an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drawing off his small force, consisting of two Serjeants, one bugler, and thirty-five men, through a broken and rugged country, with the loss of but one man killed, and another missing. Lieutenant- General Cameron, C.B., Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in that colony, reports that, in Colour-Serjeant MacKenna, the detachment found a Commander whose coolness, intrepidity, and judgment, justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command. LG 19/1/1864

Ryan

No. 261 Lance-Corporal John Ryan 65th Regiment

For gallant conduct at the engagement near Cameron-town above referred to. [see MacKenna] This Non- Commissioned Officer, with Privates Bulford and Talbot, of the same Regiment, who have been recommended for the Medal for distinguished conduct in the Field, for their behaviour on the same occasion, removed the body of the late Captain Swift from the Field of Action, after he had been mortally wounded, and remained with it all night in a bush surrounded by the enemy. Date of Act of Bravery, September 7th, 1863 LG 19/1/1864. Victoria Cross sold in london 17th April 1902 for £58


© Images Copyright ©

The Royal Tiger and Union Rose badge of the regiment. Kipling and King 679

	The York and Lancaster Regiment
	1758 - 1968


Titles
pre 1881		post 1881
65th (The 2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot		1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot		2nd Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment


Earliest recognised formation:	65th: 1756 as the 2nd Battalion of the 12th Foot, redesignated the 65th in 1758
	84th: 1793

Motto:	Honi soit qui mal y pense

Regimental Journal:	The Tiger and Rose

WWI:	Battle Honours; 59	Victoria Crosses; 4	Died; 8810
WWII:	Battle Honours; 55	Victoria Crosses; 1	Died; ???

Disbanded:	1968: Regiment offered amalgamation or disbandment, they chose disbandment.

A 2nd Battalion of the 84th existed 1808-1819

Peninsula War 1808 - 1814 84th Regiment

Military General Service Medal. 1793 - 1814

clasp:

Nivelle

Nive

total medals

number:

151

155

Battle Honours: Nive; Peninsula.

3rd Mahratta War (Pindari War) 1817-1819 65th Regiment

Army of India Medal 1799 - 1826

clasp:

Kirkee

Poona

Kirkee and Poona

number:

Battle Honour: India. ("for service 1802-1822")

Indian Mutiny 1857 84th Regiment

India Mutiny Medal. 1857 -59

clasp:

...none..

Defence of Lucknow

Relief of Lucknow

Lucknow

Total Medals

number:

254

442

731

1107

VCs: 6: Lambert Boulger Holmes Mylott Anson Sinnott

Battle Honour: Lucknow

2nd and 3rd Maori Wars, New Zealand 1860-1866 65th Regiment. Regiment served in New Zealand 1846 - 1866*
New Zealand Medal 1845-1866

reverse	1860-1864	1860-1865	1861-1865	1863	1863-1864	1863-1865	1863-66	1864-1865	1864-1866
number	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

reverse	1865	total medals
number	?	?

*Some men served with the regiment for its duration in New Zealand; e.g. 1978 Corporal James Reilly, arrived May 1846, left 30 January 1866

VCs: 2: MacKenna Ryan

Battle Honour: New Zealand

Afghan War 1878-1880 65th Regiment, odd men. (8 men signalling L of C plus 14 others)

Afghanistan Medal 1878 -1880

clasp:

...none...

Ali Musjid

Peiwar Kotal

Charasia

Kabul

Kandahar

total medals

number:

View the Roll

General Roberts' march, Kabul to Kandahar 9-31 August 1880

Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880

number:

4 (see roll above)

1881: 65th and 84th Regiments of Foot now become 1st and 2nd Battalions, The York and Lancaster Regiment

Egypt Campaign 1882 1st Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

clasp:

....none....

Tel-el-Kebir

total medals

number:

726

810

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star "1882"

Battle Honours: Tel-el-Kebir

Sudan Campaign 1884 2nd Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

clasp:

Suakin 1884

El-Teb

Tamaai

El-Teb_Tamaai

total medals

number:

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star "1884"

2nd York and Lancs, together with the Royal Highlanders were heavily involved in the battle of Tamaai, forming the front face of the square of Davis's 2nd Brigade.

Battle Honours: Egypt 1882, 84. (combined with previous campaign)

Operations in Matabeleland and Rhodesia 1893 -1896 2nd Battalion
British South Africa Company Medal 1890 -1897
reverse/clasp:	Matabeleland 1893	Rhodesia 1896
numbers :	?	?

Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902 1st Battalion. Dec 1899 - end of the war. (Also drafts from the 1st [Hallamshire] and 2nd Volunteer Battalions )

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

clasp:

Relief of Ladysmith

Tugela Heights

Laing's Nek

number:

Officers

NCOs and Men

KIA & DOW

Wounded

Missing / POW

KIA & DOW

Death from disease

Wounded

Missing / POW

162

Battle Honours: Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902

The Great War 1914 - 1918 22 battalions, 16 served overseas

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion →

1/4

2/4

1/5

2/5

17**

Pioneers

Sheffield

1st

2nd

Labour

Hallamshire

Barnsley

date of first overseas service.
(first theatre red x )

17/1
1915

9/9
1914

14/4
1915

?/1
1917

14/4
1915

?/1
1917

6/8
1915

14/7
1915

27/8
1915

11/9
1915

21/12
1915

29/12
1915

?/7
1916

3/7
1918

France & Flanders

Gallipoli

x
(Suvla)

Egypt & Palestine

Macedonia

Italy

Star
possible ?

1914 or 1914-15

or 1914-15 only

VCs at a glance

died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost an additional 155 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown' or with battalions not shown here, or who we have not yet allocated a battalion.)

562

1183

736

494

765

224

679

245

717

533

589

445

481

336

+ 125 all ranks recorded as "4th"

+ 150 all ranks recorded as "5th"

* The 1st Battalion was in India at the start, returned first to the UK
** Transferred to Labour Corps April 1917

Regular

Territorial Force

New Armies

Garrison.

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
6 officers and 66 men of the York and Lancaster Regiment also qualified for this medal.

VCs: 4: Caffrey Daykins Riggs Harvey

Battle Honours: Ypres 1915, 17, 18; Somme 1916, 18; Messines 1917, 18; Passchendaele; Cambrai 1917, 18; Lys; Selle; Piave; Macedonia 1915-18; Gallipoli 1915. Aisne 1914; Armentières 1914; Gravenstafel; St. Julien; Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Hooge 1915; Loos; Albert 1916; Pozières; Flers-Courcelette; Morval; Thiepval; Le Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916; Arras 1917,18; Scarpe 1917,18; Arleux; Oppy; Langemarck 1917; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcappelle; St. Quentin; Bapaume 1918; Hazebrouck; Bailleul; Kemmel; Scherpenberg; Marne 1918; Tardenois; Drocourt-Quéant; Hindenburg Line; Havrincourt; Épéhy; Canal du Nord; Valenciennes; Sambre; France and Flanders 1914-18; Vittorio Veneto; Italy 1917-18; Struma; Doiran 1917; Suvla; Landing at Suvla; Scimitar Hill; Egypt 1916.

Mesopotamia & Persia 1919 - 20 2nd Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Iraq

N.W. Persia

numbers:

Jewish / Arab Unrest, Palestine 1936 - 39 1st Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Palestine

number:

WW2 1939 - 1945
Battalion →	1st	2nd	Hallamshire	6th	7th	8th	9th
campaign ↓
Norway 1940	x
France and Belgium 1940. (Dunkirk )				x
North Africa & Middle East	x	x		x
Burma		x			x	x	x
Sicily / Italy	x			x
N.W. Europe	x		x

Notes.
	15th Infantry Brigade	14th Infantry Brigade 17/1/40-23/7/40 and 31/10/40-28/10/44 (Crete 6/11/40-30/5/41 and long range penetration Burma 10/5/43-)	146th Infantry Brigade NW Europe 10/6/44 - end	138th Infantry Brigade	150th Indian Infantry Brigade for Burma 22/2/45-end.	51st Indian Infantry Brigade Arakan 26/2/44-24/10/44. Later became part of 52nd Infantry Brigade (India), which was used for training British infantry reinforcements in jungle warfare.	53rd Indian Infantry Brigade Arakan 29/3/44-7/4/45



WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star ) Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B = Burma, I = Italy, F&G = France and Germany
	A?, I, F&G	I, B	F&G	A, I	B	B	B

VCs

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

VCs: 1: Harper

Battle Honours: Fontenay Le Pesnil; Antwerp-Turnhout Canal; Tobruk 1941; Mine de Sedjenane; Sicily 1943; Salerno; Minturno; North Arakan; Chindits 1944. Norway 1940; Odon; Caen; La Vie Crossing; La Touques Crossing; Forêt de Bretonne; Le Havre; Scheldt; Lower Maas; Arnhem 1945; North-West Europe 1940, 44-45; Tobruk Sortie 1941; Djebel Kournine; North Africa 1941,43; Landing in Sicily; Simeto Bridgehead; Pursuit to Messina; Vietri Pass; Capture of Naples; Cava di Terreni; Volturno Crossing; Monte Camino; Calabritto; Colle Cedro; Garigliano Crossing; Monte Tuga; Anzio; Advance to Tiber; Gothic Line; Coriano; San Clemente; Gemmano Ridge; Carpineta; Lamone Crossing; Defence of Lamone Bridgehead; Rimini Line; San Marino; Italy 1943-45; Crete; Heraklion; Middle East 1941; Maungdaw; Rangoon Road; Toungoo; Arakan Beaches; Burma 1943-45.

Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st) 1948

Operation Musketeer: The Suez Crisis 1956 1st Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 - 62

clasp:

Near East

number:

Aden 1966 - 67 1st Battalion (B Coy only) Feb-May 1966

General Service Medal 1962-

clasp:

South Arabia

number:

Disbanded in the UK 7/12/1968

Selected Links
The Regimental Museum. (Located in )



Selected Bibliography;

Author	Title	Publisher
Edited by Lieut.-Col. E. C. Broughton.	Memoirs of The 65th Regiment, 1st Battn. The York and Lancaster Regt., 1756 to 1913. 174 pp.	London: William Clowes & Sons Ltd., 1914
Col. H. C. Wylly	The York and Lancaster Regiment, 1758-1919. 65th Foot-84th Foot. 2 vols:	Frome & London: printed by Butler & Tanner Ltd 1930.
Major O. F. Sheffield.	— — Vol. 3. . . . 1919-1953. 297 pp.	Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd., 1956
A. H. C. Kearsey. With a Preface by Col. Kirkpatrick. Illustrated with photographs and sketches by H. R. Headlam and E. Cooke.	War Record of the York and Lancaster Regiment, 1900-1902. From Regimental and Private Sources. 277 pp	London: George Bell & Sons, 1903
Major G. A. Raikes	Roll of the Officers of The York and Lancaster Regiment, containing a Complete Record of their Services, including dates of commission, &c. . The First Battalion, formerly 65th (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment, from 1756 to 1884. 135 pp.	London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1885
Major G. A. Raikes	— — The Second Battalion, formerly The Royal Highland Emigrants (1775-1783) late 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment, from 1758 to 1884. 160 pp.	London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1885
Major G. A. Raikes this revised by Capt. R. E. Key	Roll of the Officers of The (84th) York and Lancaster Regiment, containing A Record of their Services, including dates of commission; to which is added the Officers' Medal Roll for the Peninsular War, and a Short Account of the Colours used by the Battalion from 1759-1910., and revised, enlarged, and brought up to June, 1910. 233 pp.	London: William Clowes & Sons Ltd., 1910
Capt. D. P. Grant.	The 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-1919. 166 pp	London: Printed for private circulation by The Arden Press 1931
Compiled by Capt. T. W. Best and Lt.-Col. W. Tozer	The Log Book of the Hallamshire Bn. York & Lancaster Regiment. [27th June 1859 -3rd Sept. 1939] 185 pp.	(Privately printed limited to 50 copies.)
compiled by Major R. Elmhirst	A Diary of Events: 6th Bn. The York and Lancaster Regiment during the Campaigns in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1945. Taken from a diary , including Maps and Sketches of the fighting in Italy, and a Roll of Honour.. 17 & 34 pp.	Rotherham : printed by Hy. Garnett & Co. Ltd., 1946
Capt. M. T. Gilvary	History of the 7th Service Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment (Pioneers), 1914-1919. 131 pp.	London: The Talbot Press Ltd., 1921
J. B. Montagu	A History of the 9th (Service) Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-19.	?
Richard A. Spading	History of the 12th Service Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment . 143pp	Sheffield: printed by J. W. Northend Ltd., 1920




Additional Bibliography for this Page.

Author/Compiler	Title	Publisher
Officers of the Regiment.	Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc.	-
	Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page