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Edgar GREEN

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Surname: GREEN

Forename(s): Edgar

Place of Birth: Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire

Service No: 305361

Rank: Sergeant

Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 1/7th Battalion. (Leeds Rifles)

Division: 49th (West Riding) Division

Age: 27

Date of Death: 1918-04-16

Awards: D.C.M.

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 42 to 47.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Edgar Green was the son of Joshua and Sarah Elizabeth I. Green, née Bell. Joshua was born at Linton-in-Craven and Sarah at Junction, Crosshills, Yorkshire.

1891 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: Low Fold - Edgar Green, aged 5 months, born Sutton, son of Joshua and Sarah E.I. Green.

1901 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: Garden Cottage - Edgar Green, aged 10 years, born Sutton, son of Joshua and Sarah E. Green.

1911 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: Garden Cottage - Edgar Green, aged 20 years, born in the Parish of Sutton-in-Craven, son of Joshua and Sarah Elizabeth I. Green.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Sgt Edgar Green, 1983, 305361, W. Yorks R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 16.4.15. K. in A.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Sergt Edgar Green, 1983, 1/8th W. York R.; 305361, 1/8th W. York. R.; 305361, 1/7th W. York R. Killed in Action 16.4.18.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sergt Edgar Green D.C.M., 305361, 1/7th Bn W. Yorks. Date and Place of Death: 16.4.18. Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Joshua. £48 10s. 2d.

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

GREEN, Sergeant Edgar, [Sutton], West Yorkshire Regiment, killed in action 1917.

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Sergeant Edgar GREEN

Sergeant Edgar GREEN

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: GREEN

Forename(s): Edgar

Born: Sutton-in-Craven, Yorks

Residence:

Enlisted: Leeds

Number: 305361

Rank: Sergt

Regiment: Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

Battalion: 1/7th Battalion

Decorations: D.C.M.

Died Date: 16/04/18

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: GREEN

Forename(s): Edgar

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 305361

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

Unit: 1st/7th Bn.

Age: 27

Awards: D C M

Died Date: 16/04/1918

Additional Information: Son of Joshua Green, of 2, Daisy Place, Sutton-in-Craven, Keighley, Yorks.

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Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920

1983 L/Cpl. E. Green 1st/8th Bn. TF (Leeds Rifles)

For conspicuous gallantry near Turco Farm on 6th November 1915. When four men had been buried through shell fire, Sjt. Pearson, Lance-Corporal Green and Private Benson successfully rescued all four, although they went in full view of the enemy’s fire trench and were being shelled by a high velocity quick-firing gun. (22. 1. 16)

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'West Yorkshire Pioneer and East Lancashire News'

'West Yorkshire Pioneer and East Lancashire News'

Sergeant Edgar Green

Tyne Cot Memorial

Tyne Cot Memorial

Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

Family gravestone

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription

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10 December 1915

SUTTON – Sutton Soldier’s Distinguished Conduct

Lance-Corporal Edgar Green, of Sutton, the First 8th West Riding [West Yorkshire] Regiment (Leeds Rifles) at the front in France, has sent home a card which has been presented to him by his commanding officer for distinguished conduct. The card, which is signed by the commanding officer, states, “I have read with pleasure the report of your distinguished conduct on November 6th, and have reported it to the higher authorities.” Lance-Corporal Green does not describe in his letter the action referred to, but a week or two ago he wrote and said he had been engaged in digging out four men who had been buried in a dug-out as a result of an explosion caused by German shell. This digging-out under shell fire is thought to be the incident for which he has been commended.

17 December 1915

SUTTON SOLDIER WINS A D.C.M.

Lance-Corporal Edgar Green, of the 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment, has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for behaving with great gallantry near Turco Farm on the 6th November last. He extricated four men who had been buried by shellfire in full view of the enemy and under shellfire from a high velocity quick-firing gun.

14 July 1916

A SUTTON D.C.M.WOUNDED

Mrs. George Simons, of Sutton, has received from her brother, Sergt. E. Green, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, and after thanking her for parcels, says he has been slightly wounded. He considers those lucky who have come out of the recent fighting without a scratch. The local Terriers had not been in the fighting when he came out of the trenches. He was not far behind the firing line as they were in support of the battalions at present engaged in the fighting. He was sure they had had the best of it in the recent advance, and the Germans were glad to be taken prisoners in their portion of the line at any rate.

Some of the German prisoners looked nearly 50 years of age. He saw one of them carrying a wounded English soldier on his back. Sergt. Green goes on to say he is thankful for good nerves, and at the end of his very cheerful letter, in which he says he thinks the Germans will be beaten before long, he again refers to his wound, and says they need not be alarmed as he is back again with his battalion.

Last week Mrs. Simons received from the authorities the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which her brother won last November for digging men out under shellfire. For this he was made Lance-Corporal and has since been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

27 October 1916

CROSSHILLS – PRIVATE GEORGE BLAND KILLED

Mrs. George Bland, of Main Street, Crosshills, has received an official communication from the War Office stating that her husband, Private George Bland, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was killed in action in France on the 29th September. Pte. Bland was a Glusburn young man and enlisted about eighteen months ago. After training for some months he went with his regiment to the Dardanelles and afterwards to Egypt. He was also in hospital at Malta for several months suffering from fever. He went to France about six months ago. Since leaving this country he had not been home on leave. He was 28 years of age and leaves a wife and young daughter with whom great sympathy is felt.

Pte. Bland always wrote home in a cheerful strain and in his last letter (written on September 20th) to his wife he said:– “I am glad to tell you I was one of the lucky ones to come out without a scratch. I have just been talking to Tom Hill and he had to go up as well. He was fetching wounded in and putting the dead heroes away after we got over. I have not heard anything of McVay, of Sutton Mill, who went over with the same company as me. They are a fainted-hearted lot of Germans that we face; they gave themselves up in hundreds. When we got over into their trenches we had a bit of a melee. They were in dugouts 60 feet down in the ground, and they are like palaces – beds and everything in them; but I am pleased to tell you they are ours now. I saw Edgar Green the other day and R. Whiteoak, Phillips, Chapman and L. Grainger’s husband, and they are all doing well.”

09 February 1917

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – D.C.M. HOME ON LEAVE

Sutton has been honoured during the week by the visit from the trenches of Sergeant Edgar Green, of the West Yorkshire Regiment. Sergeant Green won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in November 1915, for digging three men out when a dugout had been knocked in by a German shell. Sergt. Green (he was then Lance Corporal) said they had to get part of the top of the dugout off to get to the men, and all the time they were exposed to the German trenches. They never got any bullets, but the artillery was shelling them during the whole of the time. Shortly after this incident, Sergt. Green was promoted to full Corporal, and has since been made Sergeant. He was wounded slightly in the ‘Big Push’ last year.

Sergeant Green is a young man who enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war. He was a popular outside right of the Sutton Association Football Club in the Keighley and District and Bradford Leagues a few years’ ago, and he also trained for some time with the Bradford Club at Park Avenue and played in some of their reserve games. When he was over on his previous leave just a year ago, Sergeant Green was presented with a purse of gold, subscribed by his friends in the village, to mark their appreciation of the gallantry in the trenches, and his fellow workmen and employers at Messrs. S. Sunderland, Fleece Mills, Keighley, presented him with a silver lever watch as a token of their appreciation of his gallant conduct.

24 August 1917

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – SERGEANT EDGAR GREEN ‘GASSED’

News was received last week that Sergt. Edgar Green, D.C.M., of the West Yorkshire Regiment, had been gassed in the recent heavy fighting in France. He arrived at Netley Hospital on the 10th of August. He had been wounded twice previously, and he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in November 1915, by digging three men out of a dugout which had been knocked in by a German shell. Sergt. Green was at that time Lance Corporal, and he and others dug out the men, being all the time exposed to the German fire. For this he was made full Corporal, subsequently being promoted to the rank of Sergeant. The inhabitants of Sutton presented him with a purse of gold for his bravery.

28 September 1917

CROSSHILLS – On Leave

Sergeant Edgar Green, D.C.M., of the West Riding Regiment, has been home on a ten days’ leave. He was gassed in August last, and has been in Netley Hospital… Private Percy Midgley, of the West Riding Regiment, rejoined his regiment yesterday, after ten days’ leave. He went out to the Front in January of this year, and contracted trench feet. He was sent to the War Hospital at Eastbourne, and while there was operated on for appendicitis.

03 May 1918

Sergant Edgar Green, D.C.M., Sutton

Residents in Sutton and district were deeply moved on Saturday morning when news came that Sergeant Edgar Green, D.C.M., of the West Yorkshires had been killed by a shell in the recent German offensive. He was one of those who enlisted at the outbreak of war, and had been previously wounded, going back to the front in January last. In November 1915, he was one of those selected from his battalion to be reviewed by the King when on a visit to the Front, and in a letter home at that time he said it was a fine sight to see the men march past His Majesty, alongside who was Sir John French. He was awarded the D.C.M. in December 1915 for behaving with great gallantry on November 6th in extricating four men who had been buried by shellfire, in full view of the enemy, and under shellfire. In January 1916 Sergeant Green (he was then Corporal) was presented by Mr. Laurence Preston with a purse of gold subscribed by friends in the village to mark their appreciation of his gallantry in the trenches, and he was also presented with a silver English lever watch, subscribed for by the members of the firm and the employers of Messrs. S. Sunderland, Fleece Mills, Keighley (where he was employed prior to joining the Army), as a token of their appreciation of his gallant conduct. He was slightly wounded in July 1916, and later was gassed, going back to the Front in January of this year. Sergeant Green was a popular outside right of the Sutton Association Football Club in the Keighley and District and Bradford District Leagues in pre-war days, and he also trained for some time with the Bradford Club at Park Avenue, and played in some of their reserve team’s games.

In a letter to the father, Lieutenant M. Wilkinson of the West Yorkshire’s says:– “He was killed by a shell and suffered no pain. Sergeant Green was more than my Sergeant; he was my friend, and a sound, capable, clean living man. He was a splendid example to his men. I offer my sincerest sympathy to you in your trouble.”

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17 December 1915

UTTON SOLDIER GAINS THE D.C.M. – LANCE-CORPORAL EDGAR GREEN

The whole district rejoices in the honour which has come to the village of Sutton, in that one of her sons has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Lance-Corporal Edgar Green, of the 1st 8th West Yorkshire Regiment, is the youngest son of Mr. Joshua Green, Orchard House, Sutton-in-Craven. Prior to the outbreak of war Lance-Corporal Green was employed at Keighley. He was amongst the first to offer himself, joining the Leeds Rifles (West Yorkshire Regiment). For some years he was a prominent football enthusiast, playing first with the Sutton Association Club as left wing, where he gained a name as a good sportsman. He also played several matches with the Park Avenue Reserves, and holds several medals which were won whilst playing with the Keighley Celtic and Steeton Clubs. Lance-Corporal Green has not been without his adventures whilst at the front. Along with a companion he was buried in a trench whilst sheltering, the cause being a land-slip through continuous rain. He wrote home remarking that he had only received a shaking. During November a card was received by his sister, Mrs. George Simons, intimating that his conduct in the field had been brought to the notice of high authority. It was as follows:– “Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself by your conduct in the field, on the 6th November, 1915. I have read their report with much pleasure and have brought it to the notice of higher authority. E. M. PERCIVAL, Major General, Commanding 49th (W.R.) Division.”

Lance-Corporal Green, D.C.M., in writing to his sister this week, says:– “We have got to know this morning (Dec. 9th) that all three of us have won the D.C.M. There were our platoon sergeant, a Rifleman, and myself. We got it for digging four of the lads out of a dug-out, which had been knocked in by a shell. We had to take part of the top off to get at them. They were shelling us all the time. We were exposed to the German trenches, but they must not have noticed us, as we never got any bullets. It was a captain in the 6th Battalion that reported it to our battalion. They were in the front line, and we were in the first line of supports about 100 yards behind.”

In another letter referring to the incident, which he regarded as “nothing much,” he says:– “One of the lads we got out last was in a very serious condition. He was unconscious for five days, and wrote to me from England asking what the accident was. He did not know how it happened.”

The three who gained the D.C.M. were Sergeant A. Pearson, Lance-Corporal Green, and Private A. Benson, all of the 1st 8th.

“For behaving with great gallantry near Turco Farm on the 6th November, 1915, in extricating four men, who had been buried by shell fire, in full view of the enemy under shell fire from a high velocity quick firing gun.”

A movement is on foot in the village with a view to showing in some tangible form the residents’ appreciation of the honour which has come to the village, also to acknowledge with pride that one of our lads so distinguished himself.

24 December 1915

SUTTON SOLDIER’S DEATH AT THE FRONT

The rejoicings in the village in the honour which had come through one of its lads being the first in the district to gain the honour of winning the D.C.M. have been somewhat checked by the news that Private Edmund Wilkinson of the 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) has been killed at the Front. Pte. Ned Wilkinson (as he was best known) was a pal with Corporal Edgar Green, D.C.M., who in his letters home generally referred to Ned as being all right. The sad news was received on Thursday last by his wife, who resides at the Bent, Sutton, through her husband’s commanding officer. Private Wilkinson had been in France some months, and was for some time up to his death officer’s cook. Prior to entering the Army he was in business as oat-bread baker. He leaves a widow and two young children.

14 July 1916

WOUNDED SOLDIERS FROM THE SUTTON DISTRICT

Mrs. George Simons of King’s Court, Sutton, has received a letter from her brother, Corporal Edgar Green, D.C.M., stating that the wound he received was only slight and he has rejoined his regiment, the Leeds Rifles.

24 August 1917

TWO GLUSBURN COUSINS

Private Harry Whiteoak Gains the Military Medal

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Whiteoak, of the Corn Mill Bridge, Glusburn, have received information that their only son, Pte. Harry Whiteoak, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, has been awarded the Military Medal. The award is for “good work and for sticking to his gun when twice wounded.” The work referred to by his officer happened on April 9th (Easter Monday) at the Battle of Arras. Pte. Whiteoak’s action showed real pluck and tenacity of purpose, although he himself only regards the affair as “simply doing his duty.” It appears that orders were given to go over at 6-30 in the morning, and Pte. Whiteoak received the first wound in the arm during the first few seconds, but he determined that he would not go back for a slight wound, although it turned out worse than he thought. He received another wound while working the gun. Others of his pals were also wounded. As long as he could use his arm at all he felt it his duty to hold on, which he did until the arm refused to respond to the will which was still for “sticking it.” The time when he was compelled to seek shelter in a dug-out at the request of his pals was 11-30, he having held on for five hours. The officer in command regarded the action as very plucky and praiseworthy. The holding on of Pte. Whiteoak was the means of silencing the enemy guns that had for some time been harassing our men from a little hillock. After being taken to the dressing station he was in hospital at Etaples for a week, then he came to dear old Blighty and was for a time at Lincoln hospital then at Bowine, where he was visited by his mother. He spent a furlough at his home some three months ago, and then returned to camp at Sutton-on-Hull, and went out again to France some two months ago.

Pte. Whiteoak joined the colours in April, 1916, and went out in July. Prior to joining he was employed at Messrs. John Binns and Sons, Cowling. He cannot lay claim to having any desire to be a soldier, but now that he is one he feels it his duty to do his bit well. He is cousin to Sergt. Edgar Green, D.C.M., of Sutton. In his letters home to his parents he refers often to the great loss he has sustained by of his pal, Pte. Arthur Hargreaves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hargreaves, of Scott House Farm, Glusburn. The two were close companions as civilians and soldiers, being village lads together.

Sergt. Edgar Green, D.C.M., Gassed

Sergt. Edgar Green, D.C.M., son of Mr. Joseph Green, of Sutton, who won the D.C.M. for conspicuous bravery under heavy shell fire, was admitted to Netley Hospital on August 10th suffering from the effect of gas poison. It is understood that the effect is not serious. Sergt. Green has seen some very hard fighting and was slightly wounded some time ago. When Sergt. Green won the D.C.M. the inhabitants of Sutton regarded the honour as belonging to the village, and a purse of money was presented to him. He was also presented with a watch by Mr. Sam Sunderland, Fleece Mills, Keighley, where he was employed as gear cutter. He joined the army in September, 1914, and has the signal honour of being the only one in the district to gain the D.C.M. His cousin, Pte. H. Whiteoak, has gained the Military Medal. Both are grandsons of the late Mr. Joshua Green, of Surgill Farm, Cowling. Mr. Green was a native of Grassington, where, he served his apprenticeship as shoemaker. He was well known in the dales as farmer and shoemaker, and very highly respected. He died last year, being over 80 years of age.

03 May 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Sergt. Edgar Green, D.C.M., Killed

The official notice received by Mr. Joshua Green, that his son, Sergeant Edgar Green, D.C.M., of the West Yorkshire Regiment, had been killed in action on April 16th, has caused very deep regret in the district, and much sympathy is felt for the father and family. Sergeant Green joined ‘The Leeds Rifles’ exactly three years ago dating from his death, April 16th. The winning of the D.C.M. for conspicuous bravery was welcomed in the village as an honour in which all joined, and in recognition of his conspicuous bravery the inhabitants presented him with a purse of money. He was also presented with a watch by Mr. Sam Sunderland, Fleece Mills, Keighley. where he was employed as gear cutter. He had been twice wounded and once gassed. The letter received by the father testifies to Sergt. Green’s fine example in conduct to the men under his charge in clean living. The deceased was held in high regard by all who knew him. He had completed his term of service, and was entitled to six months leave, but had he claimed his right it meant a married man with several children having to go, so in consideration for his friend, a fellow sergeant, he offered to go out again. His action is regarded with pride by his fellow villagers.

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