Foster YERKESS

20 August 1915

THE “PIONEER” IN THE TRENCHES – Three Earby Privates Write

We have received the following communication from three Earby privates, which we print with pleasure:–
9th Batt. Duke of Wellington’s, ‘A’ Company, B.E.F., France.

Dear Editor, – Having seen so many letters in your paper from the 6th Battalion West Ridings, with which we are very familiar, we thought some of our friends would like to hear from us through the ‘Pioneer’. We have been here just a month, and have already had some exciting and trying times. We have been shelled something awful this last four days. This is our tenth successive day in these trenches. The Germans are only fifty yards away from where I am writing, and we have had one or two ‘scraps’ with them. We gave them rapid fire for about half an hour last night, until our rifles were almost red-hot. They are very fond of sending whizz-bangs over, and they make an awful noise. You can hear them coming and it gives us the signal to lie flat on our stomachs. It is like waiting for your death; but we are all in the best of spirits, and doing our bit as cheerful as we can. Just as we close, the fun has commenced, so we must get to business.

Wishing your paper every success, we are, yours truly, Privates F. W. Foster, F. Yerkiss, and R. Wharton, of Earby.

17 August 1917

EARBY

LANCE-CORPL. F. YERKESS

Lance-Corporal Foster Yerkess, Royal Berks. Regiment, whose mother resides at 25, James Street, Earby, has been severely wounded in France by an explosion, and is in No. 4 General Hospital. A letter received from the matron a few days ago, states:– “Your son asked me to let you know he was admitted to this hospital suffering from wounds in the spine and right thigh. The spine is the more serious. He hopes to be able to write himself in a few days. Everything possible is being done for him.” Lance-Corporal Yerkess only returned to France ten weeks ago after being home on sick leave.

24 August 1917

YERKESS – Died of wound, Aug. 11th, Lance-Corpl. Yerkess, of the 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Yerkess, of 25, James Street, Earby, aged 21.

24 August 1917

EARBY WORKMATES DIE ON THE SAME DAY

The list of Earby casualties printed in this issue affords the striking coincidence of two workmates, who worked ‘beam’ to each other, enlisted in the same regiment, became lance-corporals, and died from wounds on the same day (August 11th) though in different hospitals.

Lance-Corporal Woodhouse, Royal Berks Regiment, son of Mr. James Woodhouse, 9, Alder Hill Street, died from a shell wound in the back at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station, France. He was 26 and single. A well-known local football player, he joined Kitchener’s Army immediately after the outbreak of war, and first saw service in the Dardanelles, where he took part in the Suvla Bay landing. Last year he was invalided home from France suffering from gas poisoning. Before joining the army he worked alongside Lance-Corporal Yerkess at Messrs. R. Nutter and Co’s., Albion Shed. His two brothers are both in the army, one being in France and the other in training.

Lance-Corporal Yerkess, 2nd Royal Berks Regiment, whom we last week reported to have been severely wounded by an explosion on August 2nd, died in the 4th General Hospital, Camiens (France), on the 11th inst. He was 21 years of age and the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Yerkess, 25, James Street, Earby. He enlisted in August, 1914, and served in France from July to the following March (1916), when he was invalided home, returning to the front about three months since. Prior to joining the army he was a weaver at Messrs. R. Nutter and Co’s., Albion Shed.