Died at Home

Not all the deaths were on the battlefield. The cemeteries of Hull contain hundreds of First World War casualties. Hull Northern cemetery for example, contains 114 Commonwealth War Graves, Hull Western cemetery conatins another 395. Hedon Road cemetery in East Hull includes 213, World War 1 graves. The churches in Hull and the surrounding towns and villages also contain other graves from the Great War. While most of these are local men, they also include men from other parts of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, who died in the many Hull hospitals set up during the war. Many died at home in training, or accidents, of wounds, illness and influenza. Some while boarding ships and loading cargo. Others were sailors washed ashore or repatriated prisoners who used Hull as the main port of return. Other casulaties buried in Hull do not appear in any war military records, particularly those discharged from the army during the war, or those who died after, before being demobilized.  Similarly, the numbers of Hull servicemen who committed suicide through disillusionment or temporary insanity, or through poverty and general hardship during the post war  ‘Depression’ are another group of forgotten war casualties. They are buried in Hull and are forever linked to this City.

Wheal

Able Seaman, Frederick Wheal, was accidentally killed by a shell explosion in Church Street on the 1st June 1918. The shell had been wrapped up and used by his Daughter as a dolly.

Williamson

Pte, George Frederick Williamson, of 31 St Andrews Street, had been one the first to join the 10th East Yorkshire Pals Battalion. He died of mushroom poisoning, while on leave on 26th November 1916. He was 21 years old and is buried in Hull Western Cemetery. He left his mother Emma who lived at 1 … Read more

Dalton Brothers

Pte, Thomas Dalton, 1/4th EYR, died on the 6th May 1917, searching for his wounded brother Percy Dalton. It was later discovered that Percy had been captured, and had died a week earlier of wounds, after his left leg was amputated. Within a fortnight, Herbert and Mary Ann Dalton and lost both sons.

Murray

Pte, Walter Murray, had worked at Reckitt’s since 1900 before enlisting. He was killed when his rifle accidentally discharged and is buried at Ypres. He lived at 93 St Georges Road and was 37 years old.

Wigglesworth

Gunner, John Thomas Wigglesworth, enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery, in Easter 1915. He was gassed in France, on the 23rd May 1917, and never recovered. He died at home on the 7th December 1919, aged 23,  and is buried at  Hedon Road Cemetery. He was the son of Alfred Wigglesworth who lived at 18 … Read more

Suicides

Private, William Lee, cut his throat in Billet, on Beverley Road, on the 19/10/15. He was a Hull man aged 36. He served as 23186, in 3rd Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. His wife lived at 53 Luke Street, Liverpool. (Hull Daily Mail 20/10/15) Robert Hume, a discharged soldier from Hull, cut … Read more

Smart

William John Smart who died falling into the dry dock at Hull was listed as “drowned’ on the 12th November 1915. His body was not recovered from St George’s Dock, until six months later, on 30th May 1916

Accidents

Arthur James Holmes died falling into the dry dock at Hull on 12th November 1915. Lieutenant, Edward Allen Kitching, Royal Field Artillery, 27th Bde., was injured  when dismounting from his horse, he was thrown in front of a lorry. He died at Hull Royal Infirmary on the 8th September 1915, aged 27 years. 2nd L/t, … Read more

Adams

Pte, Thomas Adams, a printer, enlisted in the 10th Hull Pals. He died shortly after of a brain fever on the 18th September 1914. He was 30 years old, lived at 10 Greek Street and is buried in Hull Western Cemetery