Kingston upon Hull War Memorial 1914 - 1918
The story of Hull in World War 1
Over, 7,500 Hull men died in the First World War. Over 1,200 of these were sailors working with the fishing fleet, or serving with the Merchantile Marine, the Royal Navy and the Royal Navy Reserve. They carried out vital war work, bringing in supplies, transporting troops and minesweeping the seas
There were nearly another 1,500 men who were born in Hull, but who lived elsewhere. They died fighting for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and America. There are many others, who enlisted in Hull or who were associated with the City, but are not usually remembered on Hull war memorials. As Hull had four large hospitals and was the port of entry for repatriated prisoner of wars, servicemen from all over the world are buried in Hull. The Kingston Upon Hull Memorial aims to remember all those with a Hull connection who died in the First World War.
There are over a hundred families on the Hull Memorial that lost two or more of their family. Sometimes fathers, sons and brothers were lost on the same day. Some families lost three sons, other Hull families lost four sons, including all their children in the First World War. At least one in six Hull families lost a direct relative. Many others would lose close friends, work colleagues or others known to them. Each death was irreplaceable and an individual tragedy for someone.
Unfortunately, not all deaths were recorded in official casualty figures, particularly if soldiers died of sickness, accidents or were discharged home with wounds, of illness. By 1924 the Ministry of Pensions reported that there were 20,000 war wounded living in Hull. Although they survived the war, they are rarely recorded on war memorials. What follows here are snippets of some of those people who died, whose deaths were reported in the local newspapers.
2nd Lieutenant, Arthur Cyril Webster, 10th East Yorkshire, had been a Chorister at Hull’s Holy Trinity Church. He died on the 3rd May 1917, at Oppy Wood, leading the attack, aged 23. His elder brother, 2nd Lt, George Alan Webster, 1st EYR, was killed on the 18th September 1918. Their parents George William and Rose … Read more
William Bratton lost at sea in 1915 lost 3 stepbrothers during the war. They were the four children of Thomas Cudbertson and Sarah Ann Withers at 12 Richmond Terrace, Harrow Street, Hessle Road. Twenty Eight men are known to have died in the war from Harrow Street. Although this street has now been demolished, their … Read more
William and Caroline Ryan, from 7 Albert’s Terrace, Terry Street, lost 3 sons They are commemorated on the Terry Street and Nornabell Street memorials. Private, William Ryan, was killed on the 27th October 1914, fighting with the East Yorkshires. He was 28 years old. On the 23rd April 1917, Private, Joseph Ryan, was killed with … Read more
Albert and Margaret Cockerill lost 3 sons in the war. The family worked in the Oil Mill industries around Witham and lived at 8 St Johns Place, York Street, 231 Wincolmlee and at 5 Oak Terrace, Swann Street. PRIVATE FRANK COCKERILL 12/1275. Born in 1891, Frank was the eldest of three sons to Albert and … Read more
James and Mary Toalster, from 7 Hamden Terrace, Lockwood Street, lost sons Edward, John and Thomas Toalster in the war. They are commemorated on the New George Street memorial.
Harry & Phoebe West who lived at 1 Cuthbert Avenue, Airlie Street, also lost three sons. These were soldiers, Harry West killed on 1st July 1916; Walter West, 30th October 1917 and George West, killed on 11th September 1918.
Horatio and Mary Marshall of 10 Portland Street, lost three sons in the war. Fred Marshall (25/1/1915), James Marshall (28/2/1918) and Horatio Marshall (27/5/1918). MCKEE George William McKee & his wife Sarah Harriet White, of 1 Calidare Avenue, Brighton Street, lost the following three sons. Acting Bomb, George William McKee, 755515, RFA, ‘A’ Bty, 251st … Read more
Margaret Hannah Wilson & the late James Wilson, of 115 Grafton Street, lost their three sons Herbert Wilson in 1916, Arthur Wilson in 1917 and Charles Wilson in 1919. Mark and Annie Wilson, at 13 Nellies Terrace, Gillette Street, lost three sons. Pte. George Wilson, 1/4th EYR was killed on the 14th June 1915, … Read more
John and Elizabeth Ann Glew, 18 Finsbury Street, lost two sons Arthur and George Glew in 1915 and their third son Charles Glew in 1917. They were aged 25, 29 and 18 years old respectively.
John and Sophia Lane, of 3 Morrills Buildings, Villa Place, Hessle Road, lost their sons Norman Lane, in 1917 aged 21, James Lane, in 1918, aged 19, and Harold Lane, in 1919, aged 25 years old. LAUGHTON Brothers Fred, Frank and Samuel Laughton were all killed in the war. They were the three sons of … Read more
