Costello, Mark

BORN HULL 1899. SON OF MARK COSTELLO (1870-1939) AND MARGARET LOCKET, OF 12, WILDE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN. HIS FATHER WAS A FORMER TIME EXPIRED SOLDIER, SERVING 9 YEARS WITH THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT, UNDER THE NAME OF “WALSH”. HE ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 04/11/1914, AGED 44 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS, BUT WAS REJECTED AFTER 23 DAYS.

SON OF A DOCK LABOURER. MARK COSTELLO (JUNIOR), WAS A RECKITTS WORKER. HE ENLISTED IN HULL AT 12 NAPOLEON AVENUE, KENT STREET, HOLDERNESS ROAD, HULL (ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS). SERVED AS PRIVATE, 203768, 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. WOUNDED AND CAPTURED, ON THE 27/05/1918. DIED OF WOUNDS, AS A PRISONER OF WAR, ON 02/06/1918, AGED 19.
BURIED AT NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY, KASSEL, GERMANY.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.