ERYIY grave, somewhere in Palestine

[Doctord84]

The attached has come in on loan to us amongst a group of Egypt/Palestine photos. The original is somewhat fuzzy and even on quite a high magnification the identity of the deceased soldier is not clear to me (time I got back to Specsavers!). I get "sacred to the memory of".....then it's presumably the name and the bottom line has a date I think. Any thoughts anyone?

[SteveMarsdin]

Hi David,

I agree, I think his name is on the top line after "memory of" "pte ................."

According to CWGC there were 7 killed in Egypt and 10 in Palestine. it looks like a short name, there are 2 named Best and 1 named Freer

[joseph]

Hi,

Date looks like .. April 191.

Could it be 15 April 1917 the sinking of the Arcadian.

Regards Charles

[sotonmate]

EYRR could be East Riding Yorkshire Yeomanry who were in Egypt Palestine, later than 1916.

[Doctord84]

Charles

Yes I'd half convinced myself it was April as well, in which case it would have to be 1917 really. The trouble with the Arcadian idea is that the ship went down off Greece and none of the ERY men would have been buried in Egypt (I think). And I agree with Steve, it does look like a fairly short name. I've tried tweaking the contrast and brightness on the image, but to no avail.

[Michael Johnson]

I think the number, which is four digits, looks like 2213, which would make it http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/112821/

Michael

[Doctord84]

Michael

Could well be.....Seems to be some kind of camp/base, so makes sense it being one of the men who died before the ERY went on active campaigning in Sinai/Palestine. The chains hanging off the cross are rather peculiar.

[nfh249]

The only problem with that is that Hetherton is buried in Cairo Cemetery, which would suggest that he died in a hospital there. Could it be more of a field hospital? If so then, assuming it is 1916, for my money it must be 2077 William Clark(e) who was killed in action with the Imperial Camel Corps at the Battle of Romani in 1916 (http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1644707/). He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial i.e. he now has no known grave.

Of the remainder of the ERY 1916 casualties, Hetherton and Harrison died and are buried in Cairo and Hinson and Spicer died and are buried at home (Hinson was killed in a Zeppelin raid over York).

If we are thinking 1917 then it could be anyone who died in the field hospitals such as the one at Deir El Belah. Certainly none of the Arcadian victims were buried in Egypt.

Cheers,

Neil

[SteveMarsdin]

Hi Neil,

As an aside, 7 of the 10 buried in Palestine died between 13 and 16 November 1917. As I understand it the Third Battle of Gaza was over by 8 November. There are no deaths in that specific period; do you know whether these 7 were killed in a subsequent action or as a result of wounds from the main battle ?

[SteveMarsdin]

Back to the grave marker....

If we're agreed it starts SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF what is the short word after OF ? It seems to be THE or PTE or something else but which it is changes the layout of the wording we are trying to read.

[nfh249]

Hi Neil,

As an aside, 7 of the 10 buried in Palestine died between 13 and 16 November 1917. As I understand it the Third Battle of Gaza was over by 8 November. There are no deaths in that specific period; do you know whether these 7 were killed in a subsequent action or as a result of wounds from the main battle ?

Steve,

The Third Battle of Gaza was indeed over by then - the Regiment was engaged in the various battles leading up to the fall of Jerusalem (although they had been withdrawn from the line by the time the city actually fell):

The Battle of Junction Station 13-14 November

The Battle of El Mughar Ridge 13 November

The Battle of Nebi Samwil 18 - 24th November

This is the period when they saw their heaviest fighting and in appalling conditions. By the time they were withdrawn the regiment was down to a fighting (dismounted) strength of 13 officers and 166 men.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Michael Johnson]

Back to the grave marker....

If we're agreed it starts SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF what is the short word after OF ? It seems to be THE or PTE or something else but which it is changes the layout of the wording we are trying to read.

I make it "Pte. No. 2213". Which is not how I would word a cross, but I think the name is on the lower part of the arm.

Michael

[nfh249]

Not exactly the same format... but the name is at the top.

Cheers,

Neil.

[SteveMarsdin]

Thanks Neil, most informative and as you point out, as well as the numbers killed the ERYY had many more casualties during that brief period.

[SteveMarsdin]

Hi Michael,

I agree that PTE seems the most likely but as you say it is a strange wording PTE No. XXXX, then, presumably, his name and date of death below ERYY.

[Michael Johnson]

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1644419/

If the name is at the top, it is a four-letter one. The two Bests are good candidates, and I favour the above as the initial looks too boxy to be an A. Besides, Ellis Best is on the Jerusalem Memorial, so this may be a lost burial.

Michael

[nfh249]

Hi Michael,

50331 Ellis Henwood Best (formerly 1521) was killed in action whilst 50294 Arthur Barrett Best (formerly 1462) died of wounds. Given the numbers only changed in 1917 (officially) it wouldn't surprise me if they were still using their old 4-digit numbers.

Since A. B. Best (I have his BWM is in my collection) is buried at Gaza he probably died at one of the casualty clearing stations there... which might fit better with the background?

[corisande]

Could it be perhaps a more general memorial to ERYY men killed in action

The ERYY is much larger than the top and bottom lines, implying that is the important thing on the memorial, rather than an individual

[Doctord84]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Having driven everyone dotty with this one, I'll run for the hills!

[Doctord84]

Perhaps relevant to this image, I recently acquired an account of the death of Private Arthur Barrett Best ERY, who died of his wounds on 14/11/1917 (incurred at El Mugar on the previous day).

Beverley Guardian 2^nd March 1918, page 4

Trooper A.B. Best, Yeomanry. Only son of Mrs. F. Best, of 8 Woodlands, Beverley. Died in Egypt November 14^th, from wounds received the previous day.

Mrs Best has received the following letter from her son’s commanding officer: -

“The action in which your son was wounded was the taking of Akir on the 13^th November. The infantry had been held up all day by the Turks holding a ridge, which covered the village, and in the afternoon the Yeomanry division was ordered to gallop the position. This was carried out most successfully, and resulted in capturing over 1000 prisoners. The Yeomanry were pursuing the Turks still further and whilst my squadron were galloping in line we came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and it was then your son was hit through the stomach. He was able to ride back to the dressing station and went off in the ambulance the same evening.

He got to the Casualty Clearing Station at Deir Senaid where he died the next day. He is buried near Julis.

I saw him before he left us in the evening of the 13^th, and hoped he might pull through.

I sympathise very deeply with you in your loss; he was a thoroughly gallant good lad, always cheery under any conditions, and he was, I know, most popular with his comrades. I hope the knowledge that he thought and died bravely may be some consolation to you.”

Best is the shorter figure on the left and the other man is Sergt. J.W. Berriman, Warwickshire Regt., of Norwood, Beverley, who was recently awarded the DCM.