9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own) Regimental number 266382.
Formerly 17780, West Riding Regiment.
Early life:
Percy’s mother Margaret had a complicated life even before Percy was born. Her maiden name was Margaret Cooper and she married James Newton on the 29th of April 1871 at Melbecks, Grinton in Yorkshire. She was aged 19 and James was 23 and a miner. They lived at Low Row in Melbecks. They produced five children who were Elizabeth born 1873, David born 1874, Robert born 1876, William born 1879 and Margaret junior, born in 1887.
Margaret junior was born in Keighley, so they were already living here before James died.
Sadly James died aged just 39 in 1887, the same year that Margaret junior was born, leaving his widow Margaret to raise their family of five alone.
In the 1891 census the family were living at 1, Greengate Grove, Ingrow in Keighley. Margaret was aged 38, Elizabeth was aged 18 and a worsted spinner. David was 17, Robert was 15 and a worsted spinner, William was twelve and a worsted spinner and Margaret junior was just four. Life must have been quite a struggle for them although they had at least four wages coming in to the household budget, plus lodging money.
Lodging with them at that time was Robert Addyman, a general labourer aged 26 and twelve years younger than Margaret.
Despite the age difference they were married in 1892, registered in Keighley in the last quarter of the year. Margaret would have been aged 39 and Robert aged 27 at the time.
Their marriage was blessed with a child, Percy Newton, who was born on the 9th of March 1893 and registered at Keighley in the first quarter of the year, meaning that Margaret was a few months pregnant with him at the wedding.
Percy Newton Addyman was baptised at St. John’s Church at Ingrow on the 5th of July 1896. Clearly they wanted him to share the same name as his all of his older half-siblings.
By the time of the 1901 census Percy was aged eight. His parents Robert a builder’s labourer aged 36 and Margaret aged 49 were living at 12, Oak Grove off New Road Side, now known as Halifax Road and in particular, the area close to Hermit Hole. Their home still exists today. Living with them were Robert aged 25 and employed as a worsted spinning overlooker, William aged 22 a cloth finisher and Margaret junior aged 14 and working as a worsted spinner.
In the 1911 census they were living at 2, Willow Grove, which was a back to back row, backing on to Oak Grove, so they’d literally just moved around the block. Percy was now aged 18 and living at home with his parents Robert a mason’s labourer aged 47, Margaret aged 58 and looking after the family home. They had been married for 18 years and had just the one child from that marriage, who was Percy. Living with them were William a cloth finisher of worsted dress goods aged 34, Maggie a mill hand (worsted rover) aged 24, Percy a cloth finisher of worsted dress goods aged 18, Also here were three grandchildren Mabel aged twelve a mill hand (worsted spinning doffer), Maggie aged ten and Emily aged eight who were both at school. They also had a boarder called Mary Ann Roe who was aged 35 and a mill hand (worsted spinning twister).
War service:
There are no Army service records available for Percy. We have worked out some of the aspects of his service from other sources. We know he enlisted at Keighley in January 1916, implying that he was enlisted in the Derby Scheme. He would have been aged 23 two months later in March 1916. He initially enlisted with the West Riding Regiment and number 17880 and at some point was posted to the 9th Battalion Yorkshire Hussars, possibly on posting to France. He must have been sent abroad after a few months training and was wounded in September 1916, which was reported with his photograph in the Keighley News, but no supporting text.
Percy was killed in action on the 24th of October 1918, just three weeks before the armistice was declared. They were so close to the end of the war, but sadly not for him. The 9th Battalion war diary is quite scant about the events leading up to that day.
WO-95/2247/3. War diary of the 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment:
MARETT. 19/10/18: Stood to at 06.00 hours. moved to HONNECHY at 13.00 hours.
23/10/18: Moved off from HONNECHY at 03.00 hours. Dug in East of LE CATEAU continued the advance about 09.00 hours Dug in on edge of BOIS L’EVEQUE.
24/10/18: At 0400 hours commenced the attack. Final objective reached & held. Battalion HQ in MALGANI. Battalion HQ moved to FONTAINE-AU-BOIS.
Fortunately the 9th Battalion was part of the 74th Infantry Brigade and a narrative of operations is present in the Brigade war diary, which gives an excellent account of our attack on German lines in the period in which Percy died.
WO95/2245/4
NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS of 74TH INFANTRY BRIGADE from OCTOBER 23RD to NOVEMBER 7TH 1918.
Reference Sheets 57a 57b 1/40,000
Special Maps attached, & 57a N.W 1/20,000
On October 19th the Brigade was out in rest, when orders were received that the 25th Division would attack at a date and hour to be notified later. 7th Infantry Brigade would capture FIRST OBJECTIVE (RED LINE)
75th Infantry Brigade would pass through 7th Infantry Brigade and capture Third OBJECTIVE (GREEN LINE).
74th Infantry Brigade would pass through 75th Infantry Brigade and Capture FIFTH OBJECTIVE (BROWN LINE.
Oct 22nd: The Brigade was in Billets in HONNECHY.
Oct 23rd: 00.01 the Brigade moved forward from HONTECHY to the vicinity of DETRAINING POINT (LE CATEAU 0.10.b.). Brigade Headquarters established at Q.10.b.2.3. Commanding Officers’ had been ordered to report at Brigade Headquarters on arrival of their Battalions in that Area to receive Final Instructions. 01.20 the Barrage for the attack came down. 02.00 Battalion Commanders had reported at Brigade Headquarters and were ordered to move immediately to the vicinity of K.36.b. but not to move forward over Bridge at GARDE HILL (L.1.b.1.8) before 05.00
05.00 Patrol reported Brigade had passed Road junction K.35.d.0.2. at 04.20
03.00 No reports, situation in vicinity of POMMEREUIL was obscure.
06.15 following orders were issued by Brigade –
9th Yorkshire Regt to push forward and Picquet the North West edge of BOIS L’EVEQUE and so protect the Right Flank of 18th Division.
11th Sherwood Foresters and 15th Durham Light Infantry to push on to Valley of RICHEMONT STREAM and there await further orders.
The move forward to GARDE MILL was carried out against slight opposition of Machine Gun fire which Was successfully dealt with.
11.15: Battalions moving forward on to GREEN LINE. At 15.00 11th Sherwood Foresters and 15th Durham Light Infantry had reached GREEN LINE but 9th Yorkshire Regt had been held up by Snipers and heavy Machine Gun fire in North East corner of BOIS L’EVEQUE and were unable to reach GREEN LINE before dark. 9th Yorkshire Regt was ordered to move round Western and Northern edges of BOIS L’EVEQUE and so get into position on GREEN LINE in time to commence Advance the following day.
Oct 24th: 04.00 the Brigade continued the Advance.
Immediately on leaving the BOIS L’EVEQUE to go forward the troops came under heavy Machine Gun and Rifle Fire from behind two thick belts of wire (which had escaped the attention of the Artillery). Eventually this strong position (HUDUNG LINE) was carried with great dash and all First OBJECTIVES (DOTTED GREEN LINE) were captured by 10.00.
The Brigade then issued orders that the Advance on to the FINAL OBJECTIVE (BROWN LINE) would be carried out under a creeping Barrage at 14.00.
14.00 Barrage came down.
By 18.00 al1 FINAL OBJECTIVES had been captured and were being consolidated.
During this Advance the 1/8th Worcestershire Regt (75th Infantry Brigade) operated on the Left Flank of the Brigade and greatly assisted the Brigade in the capture of the FINAL OBJECTIVE.
At 18.30 orders wore issued stating that the 7th Infantry Brigade would relieve the Left Sub-sector of the Brigade Front (i.e. 1/8th Worcestershire Regt and 11th Sherwood Foresters). On completion of relief the 11th Sherwood Foresters moved into Support in vicinity of FLAQUET BRIFAUT (L.15.d.)
Oct 25th: 05.00 relief of Left Sub-sector of Brigade completed. 10.00 Trench Strength of Battalions reported as follows:-
9th Yorkshire Regiment – Officers: 9. Other Ranks: 360
11th Sherwood Foresters – Officers: 10. Other Ranks: 194.
15th Durham Light Infantry. – Officers: 5. Other Ranks: 221.
10.00 9th Yorkshire Regt. reported Liaison Post with troops of Right (32nd Division) had been established at G.13.d.7.0.
15.00 Brigade Headquarters moved to L.26.d.8.9.
Keighley News 28th November 1918, page 9:
Private Newton Addyman, Yorkshire Regiment, 2, Willow Grove, Ingrow, Keighley, was killed in action on October 24. He enlisted in January, 1916, and was wounded in the following September, he was formerly employed as a cloth finisher at Mr. H. Roberts’s, Dalton Lane, Keighley.
Keighley News 28th November 1918, page 10:
DEATHS.
ADDYMAN-In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. Percy Newton Addyman, Yorkshire Regiment, and of No. 2, Willow Grove, Ingrow, who was killed in action October 24th, 1918, aged 25.
Too dearly loved to be forgotten.
From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers, and Annie.
Gone to his rest through the pathway of duty, Venturing his life that others may live; Such are the words on the tablet of beauty, In letters immortal, in honour we give.
From David, Mabel, Maggie, and Emily Newton.
Remembrance:
Percy was buried in Pommereuil British Cemetery in Northern France. He is in grave 48 of row D. His family had the following inscription added to his headstone: Dearly Loved By All
His name is in the Borough of Keighley 1914 – 1918 Great War roll of honour book at Keighley Library.
He is also named on the Ingrow War Memorial at St John’s Churchyard and may be the N. Addyman named on the Ingrow Council School war memorial at Ingrow Primary School.
Note: there is also a Robert James Addyman named in the Keighley roll of honour book and on the Ingrow War Memorial, but we do not think they are related.
Post war:
His father Robert was him next of kin and he would have received his personal effects. He would have been sent his British War Medal and Victory Medal and a bronze memorial plaque and memorial scroll inscribed with Percy’s name. These generally arrived in 1920 or 1921.
Robert also received Percy’s outstanding Army pay, which amounted to £3 6s 6d plus a war gratuity payment of £16, totalling £19 6s 6d. on the 19th of May 1919.
His mother Margaret applied for a Dependant’s pension and received the sum of 7 shillings per week for life, beginning on 20th May 1919. This was later paid to Robert when Margaret died.
In the 1921 census Robert was a 56 year old plasterer’s labourer employed by Greenwood Plasterers of Crosshills and Margaret was aged 69 and on home duties. They were living at 2, Willow Grove along with William aged 44 who was employed as a piece looker for Robert Clough at Grove Mills, Ingrow. Their three granddaughters were Mabel aged 22, Margaret aged 20 and Emily aged 18. They were all employed as spinners in the textile trade at at Grove Mills, Ingrow.
Margaret died aged 76 at Victoria Hospital. She was buried in St. John’s Churchyard at Ingrow on 3rd May 1928.
Robert died a couple of years later aged 64 and was buried with Margaret on 26th of February 1930.
Information sources:
1881 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915.
1891 England Census.
North Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
The National Archives, War diaries of the First World War.
WO-95/2247/3. and WO95/2245/4
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Pommereuil British Cemetery.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
1921 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985
