Leeds Rifles

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Leeds Rifles
ActiveFrom 1859
Country 
Territorial Army
RoleInfantry, armour, anti-aircraft artillery
Size2 Territorial Battalions

Up to 2 Second Line Territorial Battalions

Up to 2 Reserve Battalions
Garrison/HQ
Croix de Guerre

Maple Leaf
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Brigadier Noel Tetley

The Leeds Rifles was a unit of the 19th century

Burma during the Second World War
.

Origin

When a call was issued for the formation of local Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1859,

1st (Leeds) Yorkshire West Riding Artillery Volunteer Corps on 2 August 1860 [6][7] and 2nd West Riding (Leeds) Engineer Volunteer Corps formed on 21 May 1861.)[8]

Nineteenth century

Carlton Barracks, Leeds

Government funding for the RVCs was strictly limited, and they had to rely upon members' subscriptions and the generosity of their officers. Captain Thomas Kinnear of the Leeds Rifles, a partner in the textile firm Benjamin Gott & Son, lent over £1100 of his own money to offset the unit's debts. In 1866 he sent a circular to other RVCs that revealed the level of dissatisfaction around the country about the insufficiency of the government grant, but despite strong support for the Volunteer movement in Parliament, funding was not increased.[9]

The primary purpose of the RVCs was home defence, but their enthusiastic members often volunteered for service overseas in other units. At least three members of the Leeds Rifles volunteered to serve in the unofficial British Legion that went to fight with Giuseppe Garibaldi in his 1860 campaign in Naples.[10] Officers from the Leeds Rifles apparently served in Captain Watt Whalley's Natal Light Horse in the Anglo-Zulu War.[11][12][13]

As part of the

redcoated regiment.[2] The Leeds Rifles was sufficiently large to purchase Carlton Barracks, the old militia barracks at Carlton Hill in Leeds, and modernise it as its Regimental HQ.[2]

During the Second Boer War the Leeds Rifles raised two service companies to supplement the Regular Army on campaign. As a result, the Leeds Rifles was awarded South Africa 1900–1902 as its first battle honour.[2][14]

Territorials

When the

Territorial Force was created in 1908, the Volunteer Battalions became Territorial Battalions of their linked regiments. The 1st and 2nd (V) Bns became 5th and 6th Bns of the West Yorkshires, while 3rd (V) Bn became 7th and 8th (Leeds Rifles), a double battalion of the West Yorkshires with RHQ at Carlton Barracks.[4][5][15] The four battalions formed the West Yorkshire Brigade in the TF.[15]

First World War

On the outbreak of the

West Riding Reserve Brigade, and in the summer of 1918 this battalion was sent to Ireland.[4][16] (In addition, the City of Leeds raised two battalions for Kitchener's Army: the 15th West Riding (1st Leeds) was known as the 'Leeds Pals', and the 17th West Riding (2nd Leeds) was a 'Bantam' battalion.)[15][16]

Battalions in 1st West Riding Division

Main article: 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

146 Brigade landed at

phosgene gas for the first time, delivered by shells instead of a cloud released from cylinders. The British line stood firm, despite heavy casualties from gas and shellfire.[18][20][21]

On 1 July 1916, the first day of the

Schwaben Redoubt, and was ordered to make a frontal assault on Thiepval village at 4.00 pm. However, due to congestion in the trenches, only the 1/6th Bn and one company of 1/8th Leeds Rifles were in position to attack. Their lines were swept by machine-gun fire from Thiepval Fort, and the survivors were withdrawn into reserve and the rest of the attack cancelled. But 36th Division had been promised support, so two companies of 1/7th Leeds Rifles advanced. It was not until 9.00 pm that the rest of the Leeds Rifles went forward and began to reach Schwaben Redoubt, but it was too late and the Ulstermen were forced to abandon the position about 10.30 pm.[22][23]

However, a 30-man party of 1/7th Leeds Rifles got left behind in the redoubt, and held out for two more days under the command of Corporal George Sanders until it could be withdrawn. Sanders was awarded the Victoria Cross for this exploit, and was later commissioned as an officer.[24][25][26]

For much of the war, the 1st West Riding Division was involved in static trench warfare, holding parts of the notorious Ypres Salient.[2] In July 1917 it was withdrawn to begin training for an amphibious operation against the German U-boat bases on the Belgian Coast (Operation Hush), but this was cancelled after a German spoiling attack and the opening failure of the British Army's Third Ypres Offensive.[27]

Later, the Yorkshiremen were fed into the later stages of Third Ypres under the command of II ANZAC Corps. On 9 October 1917, 49th and the untried 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Divisions of II ANZAC attacked along two parallel ridges towards the village of Passchendaele (the Battle of Poelcappelle). Although recent British attacks had been successful, 49th's 'attempt to advance was marked by one mishap after another'.[28] The artillery preparation was poor, hampered by the mud.[29] The two attacking brigades barely reached their jumping-off line on time, covered with mud from the approach march through the swampy ground, and 'looking like men who had been buried alive and then dug up again'.[30] In trying to advance, they found that the Ravebeke stream – marked as 5 feet wide on their maps – had swollen to 150 feet across. The other brigade failed to cross it, leaving the West Yorkshires of 146 Bde to advance alone. They managed a few hundred yards and then 'they were staggered by shrapnel and heavy machine-gun fire from pill-boxes on the higher ground ahead'.[28] Next they encountered a wide belt of uncut barbed wire, followed by the belt of pillboxes, each surrounded by wire, which had to be attacked individually. Finally, the Yorkshiremen faced the main resistance from the rifles and light machine-guns of the Rhinelanders of the German 16th Infantry Division hidden among the hundreds of shell-holes in the front. By 10.00 am the advance had stalled, and in early afternoon, both brigades returned to their starting points. At the end of the day 49th Division had suffered 2585 casualties and had no net gains at all.[31][32]

The casualties of 1916–17 led to a manpower crisis for the British Expeditionary Force and brigades had to be reduced from four to three battalions. On 30 January 1918, 1/8th Bn transferred from the 1st to the 2nd West Riding Division and absorbed 2/8th Bn, being renamed 8th Bn.[4][16]

During the second great attack of the German spring offensive of 1918, the Lys Offensive, 49 Division fought at the Battles of Estaires, Messines, Bailleul (in which the division defended Neuve Eglise), 1st and 2nd Battles of Kemmel Ridge, and the Scherpenberg.[18][33]

Following the defeat of the German 1918 offensives, 49 Division took part in the pursuit to the Selle and the subsequent Battle of the Selle and Battle of Valenciennes.[18][34] 7th and 8th Battalion were disembodied on 26 June and 7 May 1919 respectively.[4]

Battalions in 2nd West Riding Division

Main article: 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division

The Second Line Territorials were released for overseas service under the

Second Battle of Bullecourt (3–17 May)[35][38] and the actions on the Hindenburg Line (20–28 May).[35]

62 Division was not involved in the Ypres offensive of 1917, but in October 1917 it began training to cooperate with tanks in the forthcoming Battle of Cambrai.[39] G Battalion Tank Corps was assigned to lead 185 Bde's assault when the attack began at dawn on 20 October.[40] The division's first objective was Havrincourt on the Flesquières Ridge. It was a strong position, with the main Hindenburg Line position and several field-gun batteries hidden in dead ground, and several tanks were knocked out by direct hits before they penetrated the village with the West Yorkshires and overran the German Infanterie-Regiment von Manstein (1. Schleswigsches) Nr. 84 while the divisional reserve moved on to capture Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt. 62 Division could have gone on to take Bourlon Wood, but was held back because a neighbouring division was held up at Flesquières.[41][42] A week later, 62 Division was sent in again with tank support to capture Bourlon Wood. This time 185 Bde formed the divisional reserve and was sent up to hold the meagre gains of the bloody fighting. Two days later, after the West Yorkshires had been withdrawn into reserve, a German counter-offensive recaptured almost all the gains of the previous fighting.[42][43] In January 1918, 1/8th Leeds Rifles joined 185 Bde and merged with 2/8th to form a single 8th Bn.[16][18][35][44] During the German Spring Offensive 62 Division was engaged at the First Battle of Bapaume (25 March) and the First Battle of Arras (28 March).[35] On 26 March the division was heavily attacked but held its line. The following day the Germans tried to turn the division's flank at Rossignol Wood, and fighting continued through the night and into the following day.[45]

2/7th Leeds Rifles was reduced to a cadre and absorbed into 18th (Service) Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment 16–19 June 1918, leaving 8th Leeds Rifles (having absorbed the 2/8th) as the only unit of the West Yorkshires remaining in the brigade by the end of August.[4][35][46][47] In July, 62 Division was sent to assist the French army, and took part in the Battle of the Tardenois or 'Bligny Ridge' (part of the

Croix de Guerre to 8th Leeds Rifles for this action.[48]

Extract of General Army Order No. 430

The General Commanding the Fifth Army cites in General Army Orders the 8th Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (Leeds Rifles). This élite Battalion under the forceful command of Lieutenant Colonel Norman Ayrton England, from 20 July to 30 July, took a brilliant part in the heavy fighting that won us the Valley of the River Ardre. On 23 July 1918, having cleared a path through the dense thickets of the Bois du Petit Champ, it captured a vital position despite continuous fire from enemy machine guns. On 28 July 1918 with magnificent spirit it captured the Montaigne de Bligny, strongly defended by enemy forces superior in number, and maintained the position in spite of heavy losses and the desperate efforts of the enemy to regain the ground. (GHQ Decision No. 22389 dated 16 October 1918.)

Signed Guillaumat General Officer Commanding V° Army.[49]

This award was approved by

King George V
in November 1922:

Army Order Number 431

Grant of Honorary Distinction

His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own) being permitted to wear in their headdresses on all ceremonial parades, a Cockade of the Colours of the French Croix de Guerre in commemoration of their exploits at La Montaigne de Bligny in 1918, for which they were 'cité' in the Orders of the 5th French Army.[49]

This honorary distinction to the TA successors of the Leeds Rifle was confirmed by

Queen Elizabeth II in 1968.[49]

62 Division took part in the

Drocourt-Quéant Line (2 September).[35][50] 62 Division was back at Havrincourt on 12 September 1918 for the Battle of Havrincourt – the division was specially chosen because of its performance there in 1917.[35][50] It then took part in the Battle of the Canal du Nord (27–30 September),[35][50] and the Battle of the Selle (17–23 October), capture of Solesmes (20 October) and Battle of the Sambre (4 November) during the final advance in Picardy.[35][50]

Interwar reorganisation

The 7th and 8th Leeds Rifles were both reformed on 2 February 1920, and the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army in 1921. Both battalions continued to serve as part of the 146th (1st West Riding) Infantry Brigade of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. The 7th Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Herbert Tetley, who had won a DSO during the war, and his cousin James Noel Tetley was one of the subalterns.[4][51][52]

On 10 December 1936 the 8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion transferred to the Royal Artillery and was converted to the Anti-Aircraft (AA) role as 66th (Leeds Rifles, The West Yorkshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, forming part of 31st (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Group, tasked with defending West Yorkshire in 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division. It consisted of HQ and 184th, 185th and 186th AA Batteries and 66 Machine Gun Battery (197 AA Bty from 1 May 1937).[4][5][53][54][55] 186th Battery (at Oulton) left the regiment in April 1939 to help form a new 96th AA Regiment at Castleford.[56]

In April 1938 the 7th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion converted to the armoured role as 45th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment. In June 1939, the company at Morley was split off to form the cadre for a duplicate unit, the 51st (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment.[4][2][5][57]

The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the

Munich Crisis, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October.[58] In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. On 1 April 66th (Leeds Rifles) AA Regiment (as AA Brigades were termed from 1 January 1939) formed a new 296 AA Battery, and on 4 April 186 AA Bty left to help form a new 96th AA Regiment at Rotherham; 296 AA Bty also transferred to this regiment shortly afterwards.[53][54] In June 1939, as the international situation worsened, a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA gun and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations.[59]

Second World War

Mobilisation

66th (Leeds Rifles) AA Regiment mobilised as part of 31st AA Brigade (as groups were now termed), which was in the process of transferring to a new

25th Army Tank Brigade, also in Northern Command, alongside the Newcastle TA regiment, 43 RTR, and its duplicate 49 RTR.[63]

45th RTR

Main article: 45th (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment

On the outbreak of war 45 RTR was commanded by

Royal Dragoons.[66][67]

In May 1942, 45 RTR embarked at

Sherman tanks (codenamed 'Swallows') and Crusaders (but apparently not to full establishment).[68] 8th Armoured Division was not yet complete, so 24th Armoured Bde was attached to 10th Armoured Division for the forthcoming Second Battle of El Alamein.[69][70]

45 RTR went into action alongside 41 and 47 RTR on the second day of the battle (D+1, 24 October), as 10th Armoured pushed towards Miteira. Its tanks engaged enemy anti-tank guns and entrenched infantry before withdrawing at dusk. The next day (D+2) 45 RTR moved into battle positions, supporting 41 and 47 RTR with gunfire. The enemy anti-tank guns were well dug in and had to be engaged by observing their flashes. One German infantry post was overrun by a troop of tanks firing their machine-guns into the trenches. The regiment withdrew again at dusk, leaving one defence squadron on the ridge. On D+3 there was confused fighting ahead of the regiment. During D+4, 45 RTR remained on the ridge all day, covering 41 and 47 RTR as they advanced through the gaps in the minefields. On the night of 27/28 October, the CO was ordered to advance at first light on D+5 to support an infantry brigade, but as the regiment only had about 20 tanks, 41 RTR was ordered to make up the numbers. The Crusader squadron had only gone a few hundred yards when they came upon some infantry digging in, and stopped. But Dumbreck had been told that the infantry he was supporting had definitely reached their objective, so one of the Sherman squadrons pushed on towards the ridge SE of the feature known as 'Snipe', supported by the other, which engaged German tanks coming from Snipe. It emerged that the infantry had not achieved their objective, and 45 RTR withdrew under shellfire. During this unsatisfactory action, the regiment lost 10 tanks and suffered 11 men killed or died of wounds, 10 missing believed dead, and 34 wounded, mainly from mines and shellfire. At the end of the day, 45 RTR handed its remaining tanks over to other regiments and was withdrawn into reserve.[70]

After the battle, 45th (Leeds Rifles) RTR was sent a message of congratulations from the Lord Mayor of Leeds,[71] but the regiment had fought its only battle. Over succeeding months 24 Armoured Bde's officers and men were progressively posted away to other units.[72] However, the planned dispersal of 45 RTR was cancelled, and it took in the remaining details of 41 and 47 RTR and became a holding unit. In this role it received large drafts of replacements from the United Kingdom before they were posted to other regiments. Nevertheless, on 8 March 1943, 45 RTR was finally placed in suspended animation and replaced by a Royal Armoured Corps holding unit.[4][73]

51st RTR

Main article: 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment
51 RTR Churchill tank crews in Italy, 17 May 1944

At the end of May 1940, with the

2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade and its regiments reorganised accordingly. Each of 51 RTR's three MMG squadrons consisted of three troops, each with six Humber Snipe or Hillman Utility ('Tilly') two-seat cars, two carrying Vickers medium machine guns, two Bren light machine guns and two Boys anti-tank rifles.[74][75] In July 1940, volunteers from the units of 25th Army Tank Brigade formed No 5 Troop of No. 5 Commando at Bridlington.[76] In August, 51 RTR and the rest of the brigade moved to Northumberland to guard the coastline with machine gun posts along the cliffs and sand dunes.[77]

The 25th Army Tank Brigade was reconstituted at the end of 1940, and its regiments began to receive a trickle of tanks on which to train.

Tunisia Campaign.[80]

On 7–8 April 51 RTR supported

128th Brigade of 46th Infantry Division crossed the Wadi Marguellil during the night and at 5.30 am on 8 April began its main attack, supported by 'C' Sqn 51 RTR, and by noon was on its objective.[81] The regiment ended the campaign in Army Reserve.[82]

25 Tank Brigade came under the command of

Shermans and Stuarts.[83]

The brigade distinguished itself in support of the

Adolf Hitler Line in May 1944. At the request of the Canadians, its regiments adopted the Maple leaf as an additional badge, later worn by 51 RTR's successors, the Leeds Detachment (Leeds Rifles), Imphal (PWO) Company, East and West Riding Regiment.[57][84] Brigadier Tetley, formerly of the Leeds Rifles himself, was the only Territorial Army RTR officer to command a brigade on active service.[57] 51 RTR went on to fight in the Gothic Line battles of August–September 1944.[63]

To deal with the successive enemy lines of defences anticipated in the later stages of the campaign, it was decided late in 1944 to convert 25th Tank Brigade into 25th Assault Engineer Brigade, equipped with specialised armour ('funnies'. Organised on 5 January 1945, this was primarily a Royal Engineers formation, but 51 RTR remained in the brigade and was also converted to specialised armour.[85] 'B' Squadron received 15 Crab Mark II flail tanks,[86] while 'A' and 'C' sqns had a total of 32 Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tanks. Each squadron in the brigade was self-administering, so that they could be detached where required.[87]

The 25th Armoured Assault Brigade first went into action at the crossing of the Senio on 9 April 1945. 51 RTR was attached to the 2nd New Zealand and 8th Indian Divisions. The flamethrowing tanks crept forward during the preliminary bombardment and positioned themselves close to the floodbank as possible. One minute before the infantry assault started the positions were flamed. Most of the Crocodiles had to be 60 feet behind the bank to be able to direct their flame over the bank.[88]

66th HAA Regiment

A 4.5-inch gun of 66th HAA Regiment at one of the main supply airstrips on the Ledo road, 24 July 1944.

66th (Leeds Rifles) AA Regiment served in 31st AA Brigade during the

Orkneys and Shetland Defence Force), primarily guarding the great naval base at Scapa Flow in Orkney, but with 296 Bty detached to Shetland.[61][89][90][91][92][93] During the winter 197 HAA Bty embarked for West Africa Command, where it joined 1st HAA Regiment, West African Artillery (WAA), formed on 1 May 1941, with one section joining 3 HAA Bty, 3rd HAA Rgt, WAA.[53][94][95]

In June 1941 66th (Leeds Rifles) HAA Rgt returned to England, joining

139th (Mixed) HAA Rgt. ('Mixed' units were those into which women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) were integrated.) The regiment sent a further cadre to 205th HAA Training Regiment for 503 (Mixed) HAA Bty; this was formed on 17 December 1941 and later joined 144th (Mixed) HAA Rgt.[53]

In January 1942 66th (Leeds Rifles) HAA Rgt moved to 34th (South Midland) AA Bde in 11th Anti-Aircraft Division, covering Birmingham and Coventry, and on 10 February 296 HAA Bty returned from 96th HAA Rgt. However, that month the regiment left AA Command entirely.[53][97] In March 1942 it was assigned to the War Office Reserve and prepared to go overseas, leaving 421 HAA Bty behind to join 108th HAA Rgt.[53][98]

In May 1942 the regiment (with 184, 185 and 296 HAA Btys) was sent to India, where it served in 1st and 2nd Indian AA Brigades before moving to Burma as part of 9th AA Brigade.[61][99] During 1943 the regiment served in the Manipur Road sector,[61][99][100] and in January 1944 it detached 296 Battery to the Ledo area of Assam, the start of the famous Ledo Road. During 1944 it remained in the same areas, as part of 3rd Indian AA Brigade.[61][99][101] On 15 March 1945 it was placed in suspended animation and in May the men were awaiting return to the UK.[53][54][61][99][102]

Postwar

When the Territorial Army was reformed after the war, it included a combined 45th/51st (Leeds Rifles) RTR and the 466th (Leeds Rifles) (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA ('Mixed' indicating that members of the Women's Royal Army Corps were integrated into the unit). On 1 January 1954 the latter was reorganised as 466th (Leeds Rifles) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA. On the abolition of AA Command on 10 March 1955 the regiment absorbed 491 (Mixed) HAA Rgt and 496th (Mixed) HAA Rgt (the old 96th HAA Regt, to which the Leeds Rifles had provided cadres) at Oulton, which became 'R' Battery.[4][5][54][103]

On 30 October 1956 the 45th/51st (Leeds Rifles) RTR returned to the infantry role under its old title of 7th (Leeds Rifles) Bn West Yorkshire Regiment. In 1961 it re-absorbed the 466th (Leeds Rifles) LAA Regt to form The Leeds Rifles, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire.[4][5][103]

On the reorganisation of the TA into the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967, the Leeds Rifles formed part of A Company (The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire) Yorkshire Volunteers in TAVR II at York, and the Leeds Rifles Territorials in TAVR III, with HQ and two companies at Leeds.

Yorkshire Regiment.[5]

Honorary Colonels of the Regiment

Leeds Rifles blue plaque

Honorary Colonels were:[105]

  • 1882–1886: vacant
  • 1886–1902: Hon. Col. Charles Ryder,
    VD
  • 1902–1911: Hon. Col. Sir James Kitson, Bt.
  • 1911–1913: vacant
  • 1913–1928: Hon. Brig-Gen. Horatio Reginald Mends, CB
  • 1928–1932: Col. Albert Edward Kirk, OBE, VD, TD
  • 1932–1939: Col. Hugh Delabere Bousfield, CMG, DSO, TD
  • 1939–1948: Col. Charles Harold Tetley, DSO, TD
  • 1948–1963: Brig. James Noel Tetley, DSO, TD, DL, ADC
  • 1963–1966: Col. (Hon. Brig.) Kenneth Hargreaves, CBE, TD, DL
  • 1966_1967: Col. John Houston Taylor, TD

Insignia

Memorial to fallen of the Leeds Rifles Sergeants' Mess in St Peter Church, Leeds

Upon conversion to Royal Artillery (RA), the 66th (Leeds Rifles) HAA Regiment continued to wear the 7th/8th Bn cap badge while wearing RA collar badges. It also continued the tradition of wearing the Croix de Guerre ribbon on both sleeves. The custom was continued by 466th HAA Regiment.[54]

After the 45th/51st (Leeds Rifles) RTR reverted to the infantry role, it continued to carry on its

colours
and appointments the honorary distinction of the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment with dates '1942–45' and two scrolls inscribed 'North Africa' and 'Italy'.

Memorials

In 1921 a memorial plaque was erected in

Leeds Parish Church by the Sergeants' Mess to their fallen members. After the Second World War, two further plaques were added to 45 RTR and 66 HAA respectively, commemorating all ranks who fell.[106]

The

Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled on Remembrance Sunday 1921 by Captain George Sanders, VC.[107]

Notes

  1. ^ Beckett, p. 19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Leeds Rifles". Yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. ^ Beckett, Appendix VII.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Frederick, pp. 178–9.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Leeds Rifles [UK]". Archived from the original on 26 December 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  6. ^ Beckett, Appendix VIII.
  7. ^ "1st West Riding Artillery Volunteers [UK]". Archived from the original on 27 December 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ Beckett, Appendix IX.
  9. ^ Beckett, p. 151.
  10. ^ Holyoake Papers 11/2, Bishopsgate Library, London.
  11. ^ Beckett, p. 196.
  12. ^ Tomasson, W. H. (1881). With the Irregulars in the Transvaal and Zululand. Remington.
  13. ^ Morris, p. 451.
  14. ^ Leslie.
  15. ^ a b c d "Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)". Archived from the original on 16 October 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  17. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Origins". Archived from the original on 22 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  18. ^ a b c d e "49th (West Riding) Division – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  19. ^ "The Battle of Aubers – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  20. ^ "Actions in the Spring of 1916 (Western Front) – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  21. ^ Edmonds, pp. 159–161.
  22. ^ Edmonds, pp. 411–20.
  23. ^ Farrar-Hockley, pp. 137–8.
  24. ^ Edmonds, p. 420.
  25. ^ Middlebrook, pp. 224, 329.
  26. ^ "Yorkshire Regiment: Victoria Cross and George Cross Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Defence.
  27. ^ The Long, Long Trail. "Operation Hush planned for July-August 1917". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  28. ^ a b Wolff, p. 233.
  29. ^ Lee, p. 221.
  30. ^ Wolff, p. 227.
  31. ^ Wolff, pp. 233–5.
  32. ^ Pugsley, p. 282.
  33. ^ "1914-1918.net". 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018.
  34. ^ "The Final Advance in Picardy – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "62nd (2nd West Riding) Division – The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  36. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Acclimatization". Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  37. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Hindenburg Line". Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  38. ^ a b "RJP: 62 Div: Bullecourt". Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  39. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Training". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  40. ^ Cooper, pp. 63–5.
  41. ^ Cooper, pp. 97–9, 109–10.
  42. ^ a b "RJP: 62 Div: Cambrai". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  43. ^ Cooper, pp. 162–4, 170.
  44. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Disbandments". Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  45. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Michael". Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  46. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Michael +". Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  47. ^ "RJP: 62 Div: Marne +". Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  48. ^ a b "RJP:62Div:2ndMarne". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  49. ^ a b c "The award of the Croix de Guerre to the Leeds Rifles". Yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  50. ^ a b c d e "RJP: 62 Div: 100 Days". Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  51. ^ Army List 1919, 1924.
  52. ^ Kelly's Directory, Leeds 1925.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i Frederick, pp. 755–60, 772.
  54. ^ a b c d e f Litchfield, p 266.
  55. ^ "2nd AA Division at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  56. ^ a b "7th AA Division at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  57. ^ a b c "45th (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Corps (TA)". Yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 July 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  58. ^ Routledge, pp. 62–3.
  59. ^ Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
  60. ^ "British Anti-Aircraft Command, TA on 3 September 1939 :: The Patriot Files :: Dedicated to the preservation of military history". www.patriotfiles.com.
  61. ^ a b c d e f "66 (Leeds Rifles)(West Yorkshire Regiment) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA(TA)". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  62. ^ Joslen, p. 202.
  63. ^ a b c Joslen, p. 203.
  64. ^ Army List October 1939.
  65. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, Sep 1939–Dec 1941, The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 166/1418.
  66. ^ Joslen, p. 207.
  67. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, Jan 1942, TNA file WO 166/6919.
  68. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, May–Sep 1942, TNA file WO 169/4522.
  69. ^ Joslen, pp. 22, 173, 565.
  70. ^ a b 45 RTR War Diary, Oct 1942, TNA, file WO 169/4522.
  71. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, Nov 1942, TNA file WO 169/4522.
  72. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, Dec 1942, TNA file WO 169/4522.
  73. ^ 45 RTR War Diary, Jan–Mar 1943, TNA, file WO 169/9374.
  74. ^ Joslen, pp. 203, 211.
  75. ^ 51st RTR War Diary July–August 1940, TNA, file WO 166/1424.
  76. ^ 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary July 1940, TNA, file WO 166/1135.
  77. ^ 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade War Diary August 1940, TNA Kew, file WO 166/1135.
  78. ^ 25th Army Tank Brigade War Diary December 1940–December 1941, TNA file WO 166/1135.
  79. ^ 51st RTR War Diary, February–December 1942, TNA file WO 166/6925.
  80. ^ "The 45th and The 51st". Yorkshire Volunteers. Archived from the original on 21 July 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  81. ^ Playfair & Molony, pp 379–81.
  82. ^ Playfair & Molony, p 446.
  83. ^ 51 RTR War Diary April 1944, TNA file WO 170/865.
  84. ^ 25 Tank Brigade War Diary May 1944, TNA file WO 170/591.
  85. ^ Joslen, p. 175.
  86. ^ "Welcome to the Tank Museum - Home of the Tank - Virtual Museum". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  87. ^ Jackson, Appendix 6: pp. 402-3.
  88. ^ Jackson, pp. 219, 224.
  89. ^ "Orkney & Shetland Defences". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  90. ^ Farndale, Annex D.
  91. ^ Routledge, Table LXV, p. 397.
  92. ^ Organization of the Field Force in the United Kingdom and Order of Battle, Part 12, Orkney and Shetland Defences, 1940, TNA file WO 212/114.
  93. ^ Organization of the Field Force in the United Kingdom and Order of Battle, Part 12, Orkney and Shetland Defences, 3 March 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/115.
  94. ^ Frederick, p. 991.
  95. ^ Joslen, p. 490.
  96. ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 12 May 1941, with amendments, TNA, file WO 212/79.
  97. ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 2 December 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/80.
  98. ^ Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional units), 22 October 1941, 17 March 1942 Amendments, TNA files WO 212/6 and WO 33/1883.
  99. ^ a b c d Joslen, p. 520.
  100. ^ Routledge, Table XXXVII, pp. 252–3.
  101. ^ Routledge, Table XXXIX, pp. 254–5.
  102. ^ Routledge, Table XL, p. 256.
  103. ^ a b Frederick, p. 1016.
  104. ^ "Yorkshire Volunteers [UK]". Archived from the original on 30 December 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  105. ^ "The Leeds Rifles". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  106. ^ "Leeds Rifles Plaques". Imperial War Museums.
  107. ^ Historic England. "North Boundary Wall and Steps, North West Gate and Piers, War Memorial and East Bar Stone (1375049)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 August 2016.

References

External sources
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