Yorkshire Heroes

In my search for more Yorkshire Roses I discovered that many of our lads were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery in the hot, steamy Crimea, far away in India, along the muddy, pungent trenches of WW1, the various campaigns during WW2 and not forgetting in the Falklands. I wanted to put them all together in one place, not only to be on war memorials in their home towns or villages but together online for all to see. There are other heroic Roses too that I'm sure will be planted in this website garden. These lads would not have considered themselves to be hero's but they were. Let them represent the many unsung Yorkshire heroes out there.

Sgt. Alfred Atkinson, soldier, born 1874 Leeds, Yorkshire. Served in the Yorkshire Regt. (Green Howards). Won a VC in the Second Boer War, 18 Feb, 1900; died 21 Feb, 1900 at Paardeberg, Transvaal. He is buried at Gruisbank British Cem., Paadeberg. His VC medal is in the Green Howard Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire.

Pte. George Wm. CHAFER (1894-1966)born Bradford;died Bramley near Rotherham. Served in the 1st. Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment. Won the VC in Meaulte, France - 1916

Sgt. James FIRTH (1874-1921) born & died in Sheffield. Served in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Won the VC at Plewman's Farm, Arundel, 2nd. Boer War - 1900

Maj. Alan Richard HILL-WALKER (1859-1944) born Northallerton;died Thirsk. Served in the Northamptonshire Regt. Won the VC at Laing's Neck, 1st. Boer War.

Pte Joel HOLMES (1821-1872) born & died Halifax, Yorkshire. Served with the 84th. Regt. (Yorks. & Lancs.). Won the VC at Char Bagh, Lucknow, Indian Mutiny - 1857

Capt. Matthew HUGHES (1822-1882) born & died in Bradford, Yorkshire. Served with the 7th. Regt. (Royal Fusiliers). Won VC at Sebastopol, Crimea - 1855

Bombadier Thomas WILKINSON (1831-1887) born & died in York, Yorkshire. Served with the Royal Marine Artillery. Won VC at Sebastopol, Crimea - 1855