Askham Bryan War Memorial

The memorial is inscribed as follows:

“To the glory of god who giveth us the victory and in every thankful memory of all in this parish who served their country especially those here recorded who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1919. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ellis, John Robert
Corporal S/9189, 7th Bn., Seaforth Highlanders. Killed in action 12th October 1916. Aged 30. Son of Thomas and Jane Ellis, of Askham Bryan, York. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 15 C.

Jackson, William
No information currently

Johnson, James
No information currently

Morley, Frederick
Private 16430, 10th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Killed in action 20th April 1916. Aged 21. Son of William and Elizabeth Ann Morley, of Askham Bryan, York. Buried Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France, IX. G. 50.

Powell, Charles
Private 3/9403, 2nd Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Killed in action 13th December 1914. Aged 33. Son of Charles and Martha Powell, of Askham Bryan, York. Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France, Panel 9 and 10.

The following details were published in the Yorkshire Herald on 28 January 1915:

“During this week Mrs Powell received an intimation from the War Office to the effect that her son Private C. H. Powell, had been killed in action in France. Private Powell, who was 33 years of age, retired from the Grenadier Guards about six years ago, after serving for a period of twelve years. He took part in the South African war, and had many exciting experiences. At the conclusion of the war he received the Queen’s medal which is now in his mother’s possession. He joined the 3rd West Yorks, on August 31st last, and he left for France on November 4th. Unhappily his service at the front was very short, for on December 31st he was shot through the head and instantly killed. The deceased soldier during his six years of civilian life was engaged in farm work in the Askham Bryan district.”


Powell, Duncan
Private 14663, 12th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Killed in action 14th July 1916. Aged 28. Son of Martha Powell, of Ivy Cottage, Askham Bryan, York, and the late Charles Powell; husband of Annie Powell. Buried Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, France, IV. D. 6.

The following details were published in the Yorkshire Herald on 26 July 1916:

“Mrs M Powell, Askham Bryan, near York, has received official information from the War Office to the effect that one of her sons, Private Duncan Powell of the West Yorkshire Regiment, has been killed in action at the front. Mrs Powell is a widow, and this the second of her sons to lose his life in the service of his country.

Mrs Powell’s family have a splendid military record. Her father was a Crimean veteran and her husband, who died seven years ago, served for eighteen years in the 15th Hussars and the Inniskilling Dragoons. Her father was Mr John Meikle, of Jock’s Lodge, Edinburgh and he served in the Crimean campaign with the Royal Scots Greys, which regiment he joined when he was 16 years of age. He took part in the historic charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava, and was severely wounded on that occasion. Mrs Powell has also two brothers who have served for many years in the South Wales Borderers, one of whom fought in the South African War.

On New Years Eve, 1914, her son Private C. H. Powell, of the West Yorkshire Regiment and an old Grenadier Guardsman, was killed by a bullet wound in the head. Mrs Powell’s youngest son, and a son-in-law, who is the Royal Scots Greys, are also serving in the army.”

Walker, Ernest
Private 59127, 1st Bn., King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, formerly 52181 West Riding Regiment. Killed in action 8th November 1918. Aged 20. Son of Mrs. Emma Walker, of Askham Byran, York. Buried Dourlers Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France, I. B. 28. Ernest Walker was born and enlisted in York.

Ward, Cecil Wellesley
Second Lieutenant, "A" Battery, 148th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 11th September 1917. Aged 40. Son of the Rev. G. N. and Mary Ward; husband of Flora Ward, of "Kohima," Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxon. Buried Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery, Belgium, I. D. 1.