Rev. Kath McBride:  01904 489349
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Church Street, Dunnington

York, YO19 5PW

6. The Fallen

“The Fallen” - Remembered

William Tatterton MM was born on 3 Jan 1888 in Dunnington as the first child of farm worker Samuel Tatterton from Elvington and his wife Jane Maria (Lolley). He was baptised in St Nicholas Church on 26 Feb 1888. There were two other children – Eva (who died in infancy), and Emily who married Allan Campling and lived till 1973.  

William was with his parents in Hull Road, Dunnington, in 1891; also in 1901 with sister Emily. By 1911 he was in Scoreby working as a farm waggoner for widow Elizabeth Quarton.  

He married Elizabeth Curry of Cottingham in 1912, and they had a daughter Elsie.  

He enlisted at York during WW1, probably in 1916, serving initially as No. 46433 in the Northumberland Fusiliers. Later he became 45202 Rifleman W. Tatterton in the Rifle Brigade with the 1st/5th Battalion of the London Regiment.  

The last battle in which that battalion was involved was the Passage of the Grande Honelle river. As the liberation of occupied Belgium began, the 56th (London) Division attempted to take Honnelles. In course of this, the 1st/5th Battalion secured Angreau in tough fighting along the Grande Honnelle. During this engagement, William was ‘killed in action’ on 5 Nov 1918, just six days before the Armistice took effect.  

His body lies in the Angreau Communal Cemetery at Honnelles, Hainaut, Belgium.  

His widow Elizabeth was at their home in Kensington Street, York, when she received his pay credits and war service gratuity in 1919.  

The Military Medal was posthumously awarded to this brave soldier, who is named in The King’s Book at York Minster. Rifleman William Tatterton is also named on the War Memorial in St Nicholas churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour in Dunnington Reading Rooms.  

On 27 Oct 1921 the Officer i/c Records requested authority to dispose of William’s Medals. Any official correspondence with his widow Elizabeth seems lost, with William’s Service Record. Did she ever receive his Military Medal? or was it simply scrapped along with his Victory Medal and British War Medal?  

Father Val Hollands (faithirV@googlemail.com / 01904 489 283)

 

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