1914/15 trio & Memorial Plaque, Yorkshire Regiment (5th Btn.) killed in action, Lys, 11/4/1918

1914/15  trio  Memorial Plaque, (Henry Eltringham)

Pte. H. Eltringham, York. R. 

Memorial Plaque contained in old wooden frame and a copy photo in uniform supplied by the family

Killed in action, (1/5th Btn.) Lys, 11/4/1918

Henry Eltringham, b. Ryhope, Durham, 1895 and in 1911 aged 16 he resided 14 Logan St. Langley Park near Durham and was a underground coal miner pony driver. He has no known grave, commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.  

Details from the history of the 1/5 Green Howards.

During ten days of almost continual fighting from 22/31/3/1918 the battalion had suffered 388 casualties, killed, wounded and missing. Withdrawn from the line for reorganisation they were sent back up on the 10th April in support of the East Yorks. In the early morning of the 11th. the enemy attacked the left flank heavily, and , though the battalion on the left of them retired, the companies of the battalion, holding a sharp salient in the line maintained their ground till practically surrounded and many were captured, while the wounded had to be left behind, it being impossible to bring them away. The remaining men were formed into a weak brigade battalion and moved back but then stopped by a Staff Officer and ordered to hold on till darkness at all costs. The position became untenable at about 20.30 and the survivors withdrew.

A further 310 men were killed, wounded and missing, a total of 698  during the operations.